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Alderleaf Wilderness College Blog

Listed below are new articles, classes, and recent updates to the Alderleaf Wilderness College website. Checking this page frequently is a great way to stay abreast of new information on our site!

Mar 01, 2024

Frequently Asked Questions for Short Courses

FAQs for weekend, week-long, and day-long courses at Alderleaf Wilderness College.

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Feb 29, 2024

Making Arrowheads: The Ancient Art of Flint Knapping

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Primary concepts for making arrowheads and other edged stone tools

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Feb 14, 2024

Introduction to Wildlife Tracking Online Course

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Discover the hidden world around you by learning how to track animals in this wildlife tracking online course

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Nov 02, 2023

Backpack Basket Making Course

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Make a Backpack Basket, also known as a Packbasket, out of wood weavers and leather straps, with Peter Yencken.

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Apr 28, 2023

Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival Book

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A Guide to Shelter, Water, Fire, Food, Navigation, and Survival Kits

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Sep 10, 2022

Mushroom Identification

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Learn mushroom identification skills that are key to opening up the world of wild mushroom foraging and enjoyment.

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Apr 08, 2022

How to Homestead

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How to Homestead - 6 Ways to Go from Surviving Short-term to Thriving Long-term.

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Mar 17, 2022

What's Better Than Survival Gear?

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If you want to feel confident that you can survive in the wilderness, then you'll want to read this message:

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Feb 24, 2022

Nettle Beer Recipe

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Learn how to turn wild-foraged stinging nettle plants into a tasty tonic with this nettle beer recipe.

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Dec 24, 2021

Flint Knapping Arrowheads

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Learn how to turn a stone into an arrow point. Flint knapping arrowheads is a connection to the past and a practical wilderness survival skill.

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Oct 27, 2021

Emergency Survival Kit

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Recommendations for putting together an emergency survival kit for the backcountry.

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Sep 21, 2021

Mushroom Cultivation

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How to grow mushrooms - a detailed guide to mushroom cultivation at home and in the garden.

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Apr 17, 2021

Nettle Pesto Recipe

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This nettle pesto recipe is a tasty way to get started with adding wild foraged foods to your diet.

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Jan 26, 2021

Fire Pit Construction

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Wilderness survival fires have different requirements. Learn fire pit construction tips for surviving a cold night.

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Nov 23, 2020

Birch Polypore

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The birch polypore fungus, aka tinder fungus, is an incredibly useful survival resource for fire making.

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Aug 26, 2020

Survival Fish Trap

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This survival fish trap is a very old method for catching fish. In this article we show how to build and use this trap.

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May 27, 2020

Compost Tea Recipe

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Learn how to make organic fertilizer using a compost tea recipe.

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Apr 26, 2020

Survival Stone Tools Video

Learn how to make a quick stone blade for wilderness survival uses.

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Mar 25, 2020

Amphibian Eggs

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Learn to identify amphibian eggs & egg masses of frogs and salamanders found in western Washington lowlands.

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Feb 25, 2020

Building a Survival Shelter

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Exposure is the most common danger in survival situations and building a survival shelter is one of the primary tools used to mitigate that threat.

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Feb 07, 2020

Blacksmithing Course

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Learn blacksmithing basics while forging your own knife to take home at this blacksmithing course.

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Jan 30, 2020

Clove Hitch

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How to Tie a Clove Hitch Knot - A Valuable Skill for Wilderness Survival and More

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Nov 22, 2019

Birch Beer Recipe

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Birch beer is an unique gourmet beverage, similar to root beer. This birch beer recipe can be made at home.

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Nov 19, 2019

Wildlife Tracking Walks

Learn to identify animal tracks & sign while exploring habitats of the northwest through our Wildlife Tracking Walks.

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Nov 18, 2019

Wild Plant Walk Classes

Learn to identify wild plants and recognize edible, medicinal, & craft uses at these seasonal wild plant walk classes.

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Nov 18, 2019

Leatherworking Course

Leather Backpack Example

Make your own moccasin style leather shoes or a leather backpack in this leatherworking course.

