:: UPCOMING EVENTS ::
Adult Level Programs = BLACK Youth & Family = BLUE
MARCH 2008
Recovering and Reclaiming Algonkian Histories (Adult)
3/22 (Sat) | 7:30 pm | Lisa Brooks, Marge Bruchac, and Evan Pritchard. The Ndakinna Education Center will host a panel discussion with three Algonkian Indian scholars as part of the the Continuing Histories, Native American Views of Northeastern Native History lecture series funded by the New York State Council for the Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. These three scholars are noted for innovative writings that challenge colonial representations and contribute to the process of recovering and reclaiming Algonkian Indian histories, seeing the past through Native eyes. Evan Pritchard, a descendant of the Acadian Miâckmaq of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, teaches Native American History and Culture at Pace University and Marist College.Dr. Lisa Brooks (Abenaki) is an Assistant Professor of History and Literature and of Folklore and Mythology at Harvard University.Dr. Margaret (Marge) Bruchac (Abenaki) is a museum consultant and performer with a doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Free ( Donations accepted)
Native American Games Day (Two groups: Ages 6-8 & 9-13)
4/16 (Wed) | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $50
Participants in this program will take part in a variety of Native American games from simple games of chance and skill to games that heighten one's awareness of the natural world. Also included will be an introduction to the non-contact skills needed to take part in such Native American team sports as double-ball and lacrosse. For the younger group, James Bruchac will share Native stories throughout the day.
Animal Tracking Basics w/ James Bruchac (Two groups: Ages 6-8 & 9-13)
4/17 (Thu) | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $50 [Sign up for both days for $90]
Participants join expert tracker Jim Bruchac (co-author of three Scats and Tracks books – covering the Northeast, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic) for an outdoor adventure to learn how to identify basic mammal tracks (fox, coyote, deer, raccoon, and more) and make plaster casts. Kids will be using the adjacent 80-acre Nature Preserve as well as our extensive animal tracks collection.
Lost in the Woods! Wilderness Survival Basics [Adult & Teen]
4/26 (Sat) | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $75
Missed the Backwoods Winter Survival and Snowshoe Trek? No worries, come spend a full-day in the woods with Ndakinna Director James Bruchac and Ecology and Skills Director Ivan Erchak learning basic to advanced emergency wilderness skills and survival techniques. Participants will spend a day both on and off-trail learning skills such as primitive and modern land navigation, shelter construction, animal tracking, finding water, basic wild edibles, primitive and modern firemaking, natural insulation, rescue signaling and more. Bring a bag lunch. Certificate of participation included.
MAY 2008
Wilderness First Aid Course (SOLO Certified) [Adult & Teen]
5/10-11| 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | $150
Led by Clark Hayward, Director of Adirondack Wilderness Medicine, this 16-hour course is designed for the wilderness professional and recommended for anyone who spends a lot of time in the outdoors. Through a combination of lecture and plenty of hands-on activities, including role-playing wilderness accident scenarios, participants will learn how to deal with variety of injuries and potentially life threatening situations in a wilderness setting. Text and handouts included in price of the course. 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Dress for the outdoors and unexpected weather. Bring a bag lunch.
Spring Tracks & Scats Workshop [Adult & Teen]
6/7 (Sat)| 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $75
A full-day of animal tracking under the instruction of Ndakinna Director, James
Bruchac. Participants will learn the art of animal tracking from basic to advanced footprint and scat identification to locating and aging tracks in a variety of terrains. Through hands-on learning activities, participants will test their new skills during a mid-day tracking field trip into the surrounding nature preserve. Prior experience a plus but not required. Bring a bag lunch. Detailed hand-outs and certificate of participation included.
Basic Wild Edibles Plants Walk [Adult& Teen)
TBAFathers' Day Family Wilderness Camp [Ages 8 and up] A Wilderness Camp for The whole Family!!!
