upcoming classes & events
Beginner’s Carving 4 Week Series – Figurines and Functional Wares ($260)
In this 4-session introductory carving course, students will discover the world of green or “sloyd” woodworking while creating a collection of 4 handmade wooden projects: chopsticks, a notch stick, a small gnome figurine, and a spoon.
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Beginner’s Ethnobotany Walk (FULL)
The study of ethnobotany (human relationships with plants) paints a powerful picture of how humans have coexisted with the natural world around us. This includes medicine, tools, food, and more. If you are new to ethnobotany, this walk is a great place to get started and learn about core plants of the PNW and how they have been used for millennia, and how we can use them respectfully today.
Thank you so much for your interest! This class is now full. If you are interested in plant id, please check out our upcoming Plants of the Understory class in April.
PNW Tree ID (FULL)
Join naturalists Ryan and Licia from Firecraft Northwest as we meander along the old growth forested trails of Evergreen College’s Beach Trail. We’ll learn about the trees we pass by, including ethnobotany facts and tidbits and the ways in which the trees interact with other species in the local ecosystem.
Thanks so much for your interest in this outing, but it is now full.
Spring 2025 Nature & Survival Series ($325)
In this apprenticeship style series, join Firecraft Northwest Instructors for a deep dive into nature awareness and survival skills. Our cohort will meet once a month on Saturdays for four sessions February through May.
We’ll cover a wide variety of subjects including survival basics, fire making, plant identification, bird identification, 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. Every session the group will learn Naturalist Skills, Survival Skills, and practice and take home one Wild Craft. We will visit a new location each date for this course. Registration includes a belt knife, multiple hand-made projects from the field, and other skills-practice materials.
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Sunset Nature Walk (FULL)
Join us for a free outing at McLane Creek Nature Trail and take a break from our computer and phone screens! We'll do a slow meandering social walk through the woods and trails.
Wildlife Tracking for kids & families at WET Science Center (free)
While we don’t always see wildlife, we can often see the tracks and traces they leave behind, like scratch marks on a tree, footprints in the mud, or even scat! Join us at the WET Science Center on March 1st where we’ll have interactive wildlife tracking activities geared towards kids and families. Check out our table and peruse the many interactive exhibits at the education center.
Pine Needle Basketry Workshop (FULL)
During this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to craft a basket from foraged Ponderosa Pine needles and a hand-made wooden base. Choose from multiple thread colors and wooden bases (unfinished, walnut oil finished, painted with milk paint, or adorned with pressed flower) to add your own creative touch to your basket. Then, you’ll learn how to prepare your pine needles for basketry, practice multiple different stitches, understand and practice shaping walls, and learn about how to finish and seal your basket. We’ll finish the session with a demonstration on a variety of intermediate stitches and techniques and an overview of resources available to keep practicing on your own.
Thanks for your interest in this outing, but it is now full. Check out our April basketry workshop, which still has a few spaces left.
PNW Fungi Basics Crash Course ($55)
Please join Naturalists Ryan Johnson and Licia Sahagun from Firecraft Northwest for this interactive and beginner friendly Fungi and Mushrooms crash course. Learn the different structures of fungi and mushrooms, their life cycle, and how to categorize them so you can prepare for your first forage or studies in the world of mycology.
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Wild Women Walks - Worm Moon (FULL)
Join Licia from Firecraft Northwest for March’s full moon sunset walk. March’s moon is known, among other names, as the Worm Moon, referring to when worms and other invertebrates emerge from the newly thawed ground. We’ll gather together for a flat, 1.6 mile walk to the Woodard Bay lookout area discussing what new growth we see around us in the woods and what new growth, adventures, and goals may be happening in our own lives!
Thanks for your interest, but this outing is now full. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified once per month about upcoming outings.
Early Spring Foraging & Wild Tea (FULL)
As the temperatures increase and the days grow longer, let’s meander the trails at Woodard Bay Conservation Area to learn about what new shoots are prized local edibles! This in-field class will include lots of plant identification as well as information about honorable harvesting and ways to be a sustainability-minded forager. We’ll also get to enjoy some wild tea made from local plants.
Thanks for your interest in this class. It is now full. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified about upcoming classes.
Wildlife Tracking Field Workshop ($40)
Join certified wildlife tracker and naturalists from Firecraft Northwest for a waterside field session at Deschutes River Ranch. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of wildlife tracking and develop methods for interpreting tracks and signs on the landscape.
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Intro to Nature Journaling ($25)
Join Licia Sahagun, lifelong artist and nature nerd, from Firecraft Northwest for a quiet morning of noticing. We’ll start the morning with some hot tea, new friends, and a discussion of nature journaling. Then we’ll practice a few short journaling activities before we disperse into the woods/beachfront for a solitary nature journaling session. We’ll wrap up with an (optional) gallery walk to see what our fellow journalers noticed/sketched/painted this morning!
