upcoming classes & events

Wild Women Walks - Hunter's Moon (free)
Oct
17

Wild Women Walks - Hunter's Moon (free)

Join Licia from Firecraft Northwest for monthly walks (and sometimes treats and crafts!) under the full moon. October's will be both a supermoon and the Hunter's Moon! These casual outings create space to build relationship with other women and feel comfortable outside as the sun sets and the moon rises.

View Event →
Happy Hour Hike - Fall Foraging (free)
Oct
24

Happy Hour Hike - Fall Foraging (free)

Swap the happy hour drink for an interactive hike at Squaxin Park about PNW fall edibles! We'll do a slow-moving walk through the trails at Squaxin, stopping to learn about plants, fungi, and even trees that have edible components to them, some of which can still be foraged in the fall season. We'll touch on the main points of Honorable Harvesting and ways you can be a community- and sustainability-minded local forager.

View Event →
Rainy Day Fires and Survival Skills Workshop ($70)
Oct
26

Rainy Day Fires and Survival Skills Workshop ($70)

Fire building is an essential survival skill can be used for an unlimited number of skills and tasks around camp and home. Confidence building fires could also save your life in an emergency! It can be challenging to get your fire going as the rain starts coming down, so we’ve designed this course to provide practice in training in the heart of the fall rainy season! We’ll dive into different fire configurations and key strategies for building a consistent fire in any weather. We'll also cover survival basics that are useful for concepts for every outing!

Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!

View Event →
Knot Tying Clinic ($35)
Nov
9

Knot Tying Clinic ($35)

This clinic is designed for beginners who are looking to build a foundation with a variety of knots that can be used for camping, shelters, traps, gardening, and more.

We’ll work as a group and follow along step by step to practice common knots and discuss when to use them. We’ll finish the class with a training on how to set up a ridge line that can be used for a variety of purposes including tarps and shelters.

Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this class? Click the button below!

View Event →
South Sound Wildlife Walk ($15)
Nov
10

South Sound Wildlife Walk ($15)

  • Inspiring Kids Preserve (Capitol Land Trust) (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Let’s take a walk on the banks and forests of the incredible South Sound to study the flora and fauna that live there! This outing, in partnership with Capitol Land Trust, will be guided by Firecraft Northwest naturalists and wildlife trackers. During this session, we’ll identify trees and plants, listen for birds that stay north through the winter, look for fungi, and study animal tracks and signs along the way!

View Event →
Waterfowl Walk (Free)
Nov
17

Waterfowl Walk (Free)

Join naturalists and birders Licia Sahagun and Ryan Johnson for the first waterfowl walk of the season! In this session, participants will walk the trails around Capitol Lake searching and identifying the waterfowl we see, like Mallards, wood ducks, wigeons, geese, buffleheads, pintails, and more! This session is welcome to beginning birders and experts alike!

View Event →

Tree & Fungi ID Basics (FULL)
Oct
12

Tree & Fungi ID Basics (FULL)

Join us for a free outing at Olympia's Watershed Park to learn the basics of tree and fungus identification. We'll do a slow meandering walk through the woods and discuss what we find!

This class is now FULL.

We will be offering another class with similar themes before fungi season is over, so follow us online (newsletter, website, instagram) for another class announcement soon!

View Event →
Olympia Green Drinks (free)
Oct
2

Olympia Green Drinks (free)

Come find us at the October gathering of Olympia Green Drinks, an informal gathering for anyone interested in local environmental issues and working towards a more sustainable Olympia.

View Event →
Nisqually Watershed Festival (free)
Sep
28

Nisqually Watershed Festival (free)

  • Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Come visit our Firecraft Northwest table at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge for the 35th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival. Organized by the Nisqually River Council, this event will feature live music, wildlife exhibits and presentations, and more!

View Event →
PNW Spoon Bash
Sep
13
to Sep 15

PNW Spoon Bash

Hosted this year at Rainbow Falls State Park, the Pacific Northwest Spoon Bash is an opportunity for wood carvers to connect, learn, and carve! A variety of demonstrations will be offered including knife sheath making, ebonizing with ink, iron oxide, and torch, making boxes, and more!

