Join Earthroots Coyote Mentors for an outdoor adventure as you connect with nature and new friends! Learn ancestral arts, stories, and wilderness survival skills in this exciting class designed just for TEENS. The Earthroots Teen Program will be offered monthly at Big Oak Canyon. Imagine yourself tracking wildlife across the landscape, making and shooting your own arrow, foraging for edible plants, and sharing stories with new friends. You will do this and more in this exciting series!
Big Oak is a 39-acre property located on shared ancestral lands of the Juañeno Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation and neighboring Tongva/Gabrieleño and Payómkawichum/Luiseño tribes in Silverado Canyon.
Each class will include a wander/hike, plant identification, nature journaling, and hands-on activity. Some classes may include cooking, eating, and wild foraging.
All classes will take place on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Fiber Block
Activities in this block will be fiber related and may include things like spinning wool, making cordage, natural dyeing, or knot tying.
September 21, 2024 – Cordage & Nature Journaling
October 26, 2024 – Spinning Wool
November 23, 2024 – Natural Dyes
Medicinal Plants Block
Activities in this block will be related to the medicinal properties of plants and may include making healing salve, herbal tinctures or sprays, herbal teas, or making a first aid kit.
December 28, 2024 – First Aid Kit & Medicine Plant Walk
January 25, 2025 – Herbal Spray
Tracking and Trapping Block
Activities in this block will be tracking related and may include activities such as archery, scat and track identification, building awareness, and exploring bones and furs.
March 22, 2025 – Tracking
May 17, 2025 – Archery
Program Details
Who: Ages 12-19
When: Saturdays (varied dates) 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: Big Oak Canyon, Silverado Canyon
Price: $60/session
CHARTER FUNDS ACCEPTED.
Note: If paying with charter school funds, please reach out to [email protected] to register.
What to bring
- Backpack
- Water in refillable water bottle
- A lunch and snacks
- Nature Journal
- Sun protection- hat, sunscreen, bandana
- Comfortable shoes for hiking
- Layers for sun or cold weather
Scholarships Available
Earthroots is committed to creating nature connection opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) participants and families in need.
Lead Instructors
Macy Pilkington
Macy Pilkington is all about empowering children to trust themselves, to trust each other, and to trust that the world is beautiful and safe. This southern California native grew up in the shadow of Saddleback Mountain. As soon as she could drive, the canyons became her sanctuary. Her search for nature led her to spend countless nights under the stars in Holy Jim Canyon, hiking the trails around Blackstar, and admiring the rural charm of Modjeska and Silverado canyons.
Deepening her skills in youth education, outreach, and empowerment on a permaculture farm in Hawaii, Macy had the opportunity to become focused on her personal objective of finding new and inventive ways to help steward our beautiful planet. At Earthroots, Macy is excited to use her experience and love of nature to inspire families to relax into the world around them, to deepen their skills of observation, and to never stop asking questions. She believes that the best way to heal our planet is to empower children with love and nurturing for themselves and the ground beneath their feet.
Drop-in Instructors
Raz Allen
Throughout her life, Raz has been a girl scout, Marine and an advocate/fundraiser for outdoor/natural causes. She is a Reiki Master/Teacher/Intuitive, Certified Massage Therapist, and avid tree hugger! Some call her MacGyver, because she will always find a way to make things work!
Raz lived in California, for the first time, as a young person, where she found out how wonderful the outdoors could be. Her family frequently visited many natural places, including Sequoia every six months, local beaches and road trips into the once vast open space of Orange County. She always loved to learn on nature walks, play outside and especially climb trees/ walls of her Tustin neighborhood.
Karen Graham
Director of Curriculum and Instruction | Instructor
Karen began her adventure with Earthroots in 2013 with her children in the Forest Kindergarten program shortly after moving to Orange County. She is a mother of four school aged children, and spending time with them outdoors is a priority. Karen was a public school teacher for 14 years in Long Beach, and she has a multiple subject teaching credential and a Master of Education in Dual Language Development. As Earthroots’ curriculum writer, she develops lessons that engage kids with the outside world. Karen is grateful for the opportunity to connect her two passions at Earthroots- her love of nature and teaching children.
Shane Brown
Land Caretaker | Instructor
Shane is the caretaker of Earthroots’ Big Oak Canyon property. He also teaches Astronomy Night, Bird Language, and several other classes and workshops. Shane is always there to lend a helping hand with Earthroots classes, Volunteer Days and other events at Big Oak Canyon. He has a calm and humble personality and loves a good story. He started volunteering with Earthroots when he was a teenager in 2011. He is dedicated to learning and sharing the skills that it takes to be a human living in deep connection to other living things.