Welcome to the
Buckhorn School of Earth Skills
A place where humans can come and learn, through play and practice, a way of connection.
Our Programs
We offer programming based on the organizing principle that we are a part of nature and our relationship to the nature within and around us is vitally important to a thriving living Earth.
Tiered Pricing
Our Pricing is tiered so that this work can be accessible for all. For each program there are 3 available price options. Solidarity rate, Community rate, and Stewardship rate. Please pay according to your financial ability. Payment plans are also available.
Youth Hunting Mentorship
Only 10 spots available!
Registration Closes September 1st!
Ages 12-16
2nd Saturdays September-May (9 sessions)
9am-3pm
Hunting is about so much more than the harvest. In this program we approach hunting as a holistic practice. While we do not hunt in this program we do learn and practice everything you need to know to be successful when hunting.
In addition to learning Traditional Archery fundamentals like Safety and Instinctive shooting we will learn numerous earth skills that lend themselves to pursuing animals successfully and in many cases are vital to the practice of hunting.
Become confident and comfortable navigating the landscape
Move with awareness, slowly, quietly
Know the story of tracks and sign
Shoot a bow safely and accurately
Use all parts of the animal you harvest
Honor the life you plan to take through intention, preparation, and gratitude.
These are a few things that you may get out of this program. We will learn through embodied play, practice, challenges, all within a community of connection.
*Scholarships and payment plans Available
Only 10 spots available! Registration Closes September 1st!
Ages 12-16
2nd Saturdays September-May (9 sessions)
9am-3pm
Hunting is about so much more than the harvest. In this program we approach hunting as a holistic practice. While we do not hunt in this program we do learn and practice everything you need to know to be successful when hunting.
In addition to learning Traditional Archery fundamentals like Safety and Instinctive shooting we will learn numerous earth skills that lend themselves to pursuing animals successfully and in many cases are vital to the practice of hunting.
Become confident and comfortable navigating the landscape
Move with awareness, slowly, quietly
Know the story of tracks and sign
Shoot a bow safely and accurately
Use all parts of the animal you harvest
Honor the life you plan to take through intention, preparation, and gratitude.
These are a few things that you may get out of this program. We will learn through embodied play, practice, challenges, all within a community of connection.
*Scholarships and payment plans Available
Only 10 spots available! Registration Closes September 1st!
Ages 12-16
2nd Saturdays September-May (9 sessions)
9am-3pm
Hunting is about so much more than the harvest. In this program we approach hunting as a holistic practice. While we do not hunt in this program we do learn and practice everything you need to know to be successful when hunting.
In addition to learning Traditional Archery fundamentals like Safety and Instinctive shooting we will learn numerous earth skills that lend themselves to pursuing animals successfully and in many cases are vital to the practice of hunting.
Become confident and comfortable navigating the landscape
Move with awareness, slowly, quietly
Know the story of tracks and sign
Shoot a bow safely and accurately
Use all parts of the animal you harvest
Honor the life you plan to take through intention, preparation, and gratitude.
These are a few things that you may get out of this program. We will learn through embodied play, practice, challenges, all within a community of connection.
Youth Archery & Earth Skills
Only 10 spots available!
Registration closes September 1st!
Ages 9-11
1st Saturdays September-May (9 sessions)
9am-3pm
In this program we will not only learn Traditional Archery including safety and instinctive shooting but also fundamental Earth Skills. We will learn through practice, challenges, and action packed games all while cultivating community and connection.
Safety
Traditional Archery
Mapping/Navigation
Bird Language/Tracking
Sensory Awareness/Stealth
Friction Fire/Shelter Building
Plant ID
Animal Processing
Fire Cooking
And much more!
*Scholarships and Payment Plans Available
Only 10 spots available! Registration Closes September 1st!
Ages 12-16
2nd Saturdays September-May (9 sessions)
9am-3pm
Hunting is about so much more than the harvest. In this program we approach hunting as a holistic practice. While we do not hunt in this program we do learn and practice everything you need to know to be successful when hunting.
In addition to learning Traditional Archery fundamentals like Safety and Instinctive shooting we will learn numerous earth skills that lend themselves to pursuing animals successfully and in many cases are vital to the practice of hunting.
