Our Vision

Vermont Wilderness School is a non-profit 501c3 dedicated to cultivating long-term mentoring relationships rooted in community, nature connection, and earth living skills. Inspired by the ways of Earth-based, indigenous cultures, we envision a future where the majority of our needs are met in a vibrant, local economy that serves both humans and nature alike. We further envision that we are one of many bioregional communities across the globe that interconnect and support each other.

Vermont Wilderness School recognizes the many individuals, groups, and organizations working towards a similar vision of the future. We seek to build alliances with you and to connect resources supporting a large, collective vision rooted in nature connection that none of us can manifest alone. Our programs and services nurture the nodes of nature-based communities present in our region, and support the growth of a broader culture of nature connection beyond the scope of our own programs. Like ripples in a pond, nature-based communities spring up and grow along the concentric rings emanating from our work and that of our many sister organizations. We invite you to join us in manifesting a vibrant, life-sustaining future.

Here’s how we are implementing our vision:

Beginning in 1999, Vermont Wilderness School has specialized in programming focused on long-term mentoring in nature connection, wilderness living and community relationships. Our programming philosophy and designs are rooted in the Art of Mentoring teachings initially gathered and articulated by Jon Young, founder of Wilderness Awareness School. The Art of Mentoring teachings are an evolving bundle of practices generated by studying and applying cultural systems found in Earth-based cultures from around the world. The wisdom of these practices for human development are affirmed by current research in brain development, brain-based learning and human development – as well as affirmed by the experiences of our programs and of related programs run for 25+ years around the world.

Programs for youth and adults offered through Vermont Wilderness School fall under the categories of nature connection, applied earth living skills and cultural mentoring, Examples of these include: day camps; year-round mentoring programs for youth and teens; tracking and permaculture classes; the Art of Mentoring Workshop and Eight Shields Women’s Weekend.

Beginning with a collaborative relationship with the Community Wilderness Initiative in 2007, VWS has restructured to support community members and qualified instructors who have proposals for programs that are in alignment with our vision and values. Since 2009, VWS has offered several new programs designed and offered by instructors who are part of a newly forming Instructors’ Guild committed to quality programming and life-long learning rooted in the Art of Mentoring. Qualified lead instructors design and propose programs to run through Vermont Wilderness School. Guild assistant instructors and interns are work for these programs developing their own skills and experience. Instructors are able to offer the programs they are feeling drawn to and area community members can make requests for programming they perceive a need for.

Vermont Wilderness School provides mentor/instructor coaching, program oversight 501c3 donor/grant capacity, access to financial support, database and network capacity and outreach, administrative services, and insurance and employee payroll services in Vermont and Massachusetts. VWS will also offer a dynamic, connecting website for individuals and organizations joining a growing international movement.

Additionally, VWS administers the Ingwe’s Path Scholarship Fund (providing financial aid for community members to attend non-VWS programs) and the Great Blue Heron Fund (providing financial aid for people to attend VWS programs).

Join us!

VWS continues to adapt to the needs and resources of the present, re-shaping how it seeks to manifest and support our vision by working to create an alliance with:

- Families & Community Members
- Instructors
- Donors & Funders
- Elders, Board Members and Advisors
- Landowner Partners
- Other Wilderness Schools and Programs
- Affiliate Organizations

Members of this alliance hold a shared vision of regenerative culture that is supported by valued elements described in “What We Agree are Critical Elements in Manifesting a Regenerative Future.” Members also agree to a code of conduct regarding how we relate to and support one another. See our website for more information. Through this alliance, we all grow towards living in regenerative, healthy communities that will nourish and support future generations-- a world where our programs aren’t programs any more, but how we live!