Kypriana “Lala” Daniels is a honeybee expert, children’s book author, and seasoned educator with over 15 years of experience leading nature-based education and arts programs. Her teachings embody her deep love for honeybees, mushrooms, foraging, storytelling, and wool needle felting.

Living in the Appalachian foothills, she wild-schools her daughter and shares her knowledge at Earth Skills and other nature-focused gatherings across the country. Through her books and workshops, Lala inspires children and adults alike to reconnect with the natural world through hands-on learning and storytelling.

With a background rooted in Ecology, Botany, Mycology, regenerative agriculture, and land stewardship, Willow brings both ancestral perspective and practical ecological understanding to the gathering. Their academic studies include an M.S. in Plant Biology and Conservation from Northwestern University and a B.S. in Environmental Biology from Christopher Newport University. They steward a budding regenerative farm on family land in the upper Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and walk the path of a Death Doula. In their free time, Willow is a singer/songwriter, fantasy costumer, and parent to 2 cats (Corva and Magpie). Willow Oak is part of the ritual team here at Four Quarters Interfaith Sanctuary.

Zach Appel is a first-generation blacksmith with a deep respect for traditional metalworking and the slow, focused craft of shaping steel by hand. Self-taught and forged by curiosity, Zach brings a practical, approachable teaching style that empowers beginners to get comfortable with hammer and flame. His classes focus on foundational techniques and safety while introducing students to the beauty and power of working hot metal. Whether you're brand new to the forge or just looking to try something different, Zach offers a welcoming place to start.

Elias Schwartzman is an Washington DC-based freelance violinist, violist and mandolinist with years of performing experience. With a repertoire both broad and deep ranging from Baroque to Celtic to bluegrass to pop, he has a style to match any occasion. A musician since 5 years of age, he has studied with prominent violinists coast to coast and graduated from Oberlin College. A native Washingtonian, he performs solo as well as in collaboration with various local artists ranging from duo to full symphonic orchestra and across many genres.

Robert is a skilled carpenter and dedicated tree worker who is immersing himself in the traditional craft of timber framing. With deep respect for the forests he works in, Robert is passionate about the entire journey of building from selecting and responsibly harvesting trees, to milling each timber with care, to the precision and patience required in cutting joinery by hand. He finds meaning in the rhythm of working with wood, and in the legacy of raising structures built to last for generations. For Robert, timber framing is more than a trade- it’s a form of stewardship, craftsmanship, and connection to the land.

Aether Howard has a B.F.A. from the Savannah College of Art and Design and is renowned for their work in fine arts, subtle colors, and digital media. They apply an artist's touch throughout life in nature including painting, sculpture, food, fiber, and the written word.

Juliei lives with her husband and four children in a historic home, nestled in a beautiful forest, where she hosts nature-based programs for her community. She has been an educator for the last 23 years, specializing in environmental and outdoor education for the bulk of her career. Having taught in every kind of school setting and for all ages, she prefers nature as her classroom whenever possible. Julie is President of the Board of Directors for Ancestral Knowledge, a Maryland non-profit organization that offers workshops, camps, and classes focused on primitive skills, nature connection, and environmental stewardship.

Joshuah Emery is a director and educator dedicated to nature-based pedagogy, currently guiding the Roots and Wings Learning Community as it breathes and grows at the Community Ecology Institute. His work centers on inviting Wild Pedagogies, Coyote Mentoring, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge into educational frameworks to foster deep, reciprocal connections with the more-than-human world.

With a background in the United States Navy and experience as a Park Ranger with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Josh brings a unique synthesis of adventurous expertise and wild leadership to his teaching. He holds a Master of Science in Experiential and Outdoor Education and is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness Education Association (WEA) Certified Outdoor Leader. Josh’s passion for the natural world—and for all the kin who dwell within it—is contagious.

Nature-Based Educator | Primitive Skills Instructor | Curriculum Designer
 

I’m a nature-based educator and curriculum designer with nearly a decade of professional experience teaching ancestral skills, land stewardship, and youth mentorship. I’ve worked extensively with Ancestral Knowledge, where I serve as a lead field instructor and former program coordinator, developing and delivering immersive, seasonal programs for youth and adults. My work is grounded in hands-on skill, long-term mentoring, and respect for both ecological and cultural lineages.
 

I was homeschooled during a time when it was still uncommon, which allowed me to pursue deep learning outside the classroom. My first mentor was John Fishback, a longtime wilderness educator who lived with Jon Young and his family during his own training. John passed down the teachings of the Tom Brown Jr. lineage—tracking, bird language, inner awareness, and the quiet clarity of Coyote Mentoring.

Before I turned ten, I was also taught by Pierce Walsh, founder of Primitive Pursuits, whose balance of play and skill deeply shaped my early relationship to the natural world. Later, Joey Murray became a major influence on my path, generously sharing Tom Brown Jr. stories and teachings with depth, humor, and reverence. Though I never worked alongside Joey, his presence and mentorship left a lasting impact on how I carry the skills and the stories.
 

As I grew older, I continued my training through classes and gatherings across the Mid-Atlantic, and began working with Bill Kaczor, who became a key mentor and guide in my professional path. Bill’s leadership at Ancestral Knowledge helped me refine my ability to mentor others while honoring the skills I was taught as a child.
 

Today, I teach workshops and field programs on friction fire, basketry, plant ID, wild foraging, cordage, tracking, and seasonal awareness. I also write curriculum, create take-home learning materials, and lead story-based nature programs that blend skill, story, and stewardship. My teaching style is rooted in quiet observation, patience, and respect—for the land, the lineage, and the learner.

Ken Crampton of  Everybody Drum, brings community connection through rhythm and arts experiences. Everybody Drum creates engaging and inclusive spaces where participants of all backgrounds can come together to explore the power of rhythm and collective expression. Ken’s passion for building community through the arts has made Everybody Drum a celebrated force for unity and inspiration. Learn about drumming, jam late night, and be inspired by Ken. 

Iris Kirsch, M. Ed. is a healer, educator, mother, adventurer, punk rocker and herb farmer. She has been talking to plants for 43 years and studying how to heal people with them for over 20. A lifelong outdoor adventurer, she has ruined more outfits than you've ever owned. When she's not making tinctures, she's reading in a corner, pretending she doesn't notice how messy her house is.

Colleen is a community herbalist, wild crafter, and educator. She follows the Wise Woman tradition which is rooted in simple, effective herbal folk remedies that can be found in your own backyard. In 2016 after working in healthcare for 12 years, Colleen came home to herself & reconnected to this amazing planet we call home. She completed a clinical herbalist program at The Herbal Academy of New England and finished a 15 week live-in Shamanic Herbal Apprenticeship with Herbalist Susun Weed. Since then she has devoted her life to be a steward for the plants & to be a guide for others to come home to themselves & to Mother Earth. To heal themselves with the Earth.
 

Being outside in communion with the flora & fauna of Appalachia is usually where you can find her, if she is not working at Tonic Herb Shop in Shepherdstown, WV. Colleen offers herb walks, continues to pass along herbal knowledge in classes, & sees clients on an appointment basis.
 

Herbal medicine is the people's medicine.

Simple, safe, & effective. Green Blessings!

A dedicated group of ceremonialists who are committed to learning and practicing the ways of the Sweat Lodge Ceremony. Four Quarters' Sweat Lodge staff comprises three water pourers from various traditions, along with many students who cut wood, carry water, and sing along. Anyone can help, and everyone can pray—come see what it's all about!

Leslie Howard is a fiber artist, homeschool homemaker, and audiobook narrator with a small fiber flock living in the hills of central Pennsylvania.