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Springtime Awakening with Forterra Nature Discovery (Free)
See Morse Wildlife Preserve waking up from its wintry slumber as we explore prairie, wetland and upland forest trails. Licia Sahagun and Ryan Johnson of Firecraft Northwest will unveil hidden inhabitants of this beautiful landscape. We’ll listen and attempt to identify the many birds that have recently migrated from California to Mexico. Along the way we’ll look for animal tracks and tune-in to the wild dramas that play out here every day. This outing is free thanks to a partnership with Forterra Nature Discovery™. RSVP is required; link coming soon.
Wild Women Walks - Pink Moon (Free)
Join Licia, naturalist and educator from Firecraft Northwest, for a full moon walk for women. April’s full moon is known, among other names, as the Pink Moon. This name derives from the pink phlox family flowers (as well as other native wildflowers) that come out in April in North America. But, on this trail we’ll likely also see osoberry, western trillium, and maybe salmonberry or flowering currant! Join us for a slow meander, native blooms, and blossoming new friendships.
Pine Needle Basketry Workshop ($65)
During this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to craft a basket from foraged Ponderosa Pine needles and a hand-made wooden base. Choose from multiple thread colors and wooden bases (unfinished, walnut oil finished, painted with milk paint, or adorned with pressed flower) to add your own creative touch to your basket. Then, you’ll learn how to prepare your pine needles for basketry, practice multiple different stitches, understand and practice shaping walls, and learn about how to finish and seal your basket. We’ll finish the session with a demonstration on a variety of intermediate stitches and techniques and an overview of resources available to keep practicing on your own.
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Sunset Nature Awareness & Sensory Hikes ($25)
Join Licia, certified Yoga and Meditation instructor, from Firecraft Northwest, for a quiet evening of mindfulness activities and sensory guided hikes.
We’ll start with hot tea at the shelter to learn the basics of nature awareness and practice activities to clear the mind. Afterwards, we’ll engage in a series of three, silent walks with prompts and tips to stay present in the moment. Reawaken your senses and reconnect with the natural world around you during this evening’s mindful outing!
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Forest Knife Skills Workshop ($50)
The world of survival skills often considers the knife the most important piece of gear you can carry. With the right experience, you can use your knife to build fire, create a shelter, harvest and process materials, and craft many other items.
In this beginner friendly workshop, learn the foundation of using a knife at camp and on the trail by developing fundamental carving techniques.
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Plants of the Understory! ($25)
Don’t get us wrong…. Trees are cool! But, hey, they get a lot of the glory in plant identification training. In this course, we’ll walk the diverse deciduous woodlands of the Deschutes River identifying the plants of the understory from floor to chest height!
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn moreabout this outing? Click the button below!
Urban Wildlife Tracking Walk ($25)
Wildlife tracking may seem like an activity that requires trips to far reaching remote locations. On the contrary, there are many animal tracks and signs even in densely populated urban areas for us to study and learn from. During this outing, participants will track the animals that frequent our parks and our own backyards to learn how to identify them.
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Intro to Camping for Women ($95)
Join Licia from Firecraft Northwest for an afternoon, optional overnight, and morning of all things camping at Rainbow Falls State Park Campground. This women’s-only event will cover a variety of topics ranging from fire starting and camp cooking to safety and women-specific topics (e.g. menstruating in the woods). It’ll be a safe space to ask any/all questions, share stories, meet new friends, learn new skills, and perhaps get out of your comfort zone!
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Wild Women Walks - Snow Moon (FULL)
Join Licia for February’s full moon, the Snow Moon. As the name suggests, February’s moon name comes from this cold time of year when our forest floors are sometimes blanketed with snow.
To keep warm, we’ll meander through the forested hills at LBA Park and Woods as we get to know our fellow hikers!
Thanks so much for your interest in this outing, but it is now full. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified about upcoming classes.
Winter Plant ID & Foraging (FULL)
Have you ever wondered what plants you could forage for and eat in the winter months in the Pacific Northwest? During this plant-focused class at Burfoot Park along Budd Inlet of the South Sound, we'll do a slow-moving walk through the trails identifying and learning cold weather staples as we go.
Thanks for your interest in this outing, but it is now full. Check out our next foraging class in March.
Camp Cooking and Fireside Food ($85)
It’s hard to beat the tastes and flavors of a hot cooked meal when you’re outdoors. If you are ready to be the next camp chef, this class is for you! In this workshop, discover the joy of cooking in the field and at camp using a variety of different hand-made wooden structures.
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Intro to Nature Awareness and Sensory Hikes (FULL)
Join Licia, certified Yoga and Meditation instructor, from Firecraft Northwest, for a quiet morning of mindfulness activities and sensory guided hikes. We’ll start with hot tea at the shelter to learn the basics of nature awareness and practice activities to clear the mind. Afterwards, we’ll engage in a series of three, silent walks with prompts and tips to stay present in the moment. Reawaken your senses and reconnect with the natural world around you during this morning’s mindful outing!
Thanks for your interest in this outing, but it is now full. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified about similar classes when they come up!