View Event →
Wild Food and Bushcraft Weekend
Aug
17
to Aug 18

Wild Food and Bushcraft Weekend

A Northwest Natura & Firecraft Northwest Collaboration

Wild Food + Bushcraft Weekend

Learn to find your own food in an overnight wilderness weekend training scenario with naturalists and bushcraft instructors, Ryan Johnson (Firecraft Northwest) & Jazmen Yoder (Northwest Natura)!

  • Build survival shelters

  • Practice essential knots + tarp set-up

  • Forage wild foods

  • Track small game animals.

  • Build and set snares and small traps.

  • Make fire with foraged materials.

  • Cook your food on an open flame

  • Learn how to properly purify your water

  • Camp overnight

Have you ever wondered how you would fare if you got stranded on one of your weekend hiking excursions? Are you an outdoorsperson and interested in putting some of your camping skills to the test? This weekend workshop and training is just the place!

Learn to find your own food in an overnight wilderness weekend training scenario! In this program, build survival shelters like debris huts and lean-tos. Practice essential knots and tarp deployment. Walk through a classic PNW riparian corridor with your instructors to forage your own food to try to meet your calorie needs. Learn to track small game animals. Build and set snares and small traps. Make fire with foraged materials, cook your food on an open flame and learn how to properly purify your water.

This workshop will give you the chance to feel what it’s like to be on “Alone” for 2 days and 1 night, with the support of experienced instructors and your fellow participants!

Course lesson plans and areas of focus:

  • Survival Rules and Priorities with a PNW focus

  • Shelter building with natural materials and safe shelter placement

  • Emergency tarp shelter and ridgeline knot tying

  • Foraging wild edibles and plant ID

  • Track and sign for rabbits and other small game

  • Carving simple primitive traps and snares

  • Checking trap lines

  • Fireside cooking and water purification

  • Camp skills and overnight survival scenario experiences

Skill level Considerations:

This weekend course welcomes beginners, intermediate and advanced participants. The course will move at a fast pace and introduce numerous subjects spanning many areas of focus. Any skill level will feel challenged and excited to find a supportive space to test their skills and enjoy a beautiful outdoor space.

Sign up / Register on the Northwest Natura website at the link below:
https://www.northwestnatura.com/fieldtrips/p/wildfood-bushcraft-weekend


Interested in this program but looking for financial support? Full tuition scholarships are available! Reach out to Ryan by email:

ryan@firecraftnw.com

View Event →
PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 1/30/24
Jan
30

PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 1/30/24

Course Description
Tuition: $50.00

Please join Naturalists Jazmen Yoder (Northwest Natura) & Ryan Johnson (Firecraft NW) at the Chuckanut Center for this interactive and beginner friendly Fungi and Mushrooms crash course.

Learn the different structures of fungi and mushrooms, life cycle, and how to categorize them.

Participants will review examples of edible mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest, what conditions they grow in, and how to use keys to identify them, followed by a demonstration on creating a spore print.

The class will conclude with a brief discussion and demonstration on using fungi to create fire, as well as books and resources to further pursue the study of mycology and fungi!

View Event →
Spoon Carving Workshop
Jan
27

Spoon Carving Workshop

Tuition: $65.00

Course Description

In this introductory carving class, led by Ryan Johnson, learn to make handmade wooden spoons using a knife, axe, saw, gouge, and hook.

Each step of the process, follow along with the instructor to make your own spoon to take home.

Class fee of $65 includes a brand new carving knife for the participant to keep. Wood material, templates, and tools for the class will be available for use.

Please bring water, lunch, and any snacks you may want during class breaks.

If you have any questions about the class please reach out to ryan AT firecraftnw.com. We’ll see you there!

Kids aged 12 + with a guardian welcome.

Parking is available at Chuckanut Center. If the lot is full, please find additional parking next door at Fairhaven Park.

View Event →
PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 1/7/24
Jan
7

PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 1/7/24

Course Description
Tuition: $50.00

Please join Naturalists Jazmen Yoder (Northwest Natura) & Ryan Johnson (Firecraft NW) at the Chuckanut Center for this interactive and beginner friendly Fungi and Mushrooms crash course.

Learn the different structures of fungi and mushrooms, fungi propagation, life cycle, and how to categorize them.

