What is Quiet Heart Wilderness School ?
Quiet Heart is a wilderness education program designed to enhance students understanding of the natural world, and instill in them a sense of stewardship toward their planet and it’s creatures. Through scientific exploration as well as sharing knowledge and lore gathered from Native American and folk wisdom, Quiet Heart students gain a sense of comfort and respect for the natural world of which they are a part. Quiet Heart is all about learning by doing and having fun.
"I'm really going to miss
being out in the woods. Thanks for being such a great teacher." Alex "Bear" ~Summer Camp Student |
"Sharhar came home every
day full of energy, inspiration, and a very strong radiation of
well being. He absolutely beamed." Dimona ~Parent |
"We do crafts, play games,
cook stuff, go on walks- Stuff that the Indians would have done." Keeley ~OWLE Student |
"What you do with the children, is so special. Thank
you."
Mary
~Parent
Education through Exploration & Discovery of the Natural World
Primitive Skills
Wilderness Navigation
Plant Identification
Native Uses
Animal Identification
Tracking
Allan "Hawkeye" Sande
~Respect for our World, through the Quiet of the Woods~
Founder and director, Allan "Hawkeye" Sande, a Washington State native, spent his childhood exploring the wooded hills of Mason County and walking the shores of Hood Canal where an abundance of Native artifacts were there to be found. This early interest in nature and the Native Americans has grown from a life love to a teaching passion. Ten years ago, Allan saw the need for children to have the opportunity to explore and understand the wilderness that still remains in their own part of the world. Since that time, Quiet Heart has grown into an educational program for all ages. The education offered at Quiet Heart Wilderness School will enable students, young and old, to gain in their understanding of the natural world, and instill in them a sense of stewardship toward their planet and its creatures. At Quiet Heart eyes will be opened, minds and bodies will be strengthened and hearts will grow.
Susan "Eaglewoman" Dapper
Born and raised a Washingtonian, Susan spent most of her youth in the desert of eastern Washington. Her interests include everything that our state has to offer from cross country skiing to mossy hiking paths to investigating sea life on our saltwater shores. Susan holds an AA and a CMA degree in the medical field. Along with administrative duties for Quiet Heart, Susan has participated in the coming of age program. Susan’s vision and focus is to continue working with the middle-school age student to promote the feeling of community and empowerment that learning and connecting with mother earth provides for the young teen. Eaglewoman’s skills include working with textiles, beading, weaving, candle and soap making.
Dawn Kinsey
Dawn spent her childhood exploring the forests and back roads of many
western states including Texas, New Mexico, California and Montana.
Each place her family moved, her dad would take them on another new
adventure finding everything from antique farm implements, coyote scat,
native pottery shards, rocks and animal tracks. During her eclectic
professional life she has worked with and taught children, pre-school
through college level. Dawn holds degrees in Engineering and in Math.
Today, Dawn enjoys sharing nature with her son and rejuvenates herself
by going into nature. She enjoys backpacking, camping and learning the
skills of our ancestors. Dawn believes that through connecting with
nature we are able to connect more deeply with our authentic selves.
Eric Kitching
Eric grew up outside of a small logging town southeast of Eugene Oregon, where he spent many hours exploring the forests, camping, fishing, hunting and huckleberry picking with his family. He now resides in the foothills of Duvall Washington. Eric has trained under naturalist Elizabeth Gates, Mel Jacks of the Back Country Methods and Winter Survival Skills, Tom Brown Jr. at the Tracker School and Jon Young at Wilderness Awareness School. He is a Wilderness Awareness Residential Program and an Art of Mentoring graduate. He has tracked wolves in Idaho and cougars in Washington State under the guidance of the late predator specialist, educator and biologist Rocky Spencer. Eric is also a martial arts instructor. He has background experience in working with children from preschool age up. He teaches self defense and awareness programs and has just recently started his own program called “Children of Turtle…Protectors of Life” with a home school group of students ages 6 through 12.
Laura Hersh
Originally from Long Island, Massapequa, New York, Laura spent most
of her life roaming the beaches, marshes, and woods near her home. Her
travels led her to Ferry Beach Ecology School in Maine, then to Southern
Illinois where she learned about river systems, swamps, plants and organic
farming. From there she traveled to Katmai, Alaska and worked with the
National Park Service. Finally landing in Duvall, Washington where she
graduated from the Residential program through the Wilderness Awareness
School. Laura has a degree in Graphic Design as well as in Horticulture.
She also has a background in Botany. She is certified in wilderness
first aid and also a certified lifeguard. The greatest asset Laura brings
to Quiet Heart is her years of experience in working with young students.
“I like the process of giving back to children, creating, and
tapping into my own child’s heart again.” Her passions include
learning about the deeper meanings of life through nature, the human
connection and growth, music, dance, art, indigenous peoples, the medicine
wheel, stories, storytelling, native plants, and mentoring.
Elizabeth "Frog" Uding
Elizabeth "Frog" was raised in St. Genevieve, Missouri, where one can appreciate the full power of each of the four seasons. Frog's favorite movie was Dr. Doolittle because she too yearned to commune with animals. Sundays were spent at a family farm chasing lizards, tadpoles and always being wary of copperheads and cottonmouths. Frog attended The University of Southern Florida where she frequently changed her major because she wanted to do it all. She has a degree in Biology and is a licensed science teacher. She is the founder of Wisdomquest. She has taught at Edmonds Homeschool Resource Center, various homeschool groups and Alternative School #1. Frog and husband John are the proud parents of three rambucious boys.
