The Eagle's Gift
The Way of the Wilderness

June 29-July 5, 2008
Coed Ages: 11-13

Cost: $675

In many cultures the birds that soar closest to the sun are considered powerful and full of strength. After a particular feat, experience or initiation, the gift of a tail feather of a hawk or eagle lets everyone in the tribe know that something significant had taken place. Well, we can’t award real eagle or hawk feathers here, but what we can do is provide the experience!

The Eagle’s Gift is a program where campers learn about the earth through challenges, adventures and many, many wilderness skills. We begin our teachings with ancient skills of survival and awareness that are crucial to one’s freedom and sense of independence. We learn to move silently through the woods, build natural shelters, make our own tools, track animals and make fires without matches. Intertwined are awareness exercises and exploration, where we open our senses fully. Evenings are spent telling stories by the campfire, stargazing or listening for owls in the moonlight.

During each day, time is set aside for personal reflection as we prepare for a solo experience. The solo is a strong symbol of our independence, as it is the looking within that can be among the most challenging undertakings a person can do in life. It is here that answers to our own personal questions come, and often an inner clarity is experienced. Participants share in everyone’s insights, hopes and dreams to create a circle of friends that becomes an extended family. Campers learn to become more confident through practicing real skills, interacting with peers in a positive setting and developing a relationship to nature and self that is a powerful beginning to their lives as young adults.

Some of the skills and activities listed below form the core of the Eagle's Gift Camp curriculum:

• Debris Shelters
• Natural Fiber Ropes and Strings
• Tipi Fires
• Bow & Drill Firemaking
• Tracking
• Storytelling
• Nature Awareness & Movement
• Coal Burned Containers
• Leather Pouches
• Stalking & Camoflage
• Carving & Knife Care
• Wilderness Earth Philosophy

“Here comes another letter of testimony for the outstanding job you are all doing! I must restrain myself from rambling on about how thrilled my husband and I are about our son’s experience at Hawk Circle. While I had expectations of what this adventure would do, I feel that they were exceeded. What is your formula? I like to think that he had all of the raw materials and you refined them or rather, helped him to do so. He has shared openly and enthusiastically and astounds us with his insights. I have told him that our relationship has a new aspect–exchange of ideas as we discover our spiritual selves together. He is comfortable and confident in this role, being calmer, more peaceful and seems to think more before he speaks…

The big lesson at his age is to trust himself to make the right choices even if not the popular choice, and I see that the foundation was laid to grow in that direction. You all must be great role models and he recognizes this. Thank you for providing a path, setting the examples and doing what you do.”
- Linda, Santa Rosa, CA
Hawk Circle Camper Parent

Application for Enrollment