Interactive Wildlife Tracking Lecture ($35)
The art of wildlife tracking is an incredible journey into studying the animals and living things all around us. This short lecture serves as a place to begin, so new trackers can build a foundation to take into the field for their next outing.
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Wild Women Walks - Wolf Moon (FULL)
Join Licia for January’s Wild Women full moon walk. January’s moon, known by some as the Wolf Moon, refers to the sound of hungry wolves howling in the night. Though we won’t be lucky enough to hear howling wolves in our area, we can meander through the woods, sometimes silently, to listen for other creatures we may encounter. We’ll also discuss what edible plants still stay with us through the winter months. This event is now full. Check out February’s full moon walk or our other upcoming classes
Winter Birds & Beavers Walk (FULL)
With winter in full swing, the forests and wetlands are quiet — a closer look and a few extra layers to brave the cold will reward the outdoors person with plenty of examples of wildlife still on the move!
This winter-themed wildlife walk, led by naturalists Ryan Johnson and Licia Sahagun of Firecraft Northwest will focus on the birds that don’t migrate south and the mammals that don’t hibernate like beavers!
Note - this outing is now full
Winter Solstice Social Hike (Free)
Join us for a casual hike to celebrate the winter solstice and meet new friends! We'll do a slow meander along Evergreen's Beach Trail enjoying the quiet, dripping PNW forest and good company :) This trail also features beach access with views of the bay.
Wild Women Walks - Cold Moon (FULL)
Join Licia from Firecraft Northwest for December’s full moon Wild Women Walk. December’s moon is the Cold Moon (also known as the Frost Moon, Long Night Moon). We’ll gather together for a contemplative hike, followed by hot tea and a conversation about letting go of lingering darkness to prepare for a new year.
This event is now full. Consider signing up for January’s full moon outing!
Survive & Thrive: A Hiker’s Guide to Shelters ($45)
In this outdoor program, learn survival skills with a focus on the world of shelter building. Train with the instructors to discover two emergency debris shelter building techniques. Learn five essential knots for quick and easy tarp set up, and then deploy your shelter in minutes!
Ready to sign up? Register now.
Want to learn more about this outing? Click the button below!
Winter plant ID Practice (FULL)
As we approach the start of Winter, the leaves of many plants have dropped! This doesn’t mean we can’t get out there and practice our identification skills!
In this free community walk, naturalists Ryan Johnson and Licia Sahagun will lead the group on a walk through beautiful Darlin Creek to practice identifying plants by their bark, branch arrangement, patterns, and in many cases, evergreen leaves!
Getting Started in Whittling & Carving (FULL)
In this introductory whittling and carving class, craft your own jam spreader and a mushroom figurine from a simple branch! Participants will head home with one of each project, and will have the opportunity to carve more pieces if time allows.
Screen Break Nature Walk (Free)
Join us for a free outing at Olympia's Watershed Park to walk the trails, study what we find, and take a break from our computer and phone screens! This will be a slow meandering walk through the woods with time to socialize and meet other hikers!
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!
Wild Women Walks - Beaver Moon (FULL)
Join Licia from Firecraft Northwest for November’s Full Moon Wild Women Walk. This month is the Beaver Moon, a time when beavers are their most active, building dams in preparation for the winter months. We’ll walk the McLane Creek Nature Trail, a perfect spot for beaver sightings (and possibly some salmon still running), and take time to reflect on how we’re preparing for our own winter season.
This outing is now full. Sign up for our newsletter to be updated on upcoming events and/or check out December’s full moon walk.
South Sound Wildlife Walk ($15)
Take a walk with us on the banks and forests of the incredible South Sound to study the fauna that live there!
During this outing, in partnership with Capitol Land Trust, we’ll engage in interactive wildlife tracking activities, learn tips and tricks to spotting wildlife tracks and signs, and practice Tracking 101 in the field.
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!
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. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified about upcoming foraging and fungi sessions.
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!
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.
Tree and Plant ID Educational Session with the Chehalis Land Trust (free)
Have you always wanted to learn about some of our native trees, plants and shrubs growing along the river when hiking? This free educational session may be a perfect way to spend your morning!
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.
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!
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.
Nisqually Watershed Festival (free)
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!
(Private) Wildlife Tracking Session
This is a private event. Firecraft Northwest will be leading a full-day custom wildlife tracking session to deepen participants' understanding of local wildlife on and near their property with friends and family.
Interested in booking your own private class? Visit our private events page or contact us today!
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!
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
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!
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.
Refund POLicy
Our classes run rain or shine!
Our outdoor classes will run in all safe weather conditions. We check the weather in the days leading up to the outing and the day of and will send weather forecast information in our reminder email. We will run outdoor outings in all weather conditions unless it is unsafe (e.g. high winds in deciduous forest, poor air quality) or unsuitable for the content (e.g. pouring rain and high winds for a birding outing). Please reach out prior to booking if you have any questions, concerns, or would like help preparing for the outing.
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.