6/15 (Sun) | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm. $10 per participant
Run using the same format as Ndakinna's popular youth camps family participants will learn such skills as shelter making, animal tracking, Native games, awareness activies, wilderness fire making, storytelling and more. Parents if you ever wanted to see what all the fuss was about and at a fraction of the cost, nows your chance! Pack a lunch and be ready for some fun.2008 ( 2009 ) Grizzly and Wolf Tracking Expedition at Yellowstone Park [Adult]
w/ Dr. James Halfpenny & Ndakinna Director James Bruchac – Moved to Summer 2009
| $1275
JULY 2008
Wilderness Navigation Essentials [Adult & Teen]
7/5 (Sat) | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm | $60
A must for anyone who spends time in the outdoors participants will Spend a full-day learning the inns and outs of wilderness navigation. Starting in the morning with basic-advanced map and compass use the afternoon will be spent learning more primitive ways to navigate through the use of the sun, stars, moon, trees, animals and more. Bring a bag lunch. Taking Place at the Ndakinna Education Center & Nature PreservePrimitive Firemaking Workshop: Bow Drill and Hand Drill [Adult & Teen]
7/13 (Sun) | Bow Drill 10:00 - 1:00| Hand-drill 2:00- 5:00 $40 each $75 Both
Participants in these workshops will learn two of the most ancient ways of making fire. Within the first workshop participants will learn to make their own bow drill, fire by friction kit. In the second class participants will make their own, slightly more challenging, hand-drill kit. By the end of both classes participants will not only know how to make and use their kit but have a much better chance of making one from scratch in a wilderness setting.Kid's Wilderness Skills & Storytelling Camp (Ages 6-8)
Session 1: 7/14 – 7/16 (Mon-Wed) - $165 (9:00 am to 4:00 pm)
Session 2: 7/21 – 7/23 (Mon-Wed) - $165 ($280 for any two sessions)
Session 3: 8/20 – 8/22 (Wed-Fri) - $165 ($450 for all three sessions)
Three days of outdoor fun including wilderness skills, animal tracking, Native American games and storytelling. Taking place at the Ndakinna Education Center with miles of nature trails, Native American wigwams, and other educational exhibits. In case of bad weather programming will take place inside our Education center with 3,200 square feet of teaching space. Session 2 builds on Session 1 with plenty of new stories and activities. Please note that Session 3 is in August! 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (new extended time!).
Wilderness Adventure Day Camp (Ages 9-13)
Session 1: 7/14 – 7/18 (Monday-Friday) - $290 (9:00 am to 4:00 pm)
Session 2: 7/21 – 7/25 (Monday-Friday) - $290 ($530 for both sessions)A full week of wilderness skills such as shelter building, firemaking, map & compass and natural navigation as well as animal tracking, Native American games, Native stories and more. Also included is a full-day of flatwater kayaking. In case of bad weather programming will take place inside our Education center. Session 2 includes a wealth of new skills, stories, and activities. 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Art of Gathering: Afternoon Wilderness Trek [Adult & Teen]
7/20 (Sun) | 1:00pm - 5:00pm $40
Spend an afternoon in the woods with Ndakinna Head Instructor Ivan Erchak learning the inns and outs of the ancient art of gathering. By the end of the day participants will have identified, gathered and, in some cases, created everything they would require to survive at least one night in the wilderness. A great way to open anyones eyes to the wonders of the natural world. Class to meet at The Ndakinna Education Center. Ask us about reduced rates if interested in this class and the Animal Tracks & Scats above.
AUGUST 2008
Woodland Lifeways Camp (Ages 9-13)
Only Session: 8/6 – 8/8 (Wed-Fri) | $165
Adirondack Pathfinders w/ Jim Bruchac (Ages 12-16)
8/11 – 8/15 (Mon-Fri) | $475
Join Ndakinna Director James Bruchac with master Adirondack Guide Gary Marchuk for a true backcountry adventure. After traveling by canoe deep into the Adirondack wilderness participants will learn a host of ancient and modern wilderness skills from the tracking of wild animals to survival skills such as shelter making, land navigation, and fire by friction. Along with plenty of hiking and off-trail exploration participants will take part in numerous awareness activities and games as well as enjoy a host of Native American Tales around the glow of the campfire. No prior experience is required. Participants must provide their own camping gear. Group to meet at Ndakinna Center 9:00 am on Monday and returning by 6:00 pm Friday. Special certificate of participation included. Space is limited - sign up now!Adventures in Animal Tracking w/ Jim Bruchac (Ages 9-13)
8/18 – 8/19 (Mon-Tue) | $110Ivan Erchak's Bushcraft Adventure (Ages 10-12)
with overnight on Friday | Only Session: 8/20 – 8/22 (Wed-Fri) | $180Kid's Wilderness Skills & Storytelling Camp (Ages 6-8)
Session 3: 8/20 – 8/22 (Wed-Fri) | $165FULL CLASS & CAMP DESCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE BY 3/20
SEPTEMBER 2008
Adult Wilderness Survival Overnight ( Ages 18 and up )
9/13 – 9/14 ( Sat- Sun ) | $150 / 9:00 am Saturday - 11 am Sunday
NOTE: Storytelling presentations, concert series, and various cultural events to resume this Fall. The Saratoga Native American Festival, now an every other year event, will resume Fall of 2009
