Earth Skills Family Retreat

with Matt Graham

May 13 – 15, 2021

Located at Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch in Southern Utah

About this Event

The Earth Skills Family Retreat is a chance for families to share primitive survival skills instruction and hiking in Southern Utah while being based from Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch. Learn with Matt in his habitat and get the opportunity to not only learn, but demonstrate and excel in basic primitive skills.

This amazing weekend retreat will be held near the beautiful Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument on the outskirts of the quaint little town, Boulder, Utah.

In this course Matt will cover fire making, shelters, fishing skills, cordage, how to travel light in the wilderness, and edible and medicinal plants.

Organic Breakfast and Dinner supplied by Sweetwater Kitchen, Survival Skills and hikes led by Matt Graham.

Additional Nature activities for ages 6-12 taught by Claire Nelson’s “Awe and Wonder” program. This retreat also offers a large price break from our standard weekend course. Come join the fun and educational weekend.

MEALS & LODGING

Price: $1,200 for a family of two, then an additional $400 per extra family member.

This price includes the price of the retreat and breakfasts and dinners at on-site farm-to-table restaurant Sweetwater Kitchen. Please bring your own day snacks and lunches if need be. (Lunches can also be ordered to-go from Sweetwater Kitchen, email sweetwaterboulder@gmail.com)

Any dietary specifications can be accommodated with prior notice.

Lodging will be at the on-site Boulder Mountain Guest Ranch.

LODGING IS PURCHASED SEPARATELY, link will be sent after purchasing ticket.

TICKET INCLUDES

2 full days of guided hiking
Learn about edible & medicinal plants
Instruction to build your own friction fire
Primitive skills education and practice
Awe & Wonder Class for the children
Personal time in nature
Organic breakfasts and dinners provided by Sweetwater Kitchen

ABOUT AWE & WONDER CHILDREN PROGRAM

Awe and Wonder is an earth awareness program taught by Claire Nelson. The class invites children to explore their natural environment, play, be, learn, and experience our earth with awe and wonder.

Imagine the curriculum like a tree. Each class begins at the roots of a tree, which creates a foundation. I welcome each child for who they are and create a space where they all feel and know they belong. The trunk of a tree reflects a theme for the class. I introduce a nature theme and then allow children to share how they relate to the topic. Beyond the daily theme, there are many extensions or branches to explore.

The first branch includes participating in activities or games, engaging in a class dynamic to remember the community’s essence, and celebrating our unique qualities together.

The next branch offers kids an individual experience to learn and explore independently while remaining in the same area together. During this extension, I maintain careful observation and the necessary guidance. The solo experience is for honoring each child’s flow of learning and natural rhythms.

The next branch is Earth Art to encourage creativity and inventive skills. The following branch is Kids Qoya, an opportunity for children to express themselves freely through yoga and dance. An additional branch is a creative opportunity for kids to design nature songs in relation to the theme.

The next component is sharing their songs and experiences with the group. The class’s final component is journaling, drawing or writing personal reflections, integrating the day’s experiences, representing the leaves and blossoms of a tree.