Hawk Circle Earth Skills Winter Intensive
Winter Intensive 2008

December 30, 2007 -  January 19, 2008

Winter Intensive 2009

January 3-24, 2009
Cost: $1,800 includes housing and all materials.

Winter. It is the most challenging wilderness survival season of the year. Yet, here at Hawk Circle, we look forward to the winter season, with the crackle of the fire in the woodstove, the quiet woods filled with freshly falling snow, and the multitude of crafts and skills to practice and master.... If you are looking into this program, don’t be afraid of the cold or the intensity of the season! We will teach you how to make the cold wind your friend, make fires in the freezing rain, build effective snow shelters, stay insulated, well fed and explore the world at this time of year when most people rarely venture beyond their car or home. Our winter program is perfect for beginners but also has enough depth to satisfy experienced students as well. Leathercraft, beadwork, drying meat and food for our trek, as well as making grass mats, learning winter first aid issues and more round out this special program. I hope you will join us and enjoy tracking gray foxes along the icy edges of the creek!
                                               -Ricardo Sierra

The Art of Shelter- Winter Survival Studies
Survival in winter situations adds several challenging factors for staying warm, dry and comfortable. Concepts of insulation using natural materials, and ways to do so quickly and effectively, both with and without modern tools will be covered. Snow caves, snow trench, shelters heated by fire and survival in situations of ice, minimal snow and materials will be covered. Students will practice making a winter shelter appropriate for the conditions and materials available.

The Art of Tracking- Winter Tracking Skills
Many of the greatest trackers come from areas where there are sandy soil conditions where trackers can see details and nuances in animal trails without the interference of leaves and debris. Fortunately, the presence of snow provides a medium that allows trackers in northern climates to learn gait patterns, animal movement, sizes and habits that can teach a great deal. In this class, we will study the animals who are active in the northern forests in winter through field guide research, stories and actual tracking in the woods. Fishers, red and gray fox, coyotes, deer, weasels, mink, mice, birds and bobcats are some of the animals that we may encounter as we wander the landscape in search of learning and understanding. Snow aging, tracking in different types of snow conditions, winter animal movement patterns and routines and tracking safety will also be covered in this curriculum.

The Art of Fire- Winter Fire Studies
Creating a friction fire with natural materials, or even just starting a campfire in a full snowstorm or ice situation in winter temperatures can be challenging for anyone. Understanding the principles of fire, problem solving the cold factors as well as building confidence in our abilities in winter are the goals of this course. We will review our fire knowledge and practice our gathering, our fire making techniques and our ability to stay warm. Carrying coals while hiking, called “long match” will be learned, as well as skills of finding dry materials in harsh conditions.

Cultural Arts and Crafts- Peyote Stitch Beadwork & Leathercraft
Peyote stitch style beading is a sewn, round style that is actually woven as it is created. It is found on rattle or drum handles, adorning flutes, feathers and even made into necklaces and earrings. In this class, we will learn the principles and basics of this versatile stitch and create a patterned beaded object as part of the course requirements. We will also make a leather fire kit bag that can carry our materials for fire starting. Welted seams, stitch placement, sewing styles and adornment techniques will be demonstrated and learned as well.

Cultural Arts & Crafts-Northern Tribal Snow Goggles, Snow Shovels and Bark Toboggans
There is much more to survival in winter than just the skills of fire, shelter and water. By studying the cultures and crafts of northern aboriginal peoples, we can learn about how they survived centuries of live above the Arctic circle, using only the resources and materials around them and their seemingly endless creative problem solving. We will have the opportunity to make wooden or bark snow goggles, to prevent snow blindness on bright sunny days in snowy landscapes, as well as help carve snow knives and shovels from wood. We will make a bark sled to help us with moving gear, snow, firewood and people, as well.

The Art of Storytelling- Campfire Tales and Games
This class provides a detailed look at several different ways of telling stories around the campfire circle. The course includes ways to bring ordinary stories and events to life, adding drama, movement and voice without overshadowing the story elements, humor, scary stories and much more. Techniques for working with large groups, small circles, younger children and even peer groups will be discussed and passed down. Students will study and prepare a story to be told around our own campfire as part of the class.

Field Expedition- Winter Survival Camp Out
“If I was in a survival situation, could I survive?” Here is your chance to answer this question for yourself. During this four day survival expedition we will make primitive shelters, construct a camp to protect us from the elements, get a warm fire using matchless techniques, make pine bark containers, use our grass mats made in the shelter class, and enjoy a slower pace of life. We will prepare for the expedition by drying meat and selecting high energy survival food for the cold conditions. Safety and back-up gear will be covered and brought along on our trek.

Application for Enrollment