Bodhi is a passionate forest gardener, herbalist, naturalist, and educator. He regularly teaches on topics such as foraging, botany, permaculture and more. He also helps manage Forested, which is a regenerative food forest farm and education center in Bowie, Maryland. 

With a bachelor's degree in environmental science and engineering, multiple technical certifications and a decade of working with the land under his belt, Bodhi applies the skills and knowledge he has acquired towards his service to life on Earth. He strives to be a steward, uplift consciousness & leave a loving footprint on the Earth. Bodhi's mission is to help people connect more deeply to themselves and the natural world around them with the hope of ushering in a more beautiful and harmonious world for all.

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.

Ben Denny is a folk musician from Martinsburg, WV. He has spent the last decade exploring the various stylings of Bluegrass and Old Time music and the Irish roots within. Specializing in banjo, mandolin, and guitar, Ben travels around West Virginia and the neighboring regions through Appalachia, seeking old songs and older melodies.

Jamie is an educator, arborist and forest farmer. He is passionate about exploring modes of forestry and agriculture that yield food and useful materials from forests, while fortifying the health and diversity of the forest ecosystem. In addition to practicing as a professional arborist and teaching homeschool courses, Jamie grazes a herd of cattle and goats in his 9 acre wood along the Potomac River.

Eric grew up wild in the swamps and woods of 1970s Florida, learning survival firsthand through close encounters with gators, cottonmouths, and even a bull shark. That raw connection to land shaped a lifelong path in bushcraft, tracking, and self-reliance. By his early twenties, he was teaching land navigation, human tracking, and survival skills to military groups.

Eric is a trained machinist, master builder, welder, mechanic, and locksmith—with a knack for making his own tools and solving problems from scratch. He’s built self bows, taught blacksmithing in the early days of Firefly Gathering, and leads plant and ecology walks grounded in real-world experience. He also knew and learned from the late Frank Cook, whose plant knowledge left a lasting impression on many in the earthskills world.

Eric brings a steady, humble presence to his teaching—offering a rare mix of precision, deep field experience, and quiet mentorship.

Since the early nineties, Paul has been deeply immersed in the world of primitive technology. He spent five years living in a 26-foot Nomadic Tipi, embracing the rhythms of nature in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. His passion for traditional living led him to work on Native American dwellings at Explore Park in Virginia, where he refined his skills in crafting and traditional techniques. Under the mentorship of Firehawk, also known as Daniel Abbot, Paul mastered the intricate art of making tools from deer leg bones, deepening his connection to ancestral methods and the natural world.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Marc J O'Connor is a writer, tactical tracking and survival skills instructor. His instructional praxis is founded on preparing individuals as assets for their community and infrastructure development.

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.