Apprenticeship Program

The ultimate wilderness integration experience.

Includes:

     Want to know more? Read on….

     Sticks & Stones’ apprenticeship program officially began in Spring 2011. The seven-month program invites participants to live on-site from May until November, thoroughly integrating wilderness skills and community stewardship principals into their lives for the duration of their stay, and beyond.

     Apprentices participate in all pathways of learning with the school, including all on-site courses and programs scheduled throughout the seven-month period, either as regular enrolled students (if they have not previously taken a particular course), or in a volunteer/staffing role that deepens the skills through integration. In addition, apprentices become actively involved in our ongoing stewardship and community events.  Apprentices spend their “spare” time following core routines and naturalist goals which have been set in discussion with the program coordinator and advisor Skeet Sutherland at the beginning of the apprenticeship term.  One-on-one training and private mentoring with instructors and guest instructors is also part of the curriculum, and apprentices have 24-hour access to a broad range of naturalist training and literary resources, field guides, nature museum, and hand-made traditional tools to use as examples in their own projects.

     Apprentices also receive Advanced Wilderness Medical Training (80 hour Wilderness First Responder course) and specific job-training with an affiliate organization, the P.I.N.E Project.  A non-profit association based out of Toronto, PINE aims to bring wilderness awareness and nature mentoring to children growing up in the city.  Instructor training and one week of summer camp experience will give apprentices a good deal of experience for future job potential.

     Other highlights of the program include the Art of Mentoring, and the opportunity to cultivate a personal food garden.

     During the first week on site, participants build their own shelters on the property (debris hut, tipi, wiki-up), which will serve as their personal living/sleeping space throughout their stay.  Outdoor camp-style kitchen facilities are also available for apprentice use. Apprentices must supply their own food, except during scheduled programs, when dinners are provided.

     The program is uniquely catered to each participant, in accordance with his or her own personal goals, interests, and skills.  As well as offering guidance, resources and course instruction, our aim is to provide an inspiring environment that empowers community-supported, self-taught learning.

     We are now accepting applications for the Apprenticeship Program.  Interested persons must be passionate, self-motivated and committed to pursuing their goals over the course of their stay.  Ideally, participants will begin their apprenticeship with the spring Empowering Ancient Ways course at the end of April.  Contact us if you would like an application package.

Cost: $3,980

     In effort to make the program affordable, apprentices contribute as integrated members of the community.  Helping tend to the ongoing logistical needs of the camp (splitting firewood, helping in stewardship endeavors on the property, cleaning tools, helping to prep for classes, etc) not only enriches their experience, but acts as a work-trade in accordance with the program fee.

     The total cost of programs and training for the Apprenticeship program is approximately $8000. A savings of $1000 is given to apprentices in honor of the commitment; this combined with approximately 300 hours of work trade ($3020) brings the monetary cost down to $3980.

Email: info@wildernessschool.ca

Phone: 705 994 3666

Parent Testimonial:

“When he did come home from the completion of this apprenticeship, he was a lot more accepting and very patient with himself and others.  He brought a sense of balance back into our family life.

He is becoming an exceptional young man and we attribute a lot of his positive approach to an enhanced understanding of environmental issues and greater appreciation for how people respond to change in their lives, all of which was nurtured through the School.  We would highly recommend this experience for a person seeking to reconnect with nature and a more natural way of life.”

~ Jayne Pyette and Joel Peters