Tending the Fire:

An 8-week program for teens

We dream of young people discovering, early on in their lives, a community of peers with whom they feel they are authentically seen and understood, and with whom they feel empowered to step into the fullest expression of who they are and the gifts they have to offer in their life. We dream of young people being guided into experiences that are often hard to find in our modern-day, fast-paced society: deep connection with the natural world, a meaningful relationship with the source of their foods, confidence in knowing the ways of land stewardship and regenerative living, a connection with the creative power of working with their hands, and a context that supports the formation of deep and meaningful relationships — such that when they look out at the ecologically endangered world that they are inheriting, they feel resourced with the knowledge, resilience, and relationships to respond in ways that bring them joy and fill them with purpose, rather than look out at the crises in our world and feel despair.

We understand teens, as a generation, to bring the gift of fire: innovation, new ideas, visions for the future, passion, creativity, and dreams of the life they want to live. We also recognize the shortcomings of the larger modern-day culture in centering their voices, offering them quality mentorship, and creating spaces that celebrate the transformative and also challenging season of life teens are navigating. For this reason, we are launching a program on the farm designed specifically for teens who feel a desire to deepen their sense of self and community through experiences of nature-connection that are supportive of their path as they near the threshold-crossing from childhood into young adulthood.

This program is structured as an after-school hours program that creates an opportunity for teens to connect with other teens who are asking the big questions: Who am I? What are my gifts? How is it that I want to live? What brings me meaning and purpose?— And, at the same time, who also want to discover self through relationship with the land: seed-saving, harvesting, crafting, primitive fire-making, practicing wilderness survival skills, wood working, etc.

Please fill out the following form if you are interested in this program, and we will be in touch with additional details.

Details on Tending the Fire for Teens

WHEN: Tuesday 4:00-6:15pm every week from Jan. 10-February 28

WHERE: Fauna Forest Farm in Jonesborough

COST: $205/month

WHAT: Primitive Fire-Making, wilderness survival skills, crafting, working with knives, maple syrup production, tea-making, mindfulness practices, and fire council sharing.