Participants will review examples of edible mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest, what conditions they grow in, and how to use keys to identify them, followed by a demonstration on creating a spore print.

The class will conclude with a brief discussion and demonstration on using fungi to create fire, as well as books and resources to further pursue the study of mycology and fungi!

View Event →
Spoon Carving Workshop
Dec
10

Spoon Carving Workshop

Tuition: $60.00 - CLASS IS FULL

Course Description

In this introductory carving class, led by Ryan Johnson and Gary Cassera, learn to make handmade wooden spoons using a knife, axe, saw, and gouge.

Each step of the process, follow along with the instructors to make your own spoon to take home.

Please bring water, lunch, and any snacks you may want during class breaks.

Class fee of $60 includes wood, templates, and tools for the class. Participants do not take the tools home, but keep all projects they create.

Extra wood will be available for participants to take home at the end of the session.

If you have any questions about the materials or tools, or what the flow of the class will be like, please reach out to ryan AT firecraftnw.com. We'll see you there!

Kids aged 12 + with a guardian welcome.

Parking is available at Chuckanut Center. If the lot is full, please find additional parking next door at Fairhaven Park.

View Event →
Fire and Arrows 10/29/23
Oct
29

Fire and Arrows 10/29/23

Tuition: $90.00

Program Description:

Use essential survival skills to build a fire and hand craft your own primitive arrow for archery to take home! We’ll use western red cedar, deer bones and sinew, pine pitch glue, feathers, and other natural materials for our construction! Follow along with the instructors each step of the way. This program is a collaboration between Ryan Johnson of Firecraft Northwest and Jazmen Yoder of Northwest Natura! Learn more and register below:

Class Outline

  • Fire making in rainy conditions

    • Learn to identify key PNW plants so you can find fire materials like douglas fir fatwood

    • Practice setting up your fire with the guidance of instructors

    • Build fire skills for use in wildcrafts

  • Hand make your own Arrow from all natural materials

    • Knife Work - learn techniques to carve and notch your arrow shaft

    • Deer Bone Arrowheads - shape and design your own arrowhead

    • Pitch Glue - make your own natural adhesive from the landscape to bind all of your arrow components

    • Feathers - use wild turkey feathers to create your own stylish arrow fletchings

    • Sinew - work with deer backstrap sinew to lash your arrowhead and fletchings

    • Burnish & straighten your arrow shaft with heat from your fire

View Event →
Firecraft Carving Series Fall 2023
Oct
28

Firecraft Carving Series Fall 2023

The Firecraft Carving series is an entry point into the incredible world of green woodworking and sloyd crafting!

Learn to make what you need, like common household items, from the woods in your own area and simple tools!

This series of classes introduces participants to core woodworking techniques, projects, and concepts, while simultaneously familiarizing the group with the tools and materials to get started.

The course is designed with beginners in mind, but intermediate and advanced woodworkers will also enjoy the step by step process of these classic projects and social atmosphere.

Each session, participants will craft multiple projects (up to 9 over the course of the series!) to take home. You’ll also have the option to create essentials like a hand-carved mallet and chopping block for continuing this crafting journey outside of class!

Tuition: $215 (includes a knife to keep on day 1, as well as all materials and projects participants take home)

Program Outline and Dates (Please note the specific dates for each session!)

Session 1 - Saturday October 28th, 2023

Time: 1PM to 4:30PM (ish)

Lessons and Content for this session

  • Introductions and safety

  • Tools of the trade

  • Core carving techniques - practice and training

Projects for this session

  • Branch Carved Spreaders

  • Chopsticks

  • Bark-Side Simple Salt Bowls (optional)

  • Mallets (optional)

Session 2 - Sunday, November 5th, 2023

Time: 1PM to 4:30 PM (ish)

Lessons and Content for this session

  • Intermediate and alternative carving techniques

  • More complex projects

  • Working with billets

Projects for this session

  • Billet spreaders

  • Simple spoons

Session 3 - Sunday November 12th, 2023

Time: 1PM to 4:30 PM (ish)

Lessons and Content for this session

  • Building carving setups and stations (chopping blocks)

  • Advanced carving techniques

  • Working with a chopping block (safety and techniques)

  • Mortise and tenon simple joinery

  • Pull cuts and details with a sloyd knife

Projects for this session

  • Spatulas and / or Cooking Spoons

  • Coffee Bag Clip / Chip Clip (optional)

  • 3-legged chopping blocks (to take home) (optional)
    via hand carved mortise and tenon

View Event →
PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 10/24/23
Oct
24

PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 10/24/23

Course Description
Tuition: $50.00

Please join Naturalists Jazmen Yoder (Northwest Natura) & Ryan Johnson (Firecraft NW) at the Chuckanut Center for this interactive and beginner friendly Fungi and Mushrooms crash course.