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Sep 26, 2019

Wild Mushroom Recipes

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Here are some great wild mushroom recipes to take your wild delicacies to a new level of culinary delight.

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Aug 26, 2019

How to Dry Herbs

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Learn the different techniques of how to dry herbs including for specific parts such flowers, leaves, bark, and roots.

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Jun 20, 2019

Common Camas

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Common camas is a versatile plant with a long history of use by native people throughout the northwestern United States.

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May 27, 2019

Camping Food List

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Learn about how to make a camping food list and gain great meal ideas for your next outdoor adventure.

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Mar 07, 2019

Best Bushcraft Knife

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A knife can be the most important survival tool in your kit. Learn how to choose the best bushcraft knife for your needs.

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Feb 26, 2019

Paracord

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Paracord, or parachute cord, is one of the most useful pieces of survival gear. Learn about its properties and uses.

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Jan 29, 2019

Dog Tracks

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Learn how to differentiate dog tracks from other animal tracks, such as coyotes, wolves, foxes, and cougars.

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Dec 21, 2018

How to Make Maple Syrup

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Learn about the tools and steps of how to make maple syrup - an exciting sustainable living skill.

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Dec 11, 2018

Wildlife Tracker Training

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Wildlife trackers work as researchers, field technicians, rangers, and biologists all over the world. Learn how to get the wildlife tracker training needed for starting a wildlife career.

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Nov 28, 2018

Permaculturist Training

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Permaculture Education - Train to Become a Permaculturist. Earn Certificates in Permaculture Design and More.

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Nov 21, 2018

Home Cheese Making

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Home cheese making is easy and with some basic knowledge and minimal equipment you’ll be started in no time! It’s also a skill set that increases your capacity for self-sufficiency and sustainable permaculture lifestyles.

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Nov 08, 2018

Wildlife Trailing Course

wildlife trailing course

Learn how to locate fresh animal sign; follow the tracks and subtle clues, and find the animal, approaching without alerting them at this Wildlife Trailing Course.

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Nov 08, 2018

Survival and Tracking for Hunters Course

Learn wilderness survival and wildlife tracking skills specifically applicable to hunting. Survival skills are key for backcountry hunts, while wildlife tracking skills allow you to find game more efficiently.

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Nov 07, 2018

Intro to Mushroom Cultivation Class

Learn the basics of how to grow your own mushrooms - both wild and popular culinary varieties - such as shiitake, stropharia, and oyster mushrooms - at our Intro to Mushroom Cultivation Class.

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Nov 06, 2018

Primitive Hunting Tools Course

Learn how to build an atlatl, bola, rabbit stick, sling, and quickie survival bow at the Primitive Hunting Tools Course.

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Sep 19, 2018

Bear Attacks

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Learn what to do for different types of bear attacks, as well as preventative measures. Bear awareness and knowledge helps ensure your time in the outdoors is well spent and safe.

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Aug 22, 2018

Permaculture Plants

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Learn about 15 helpful permaculture plants that will serve you well whether you are planning to start a garden, landscaping around your property, or going all out on a sustainable homestead design.

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Aug 09, 2018

Alderleaf Alumni

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Learn about what graduates have done after attending the Alderleaf Wilderness Certification Program.

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Jul 27, 2018

Survival Gear Checklist

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Learn about the Ten Essential Systems for a survival gear checklist that can make the difference in surviving a challenging outdoor situation.

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Jun 22, 2018

Seaweed Recipes

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Check out some of the seaweed recipes we share with students in our core programs when we teach about wild edible seaweeds on our marine ecology field trips to the coast.

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May 15, 2018

Atlatl

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Learn how to make an atlatl - an ancient survival projectile weapon for hunting and sport that pre-dates the bow & arrow.

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May 04, 2018

Alderleaf Open House

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Join us for a free, family-friendly event to get a taste of what we offer at Alderleaf! Demonstrations and activities are led by our Advanced Wilderness Skills Program students.

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Apr 24, 2018

Nettle for Hair

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Herbalists use stinging nettle for hair and other scalp-related issues. Learn how to make your own nettle remedies for hair.

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