Welcome to the support page for the Yearlong Family Wilderness Guide Program, and thank you for taking the time to consider our journey. Who Are We? What is the Family Yearlong? In the spring of 2012 a collection of families with children, young adults, men, women, and elders will embark on our year immersed in the wilderness in the headwaters of Wisconsin. The cornerstone of the experience will be experiential learning of what it is to be as a clan: to meet our needs - emotionally, physically, and relationally - within a multi-generational clan of human and non-human relations. Track the Family Yearlong During the yearlong we will be upkeeping a blog, and sending out a newsletter with updates every moon. We will also most likely be featured on one or more national and international television and film features, so you can track what unfolds. The 2012 Family Yearlong will be the first to have an emphasis on sparking an active children's culture, and co-parenting of children by adults and children of all ages. As usual, the clan will provide for many of its own needs, by gathering, fishing, and trapping, making bark and thatch lodges, tanning leather for clothing, drinking wild water, bringing fire to the hearth in the old way, etc. Our relationship with the natural world will be further enhanced by the qualitative skills of awareness and attunement that we will be returning to and nurturing: from weather forecasting, direction finding without map or compass, wilderness preventive medicine and first aid, to truthlistening and truthspeaking, understanding the voice of our dream guidance, circle consciousness, and so much more! In this full-year immersion, clan-members will have the chance to experience poignantly the ebb and flow of relationships: within the clan, with weather and season, with blooming and wilting wild-harvests, with the habits of the animal, fish, bird, and insect realms, and with self and dreams. The richness of these relationships - direct and raw - creates opportunity for deep healing and reconnection with the Native within. The wisdom of the circle and gentle nudges from our guides will help us along the journey. And after a full turn of the seasons, we shall return to our families, towns, and cities bearing abundant gifts to share with our communities. If you would like more information about the School and courses offered, visit their photo gallery, check out their free articles, etc. go to www.teachingdrum.org		Preparation The preparation for the Family Yearlong is well under way, and it is very inspiring to witness what the participants-to-be are willing to consider and do in order to follow their hearts and make their dreams come true. They are truly investing themselves in this experience---some are selling their possessions---reevaluating which things serve their reason for being, and which actually block that. In order to honor their commitment to get to know themSelves, they are parting with close friends, family, and community---it is a sacrifice they are willing to make---in order to ultimately gift back to those they are leaving behind. Although many of them have not met each other, they are beginning to come together as a circle and make the preparatory process more meaningful by sharing the cost of the program. It is in this and many other ways that the seeds of Circle Consciousness are growing well before the program even begins. How You Can Help Our Goal: Currently there are over 40 women, men, and children planning to join the yearlong circle this coming spring. Our intention is to raise $11,000 to make it possible for all of those who feel so called to join our circle. To this end we respectfully invite you to add your energy to this visionary project and help us raise the funds needed to make a fully-fledged family yearlong possible. Can you chip in $5? Whatever you give will be greatly appreciated by our entire clan and will add wind to our sails as we prepare to come together in the woods this May. All donations are tax deductible; to request a donation receipt follow this link. -Online Donation: Click the button below to make a secure donation through PayPal. It's okay if you don't have a PayPal account, you only need a credit card, debit card, or checking account. -By telephone: Give us a call at (715)546-2944 If someone is not available to process your donation, please leave a message with your name, number, and a convenient time for us to contact you. If you find our lines are busy, e-mail this information to balance@teachingdrum.org -Mail us a check or money order: Teaching Drum Outdoor School 7124 Military Road Three Lakes, WI. 54562 The Gifting Way In the old ways it is common knowledge that ‘giving is receiving.’ When we give we open up a path for abundance to also flow in, and usually exponentially. Please pay attention to all the blessings that come your way every time you give of yourself. THANK YOU!