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Restoring our relationships with nature, ourselves, and each other

OPEN Youth Programs

Youth School Programs: A few spots are open!

Foxwalk Forest School (Ages 5 – 7)

Tuesdays, WEEKLY, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm, Putney, VT – Open.
Wednesdays, WEEKLY, 9:00am – 1:00 pm, West Brattleboro, VT – Full, Waitlist registration.

Great Blue Heron Community School (Ages 7 – 15)

Tuesdays, WEEKLY, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Putney, VT – Full. Waitlist registration.
Thursdays, WEEKLY, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Dummerston, VT – Open. 1 open spot for a child ages 7 – 11

OPEN Adult Programs

Nature Connection Mentoring Trainings

Renewal of Creative Purpose with Amy Hyatt

Jan 31 – Feb 1, 2026
Sat 9-5 + Sun 9-4
in Brattleboro, VT

A 2-day nature connection retreat to engage in the practice of assessing our past and present and looking to our future for a sense of renewed purpose, direction, and relationships.

Learning with Natural Cycles: An Introduction to Nature Connection Mentoring
with Amy Hyatt

March 7 – 8, 2026
Sat 9-5 + Sun 9-4
in Brattleboro, VT

A weekend learning about facilitating “invisible learning” and deep nature connection. The weekend will weave storytelling, explicit skills and tools for facilitating deep nature connection (in particular Natural Cycles Design & Learning), and some experiential learning embodying what we are exploring.

Applied Peacemaking & Restorative Relationships with Amy Hyatt

April 11 – 12, 2026
Sat 9-5 + Sun 9-4
in Brattleboro, VT

In this training we will learn about different practices for peacemaking and restoring relationships. Central to this exploration is the acknowledgement of the cultural context from which these practices have emerged.

Winter Tracking Day: Reading Stories in Snow

Two 1-Day options

w/Bob Etzweiler – Saturday, January 10, 2026 — 9 am to 3 pm (snow date Sunday, January 11)
w/Kathy Dean – Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 — 9 am to 3:30 pm (snow date Sunday, February 29)

In this beginner-friendly experiential workshop we will be wandering over a beautiful forest area, covering basic tracking curriculum, connecting with the natural world around us, making friends with fellow trackers, and having fun!

Lynx Tracking Expedition

Thursday evening through Sunday morning, February 19-22, 2026

Join Vermont Wilderness School for a long weekend on the trail of one of the most elusive carnivores of the Northeast. The Canada Lynx is built for deep snows, long winters, and big wilderness – all found in the vast lands of Northern Maine. We will spend the weekend together tracking, trailing, learning winter ecology, and building connection with the grey ghost of the North!

Wildlife Tracking Apprenticeship – FULL

Vermont Wilderness School’s Wildlife Tracking Apprenticeship provides quality instruction in wildlife tracking in a wide variety of conditions, over seven weekends spread out across three seasons.

Tracking is an invitation to slow down, look more closely, and question what we’re seeing. It’s a chance to get to know our “more than human” neighbors more deeply and intimately. It’s a journey to seeing our relationship and connection with the natural world more clearly. Join us!

October 18 & 19, 2025
December 20 & 21, 2025
January 17 & 18, 2026
February 7 & 8, 2026
March 14 & 15, 2026
April 11 & 12, 2026
June 13 & 14, 2026
July 11 & 12, 2026 (Make Up Day if Needed)

Affording VWS Programs

SCHOLARSHIPS AND REPARATIONS FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ALL VWS PROGRAMS. Thank you to our many donors for their support of these funds. See our Policies section for more information.

Check out our offerings for adults, offerings for youth, and opportunities to get involved!