Become confident and comfortable navigating the landscape
Move with awareness, slowly, quietly
Know the story of tracks and sign
Shoot a bow safely and accurately
Use all parts of the animal you harvest
Honor the life you plan to take through intention, preparation, and gratitude.
These are a few things that you may get out of this program. We will learn through embodied play, practice, challenges, all within a community of connection.
*Scholarships and Payment Plans Available
Only 10 spots available! Registration closes September 1st!
Ages 9-11
1st Saturdays September-May (9 sessions)
9am-3pm
In this program we will not only learn Traditional Archery including safety and instinctive shooting but also fundamental Earth Skills. We will learn through practice, challenges, and action packed games all while cultivating community and connection.
Safety
Traditional Archery
Mapping/Navigation
Bird Language/Tracking
Sensory Awareness/Stealth
Friction Fire/Shelter Building
Plant ID
Animal Processing
Fire Cooking
And much more!
*Scholarships and Payment Plans Available
Only 10 spots available! Registration closes September 1st!
Ages 9-11
1st Saturdays September-May (9 sessions)
9am-3pm
In this program we will not only learn Traditional Archery including safety and instinctive shooting but also fundamental Earth Skills. We will learn through practice, challenges, and action packed games all while cultivating community and connection.
Safety
Traditional Archery
Mapping/Navigation
Bird Language/Tracking
Sensory Awareness/Stealth
Friction Fire/Shelter Building
Plant ID
Animal Processing
Fire Cooking
And much more!
*Scholarships and Payment Plans Available
Only 10 spots available! Registration closes September 1st!
Ages 9-11
1st Saturdays September-May (9 sessions)
9am-3pm
In this program we will not only learn Traditional Archery including safety and instinctive shooting but also fundamental Earth Skills. We will learn through practice, challenges, and action packed games all while cultivating community and connection.
Safety
Traditional Archery
Mapping/Navigation
Bird Language/Tracking
Sensory Awareness/Stealth
Friction Fire/Shelter Building
Plant ID
Animal Processing
Fire Cooking
And much more!
The Vision
In the modern world there is nothing more valuable than time spent in nature. For youth especially, cultivating nourishing relationships with the natural world is vital. It is in relationship with the nature around us and inside of us that gives perspective on what it means to be a human and what kind of human we want to be. Cultivating skills and awareness through the Core Routines of Nature Connection and the practice of Traditional Archery, gives our students opportunities to be challenged and learn in an embodied way. The experiences we will be facilitating create an opportunity for you to cultivate a foundation of embodied practice and awareness that can be built upon for the rest of your lives.
Why Archery? Why Hunting?
We believe that the relationship one has to food and place is at the heart of what it means to be human. Hunting is a practice that forces you into this relationship in a meaningful and embodied way. We do not take the act of harvest and the fact of death lightly and believe that no hunter should. It is with patience, humility, and gratitude that we pursue the animals we hunt. Archery is the foundational skill as bow and arrow are the tool we hunt with and is an extremely valuable embodied practice on its own. Hunting is holistic in its nature because you can’t separate the harvest of an animal from the hours and sometimes years of practice, preparation, and connection that goes into a successful hunt.
A Learning Culture
In all of our programs we aim to create a culture of connection, curiosity, and care. This foundation makes learning fun. Along with archery fundamentals like safety and instinctive shooting we offer opportunities to learn valuable earth skills. We combine archery with earth skills like friction fire, tracking, shelter building, plant and animal i.d. games, songs, and storytelling all within a community of connection and learning.
Buckhorn Valley
Our days are spent in the foothills of the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. A beautiful and diverse wilderness were we can explore and get to know verdant forests, rolling meadows, and flowing creeks. In these wild places we will wander, play, and practice getting to know ourselves and the many species we share this place with.
Meet the Mentors
-
![]()
Jacob Ray
Mentor
Jacob was born and raised in the PNW, his own interest in hunting, foraging, ancestral skills, & community led him to become a student at The Wilderness Awareness School where he spent a year deeply immersed in the learning culture of Nature Connection & Coyote Mentoring. He has since worked as a Nature Connection Mentor for both youth & adults. -
![]()
Tim Matz
Mentor
Tim is a father of 3 boys, multidisciplinary movement coach, devoted husband, farrier, traditional bow hunter, & hide tanner.His work aims to facilitate a remembering of human belonging and connection with the natural world through movement, play, and hands on skills.