Learn the different structures of fungi and mushrooms, fungi propagation, life cycle, and how to categorize them.

Participants will review examples of edible mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest, what conditions they grow in, and how to use keys to identify them, followed by a demonstration on creating a spore print.

The class will conclude with a brief discussion and demonstration on using fungi to create fire, as well as books and resources to further pursue the study of mycology and fungi!

View Event →
Handmade Spoon Carving
Oct
15

Handmade Spoon Carving

Cost: $50
Location: Raven’s Roots campus in Ferndale, WA

It’s a wonderful feeling to cook and eat with utensils you’ve made yourself! In this introductory carving class, learn to make beautiful handmade wooden spoons from wood using a knife, axe, saw, and gouge. We’ll discuss which tree species to use and why, where to find them, and how to harvest them sustainably. Then, we will section the logs into billets so we can begin carving. Each step of the process, you’ll follow along with the instructor to make your own spoon to take home. You’ll also get to meet other carvers in the community and socialize while we carve. Tools and materials will be provided. If you have tools or woods of your own you would like to use, you are welcome to bring those along too! Students can bring additional wood billets home for future projects.

Course Outline

  • Overview of Sloyd woodworking and using hand tools to make everyday items

  • Learn how to use various woodworking tools including knife, axe, saw, gouge, and hook

  • Discuss tree identification and sustainable harvesting

  • Follow step-by-step instructions to create your own spoon to take home.

Please Bring: Lunch, water bottle, snacks, any carving tools you wish to use or share.

View Event →
Bellingham Carver's Guild
Oct
1

Bellingham Carver's Guild

The Bellingham Carver’s Guild is a group of Green Woodworkers looking to socialize, craft, and learn!

Come join us to work on a project, like a spoon, spatula, spreader, wood spirit, and more!

New Carvers – Please arrive at 12:00 PM for a tool and safety introduction so we can get you set up on your first project!

Participants will be asked to bring their own tools and wood to share (if they have any). Some spare tools will be available.

This event is free and open to the public.
Suggested donation to the Chuckanut Center: $5.00

Parking is available at the center. If the lot is full, please find additional parking next door at Fairhaven Park.

If the weather is nice, we will bring out a fire pit and carve outside. If the weather is challenging, we will carve inside.

View Event →
Fall '23 Nature and Survival Series [4 SESSIONs]
Sep
2

Fall '23 Nature and Survival Series [4 SESSIONs]

Course Description
Tuition: $240.00

Make new friends! Go hiking! Learn new skills! Spend time outside at beautiful locations.

In this apprenticeship style series, join Survival Instructor & Naturalist Ryan Johnson for a deep dive into nature awareness and survival skills. Our cohort will meet once a month for four sessions on Saturdays September 2nd, October 7th, November 4th, and December 2nd.

We’ll cover a wide variety of subjects, including survival basics, fire making, plant id, bird id, wildlife tracking, tool use, sensory/nature awareness, fireside cooking, and more. Sessions utilize a blend of hands on training, interactive activities, and detailed educational content. We will visit a new location each date for this course.

Registration for new participants to the program includes a belt knife (Morakniv) to use for the duration of the course, as well as relevant materials for each craft and project to take home.

Session Dates:
9:00 AM PST to 3:30 PM [ish] PST
Saturday September 2nd, 2023 @ South Fork Park (Acme / Deming area)
Saturday October 7th, 2023 @ Edfro Creek (Thousand Puddles Trail)
Saturday, November 4th, 2023 @ Bell Creek Nature School / TBD
Saturday, December 2nd, 2023 @ Larrabee State Park / TBD (pending permit)


Tuition & Scholarship
Please contact Ryan directly if you have challenges in paying this tuition or would like to request financial assistance.

