How come the only class I see on the schedule is the Earth Skills Semester Program (ESSP)?

Beartraks used to teach a number of classes that were from one day to one week long. My focus now is on teaching the ESSP. I feel that working closely with students over a longer period of time has a lot of advantages over the shorter courses. However, I will teach shorter courses to your group of five or more people upon request. See Group Classes for more information.

Where do I stay when I come for a class that runs more than one day?

Students who stay at the school for more than a day have several options. They can camp out in the field or woods, they may stay in a loft in the barn, or sleep in a heated workshop. We have outdoor hot and cold running water and a sauna that can be used by students. Although I recommend that students stay on the school grounds in order to more fully experience their time with us, there are many motels and hotels in Brunswick.

When I camp out on the school grounds will I need to worry about being eaten by a bear?

I have never seen any bear sign on the land surrounding the school. The only species of bears that inhabit this part of the world are black bears, which are known to avoid human contact unless they are habitually fed human food. When we take groups into areas where bears are known to live---which we do for some classes---we both discuss and practice how to stay safe in bear territory. Keep in mind that there has never been a recorded bear (Black or Grizzly) attack on a group of six or more people, under any circumstances, not even a sow with cubs. The biggest threat to humans in the woods are other humans!

If I forget something when I come to the school will I have to go far out of my way to find a store?

Beartraks School of Wilderness Living is located on 25 acres of woods and fields, bordered by a small stream and a bog. We are abutted by another couple hundred acres of woods and fields. Despite being surrounded by this natural beauty, we are less than three miles from the center of Brunswick. In Brunswick there are supermarkets, health food stores, bookstores, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops, hardware stores, and many kinds of retail outlets. We are about six miles away from LL Beans, the world famous outdoor outfitting store in Freeport, where one could replace any piece of forgotten outdoor gear.

How old do I need to be to take classes?

Classes are designed for adults and mature teenagers. A younger student may be included with a parent if appropriate.

How far is the school from Boston?

We are approximately 120 miles from the heart of Boston, a little over two hours by car.

How can I get to Beartraks School of Wilderness Living if I don't have a car?

If you are coming from a great distance, the nearest airports are in Portland, Boston, or Manchester N.H. Portland is about 30 miles from the school. Boston and Manchester, either or both of which may be cheaper to fly to than Portland, are both about a two hour drive from the school. Greyhound and Trailways buses run from Boston, Manchester, and Portland into Brunswick. The bus stations in Brunswick are within a couple of miles of the school. Many times we can arrange to pick up students at the bus station, but if we are tied up with class preparations, it is a short taxi ride to the school. There is also a limousine service that can take you from the Portland Jetport right to the door of the school. During your time at the Beartraks School of Wilderness Living, we arrange carpools for students to get to their destinations more easily upon leaving.

What size are the classes?

Our classes have ranged from just a few people to over twenty. Most classes will have four to eight people in them.

Are you outdoors the entire time, even if it is pouring rain?

Our classes are planned to eliminate as many distractions as possible for our students, so that they can focus on learning. We realize that it is difficult to learn while one is cold and wet, but we also believe that as outdoor educators we should spend as much time as possible in nature's classroom. When the weather is nice we spend almost all of our time outdoors. Lectures are given around a fire pit, and students work on skills in the nearby fields and woods. At night we often gather round the fire to discuss the days' lessons, work on projects, and enjoy the night sky. When there is heavy rain or other inclement weather, we move inside to a large heated workshop, or to one of several shelters, in order to keep the distractions to a minimum.

Do you take interns or apprentices for long term study at the school?

While I was running the Wilderness School I had apprentices living on the land here. I no longer teach apprentices, but we do have two offerings that you might be interested in. The Earth Skills Semester Program is a twelve week long intensive skills program. It is described under ESSP on this site. I also have the Wilderness Living Community which is also described on this site.

Can I take classes if I am not in top physical condition?

We have had students whose physical conditioning runs the spectrum from poor to excellent. Those who arrive in good physical health usually have less of a struggle with the physical skills than those who are out of shape. I recommend that students show up in good shape so that they eliminate unnecessary struggle in their learning experience. We have had a student who was wearing a cast, one who walked with the help of a cane, and others with different medical conditions. In each of these cases we were able to talk to the student before he or she enrolled, and figure out how to work around the problem.

Will I have to eat bugs or worms?

Only if you want to. We prefer to dine on items such as, wild edible stews, wild flour muffins with blueberries, seafood, wild edible salads, acorn bread, Japanese Knotweed crisp, dandelion coffee, wild teas, and many other items gathered from the land and made into delicious meals. We wont stop anyone from eating bugs and worms--they can be a source of food in the wild--but in our classes we usually stick to foods that most people are not squeamish about.

How can wilderness survival skills help me?

Being able to survive a wilderness emergency is only a small part of the impact of studying survival skills. In addition to the basics of wilderness survival, students learn to use creatively the available resources in their environment to fill all of their needs. Students learn to find answers within themselves to such a degree that problems are no longer seen as difficulties, but as opportunities to learn. Many students leave a week-long survival skills class with a vastly increased sense of self-confidence. Developing survival skills and the accompanying nature awareness strongly connects one with the rhythms of nature. It opens a doorway to a new understanding of the language of Nature and how all things are connected and interwoven in the web of life.

If you have a question that was not answered on this page please email us at: info@davidlflores.com or call us at 207-729-8616.