Instructors

About Michael G. Smith

Instructors

Michael G. Smith has a background in environmental engineering and social forestry. In 1993, he co-founded the Cob Cottage Company in Oregon, and the next year helped organize the first Natural Building Colloquium.

About Josh Lane

Instructors

Josh Lane has spent the last ten years exploring nature awareness skills and the art of mentoring. During his undergraduate studies at Hampshire College, Josh combined ancient tracking skills with modern GPS and trail camera technologies to examine the behavior of red foxes and other carnivores. He also completed the Kamana Naturalist Training Program and advanced work in the Shikari Tracker Training Program. Josh has enjoyed sharing nature awareness skills with people of all ages, in many settings across the country.

About Nathan Meffert

Instructors

Nathan Meffert has taught nature awareness skills to all ages for over 5 years. He has a B.A. in Ecology and Experiential Education from Hampshire College, and has also studied the skills of integral awareness both with wildlife expert John McCarter, and with Jon Young over the course of 4 years, including extensive training in the methods of the Shikari Tracker Training Program. Nathan’s primary teachers in the animal world have been Cooper's hawks, jays, coyotes and fishers. He has been an instructor with the Institute of Nature Awareness, and is currently on staff with the Shikari Tracking Guild.

About Nicole Young

Instructors

Nicole Morgan Young lives in San Gregorio California at The Riekes Field Station. In 1995 She co-founded Villa Villa Cola, a media production company and collaborative of female skateboarders.

About Matt Berry

Instructors

About Jon Young

Instructors

Inspired by his childhood mentoring with tracker and author Tom Brown, Jr., Jon has pioneered blending Native mentoring techniques from around the world with the tools of modern field ecology.