View Event →
Northwest Washington Track & SIgn Evaluation
Aug
19
to Aug 20

Northwest Washington Track & SIgn Evaluation

Program Description
Evaluator: Marcus Reynerson
Host: Firecraft Northwest (Ryan Johnson)

Registration: $375 (Fee includes overnight camping accommodations for 8/18/23 and 8/19/23).

Tracker Certification (Cyber Tracker North America) is the international standard for wildlife tracker training. In this two day evaluation, participants will learn to recognize tracks and sign from mammals, reptiles, birds and invertebrates in Northwest Washington.

This weekend long intensive is unparalleled for learning and developing advanced tracking skills from world-class trackers and evaluators. The event serves as both an assessment and training course. Participants can earn certificates based on their skills and knowledge, given out at the end of the weekend. To learn more about certificate levels, click here.

Logistics
Saturday August 19th & Sunday August 20th, 2023
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM [roughly] each day
5656 Mosquito Lake Rd, Deming, WA 98244

Our home base for the weekend will be Bell Creek Nature School, just east of Bellingham in Deming, Washington along the Nooksack River. Participants are invited to arrive and check-in after 1:00 PM on Friday, August 18th, 2023 to camp and get situated on site before the evaluation begins on Saturday morning. Participants are also welcome to find their own lodging for the weekend if preferred.

Camping & Amenities
Participants will need to bring their own tents or hammocks for sleeping. The camping area will be uphill a short hike away from the parking lot, so be prepared to carry over what you need. A portable toilet will be available for restroom use, as well as non-potable water. Please bring drinking water for the weekend (the host will bring extra as well). Fire pits are available for warmth and cooking, but the host will inform participants of any relevant fire bans if necessary.

How to find us?
Look for the fire station at the nature school address. There is a small lot adjacent to the fire station above the river before you get to the bridge. Park there and the host (Ryan) will help you get situated.

Questions?
Contact the host (Ryan Johnson / Firecraft Northwest) via email or phone at ryan@firecraftnw.com / (480)- 603-7106

View Event →
PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 8/8/23
Aug
8

PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 8/8/23

Course Description
Tuition: $50.00

Please join Naturalists Jazmen Yoder (Northwest Natura) & Ryan Johnson (Firecraft NW) at the Chuckanut Center for this interactive and beginner friendly Fungi and Mushrooms crash course.

Learn the different structures of fungi and mushrooms, fungi propagation, life cycle, and how to categorize them.

Participants will review examples of edible mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest, what conditions they grow in, and how to use keys to identify them, followed by a demonstration on creating a spore print.

The class will conclude with a brief discussion and demonstration on using fungi to create fire, as well as books and resources to further pursue the study of mycology and fungi!

View Event →
Summer Plant ID and Foraging Workshop
Aug
6

Summer Plant ID and Foraging Workshop

Course Description
Tuition: $50.00

Take a tour of the wild plants growing at Bell Creek Nature School, a beautiful blend of Old Growth temperate rain forest and riparian riverside.

In this workshop, led by Survival Guide Ryan Johnson, identify key plant species of the Pacific Northwest with core botany principles to help you discover edible species to forage throughout our region.

At the end of class, we will use our new found knowledge to build a fire and make wild tea!

View Event →
Knife and Tool Sharpening Class
Jul
30

Knife and Tool Sharpening Class

Course Description
Tuition: $45.00


Learn the fundamentals of making knives and tools sharp!

In this workshop, join Woodworker and Survival Skills Instructor Ryan Johnson for a tutorial on sharpening your knives and tools by hand.

We’ll discuss the principles of sharpening and get hands-on practice using free hand techniques.

Please bring 2-3 knives or tools from your arsenal to practice on. If you don’t have any knives or don’t know what to bring, contact Ryan and he can bring extras for you.

Due to the high cost of materials and high level of coaching required for this course, class sizes will be small.

Parking is available. If the lot is full, please find additional parking next door at Fairhaven Park.

Please direct questions to the instructor : Ryan AT firecraftnw DOT com

View Event →
Spoon Carving Workshop
Jul
29

Spoon Carving Workshop

Tuition: $60.00

Course Description

In this introductory carving class, led by Ryan Johnson and Gary Cassera, learn to make handmade wooden spoons using a knife, axe, saw, and gouge.

Each step of the process, follow along with the instructors to make your own spoon to take home.

Please bring water, lunch, and any snacks you may want during class breaks.

Class fee of $60 includes wood, templates, and tools for the class. Participants do not take the tools home, but keep all projects they create.

Extra wood will be available for participants to take home at the end of the session.

If you have any questions about the materials or tools, or what the flow of the class will be like, please reach out to ryan AT firecraftnw.com. We'll see you there!

Kids aged 12 + with a guardian welcome.

Parking is available at Chuckanut Center. If the lot is full, please find additional parking next door at Fairhaven Park.

View Event →
Knot Tying Clinic
Jun
21

Knot Tying Clinic

Course Description
Tuition: $35.00

Using the right knot for the job makes life easier! This short workshop will be designed for beginners who are looking to build a foundation with a useful variety of basic knots.

We’ll work as a group and follow along step by step to practice these common knots and discuss when to use them. We’ll finish the class with training in setting up a tarp for outdoor use.

This clinic welcomes backpackers, gardeners, hikers, survival enthusiasts, and any others who want to practice and learn!

This session is led by survival instructor and guide Ryan Johnson of Firecraft Northwest.

If the lot is full, please find additional parking next door at Fairhaven Park.

View Event →
Interactive Wildlife Tracking Lecture
Jun
17

Interactive Wildlife Tracking Lecture

The art of wildlife tracking is an incredible journey into studying the animals and living things all around us. This short lecture is a great place to begin!

  • Do interactive activities with the instructors to see tracks and signs of local animals in Northwest Washington

  • Connect with other hikers and nature enthusiasts in Whatcom County

  • Learn to identify tracks of local mammals

  • Build a foundation of core concepts in track and sign

New trackers and experienced trackers and nature enthusiasts alike are welcome!

Suggested Donation day of event: $20.00

Click the button below to register / sign-up:

View Event →
Overnight Campout: Botany & Bushcraft
May
6
to May 7

Overnight Campout: Botany & Bushcraft

Washington Park Group Camp (Anacortes)

Date: May 6th and 7th (1pm to 1pm)

Tuition: $215.00

Join Naturalists and Outdoor Educators, Ryan Johnson (Firecraft Northwest) & Jazmen Yoder (Northwest Natura) on this one-of-a-kind, immersive campout on the coast of NW Washington State!

This overnight trip will have you totally immersed in nature with the added convenience of running water, shelter, and evening privacy.

Washington Park in Anacortes, WA is situated on a coastal bluff with unique natural history. In this course, we will spend Saturday and Sunday primarily focused on the following topics:

  • Identifying spring blooms

  • Identifying and tasting wild edibles

  • Learning the medicinal use of multiple plant species

  • Exploring tidepools (low tides expected)

  • Wildlife Viewing (e.g., maritime birds, porpoises, whales, and harbor seals)

  • Primitive fire-making techniques

  • Campfire Cooking

We may also have an opportunity to view bioluminescent algae along the coast!

There is so much to see at Washington Park!

Carpool Roster

If you would like to carpool, please click the link above.

Add your name under either “Driver” or “Passenger” and let us take care of the rest!

Once you are registered, we will be in contact via email with further details on carpooling, directions, what to bring, and other useful information.

View Event →
Wildlife Tracking Field Workshop
Apr
22

Wildlife Tracking Field Workshop

Course Description
Tuition: $40.00

Join Survival Instructor and Wildlife Tracker Ryan Johnson on a field hike through Bell Creek Nature School, a beautiful blend of Old Growth temperate Rainforest and Riparian Riverside. In this workshop, learn the basics of wildlife tracking and bring your new knowledge to the field to look for tracks and signs of wildlife on the landscape.

Course Outline

Wildlife tracking basic concepts - tracks, gait, signs, disturbance

Animal behavior and morphology

Nature observation and awareness, nature connection

Hands on training in the field to practice interpreting wildlife track and sign.

View Event →
Early Spring Plant ID workshop
Mar
11

Early Spring Plant ID workshop

RESCHEDULED

Course Description
Tuition: $50.00

Take a tour of the wild plants growing at Bell Creek Nature School, a beautiful blend of Old Growth temperate rain forest and riparian riverside.

In this workshop, led by Survival Guide Ryan Johnson, identify key plant species of the Pacific Northwest with core botany principles to help you discover edible species to forage throughout our region.

At the end of class, we will use our new found knowledge to build a fire and make wild tea!

Materials: Please bring lunch, water bottle, & warm clothing for all weather conditions (especially rain). Please bring a mug or cup for wild tea at the end of class.

View Event →
PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 3/5/23
Mar
5

PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course! 3/5/23

Course Description
Tuition: $50.00

Please join Naturalists Jazmen Yoder (Northwest Natura) & Ryan Johnson (Firecraft NW) at the Chuckanut Center for this interactive and beginner friendly Fungi and Mushrooms crash course.

Learn the different structures of fungi and mushrooms, fungi propagation, life cycle, and how to categorize them.

Participants will review examples of edible mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest, what conditions they grow in, and how to use keys to identify them, followed by a demonstration on creating a spore print.

The class will conclude with a brief discussion and demonstration on using fungi to create fire, as well as books and resources to further pursue the study of mycology and fungi!

View Event →
Knot Tying Clinic Day
Feb
26

Knot Tying Clinic Day

Course Description
Tuition: $30.00

Using the right knot for the job makes life easier! This short workshop will be designed for beginners who are looking to build a foundation with a useful variety of basic knots.

We’ll work as a group and follow along step by step to practice these common knots and discuss when to use them. We’ll finish the class with training in setting up a tarp for outdoor use.

This clinic welcomes backpackers, gardeners, hikers, survival enthusiasts, and any others who want to practice and learn!

This session is led by survival instructor and guide Ryan Johnson of Firecraft Northwest.

If the lot is full, please find additional parking next door at Fairhaven Park.

View Event →
PNW Winter Fires and Survival Basics WOrkshop
Feb
12

PNW Winter Fires and Survival Basics WOrkshop

Course Description
Tuition: $40.00

Fire is an essential survival skill that also brings us joy and warmth in nature! It can be challenging to get your fire going, especially as the rain starts coming down! In this course, led by Survival Guide Ryan Johnson, practice fire building in the challenging conditions of the Pacific Northwest. We’ll dive into different fire configurations and key strategies for building a consistent fire in any weather. We'll also cover survival basics that are useful for any outing!

This class will run in all weather conditions except heavy winds (unsafe overhead trees).

Materials: Please bring lunch, water bottle and warm clothing for all weather conditions (especially rain).

Optional Materials:

  • Knife

  • Lighter, matches, ferrocerium, friction fire kits

  • Notepad & Pencil

View Event →
Wildlife Tracking Basics - Interactive Lecture 2/3/2023
Feb
3

Wildlife Tracking Basics - Interactive Lecture 2/3/2023

Course Description
Registration
: $30.00

The art of wildlife tracking is an incredible journey into studying the animals and other living things all around us. This short lecture is a great place to begin.

We'll discuss what wildlife tracking is, build a foundation of core concepts, and do interactive activities to learn and see tracks and signs of local animals in Northwest Washington.

At the end of the lecture, Ryan will recommend resources such as guide books and training programs for you to continue your education in wildlife tracking if you are interested!

This course is led by Ryan Johnson of Firecraft Northwest. Ryan teaches wilderness survival skills and holds a certificate in Wildlife Track and Sign interpretation.

View Event →

Refund POLicy

Single Day Classes and Workshops
Refunds can be provided if cancellations are made 10 days before the date of the event minus administrative / processing fees (stripe, paypal, etc).

Overnight & Multi-Day Events
Each overnight or multi-day event will list specific refund policies on the registration page and on the Firecraft Northwest Classes Page. Overnight and multi-day events have stricter refund policies due to their timelines and scale (for example, more time is needed to fill a spot than a single day workshop, plus losses are heavier due to venue fees, credit card processing fees, and more administrative requirements).

Private & Custom Events
Clients booking Private and Custom Events will often pay deposits when arranging the session to protect both parties. For situations requiring refunds or other financial adjustments to Private and Custom Events, please contact us directly.

Special Circumstances
Of course, emergencies and extenuating circumstances happen. Please contact us for refunds based on individual needs/special circumstances.