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Learn about: Eastern Woodland Clan - Tracking and Earth Skills Club

Learn about: Headwaters Earth Skills Gathering

Learn about: Sticks and Stones Wilderness School

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Welcome to Chris Gilmour's; Earth Mentorship Programs

Picture of Chris GilmourTeaching a Class the Bow Drill

My name is Chris Gilmour, I work as a Wilderness Guide and Outdoor Educator in and around Southern and Central Ontario. I live in a little town just north of Huntville, Ontario. I am fortunate to be surrounded by some of the most diverse mixed woods forests in Canada. I also live half an hour from Algonquin Provincial Park.

I have had a strong love for wild spaces since a little child and have spent the majority of my adult life living and playing in the wilderness. I have and/or still do work as a contracted guide for companies such as Outward Bound Canada, Northern Edge Algonquin, Chocpaw Expeditions (Dog Sledding) and Northern Tier (Boy Scouts). I am also a WMA trained Wilderness First Responder.

One of the most influential observations I have made since working in the outdoor education industry is that very few people are observant of natures cycles and the ways that they effect every aspect of our lives. Many people feel like a separate entity from the natural world and know very little about it even though nature gives us everything we need to partake in our modern lives, from wood for our homes, food for our bellies, or metal for our cars, tools, and toys.

I am very passionate about my studies of the natural world. I love practicing ancient ways such as: tracking, nature observation and wildlife studies, learning about edible and medicinal plants and practicing primitive living skills such as: Starting fires without matches, bow and arrow making, container making, hide tanning, navigation without modern tools, and many many other skills.

I run a number of different programs and am always developing new ones. Programs help people re-connect with the ways of the natural world, increase their knowledge of nature, and become more comfortable and at home in the woods.

My specialty is using primitive living skills such as harvesting wild plants for food and medicine, making fires with ancient techniques, forest crafts, sense awareness exercises, and much more to help participants grow as individuals and form more meaningful relationships with the land that supports us. Please browse this site to learn more about my programs and philosophy.

If you have any questions or would like me to come run a program for you or a group you know please e-mail me at: chris@earthmentorship.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's New:

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Jan 6, 09'

Take a look at our newest link in the resource section. A non-profit youth organization based out of Toronto called:

The P.I.N.E. Project

 

Jan 2, 09'

New programs have been added to the 2009 schedule such as: A Tale of the Track Workshop, a March Break Teachers Programs, and more

See the Schedule for more info

 

The Eastern Woodland Clan will be meeting on Jan 18 at 11am for a day of tracking and concealment

- click here for info -

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Dec 3, 08'

New Family Nature Program has been scheduled over the Christmas Break: "Wolf Pack Family Nature Retreat"

See Schedue for Details

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Nov 30, 08'

Thanks to all that attended this past weekends bow making workshop. I look forward to shooting arrows with all of you in the near future!

Nov 20, 08'

New link has been added to the resource section for: Shamanism Canada

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Nov 10, 08'

Free tracking workshop being offered in Peterborough Dec 7, 10:30am - 1:30pm

See schedule for details

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Oct 30, 08'

The Photo Section has been updated with this years programs and more tracking pictures

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Oct 22, 08'

Date changed for Bow Making class. The October bow making class has been moved to November 21, 08' and is now being held near Orangeville, ON

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Oct 17, 08'

Headwaters Gathering starts tonight. See you at the 7pm potluck. If you still need directions call 519-216-6842

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The start of the 2009 schedule has now been posted. More programs will be added soon.

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Oct 11, 08'

New Links have been added to the resource section:

Kate Jones - Artist & Musician

&

Kate Hood Inc - Photography, Printing, Marketing, and Web Design.

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Oct 1, 08'

Fall Bow Making Class has been announced for Oct 30 - Nov 2 in London, ON

See Programs for details

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Oct 1, 08'

The fall Headwaters Earth Skills Gathering will be held in Caledon from Oct 17 - 19, 08'

- click here for more info -

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Oct 1, 08'

Thanks to everyone involved in the Heart of Gold canoe trip. What had an amazing week with; fall colours, great weather, moose sightings, wolf tracks, wild tea, smores on the camp fire and so much more.

What a great way to start the fall!

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Sept 23, 08'

1 day untill the Heart of Gold Canoe trip. The fall colours are amazing right now. Its going to be a great week!

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Sept 9, 08'

Hello Friends, I just wanted to thank all students, volunteers, and instructors from last weeks EAW course. It was truly an Empowering Week! I look forward to many more.

Stay tuned for new winter and spring classes and pictures from the fall EAW.

Cheers,

Chris Gilmour

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Aug 24

One week till the fall Empowering Ancient Ways course. I'm getting excited!

The class is not full yet so contact us a.s.a.p. if you are still interested.

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July 27

The Sticks & Stones Wilderness School website is now running. - Check it out -

 

June 19, 2008

The Bow Making workshop has just started. It is going to be a great weekend!

Stay tuned for the announcement of a fall bow making workshop in Southern Ontario.

June 17, 2008

Pictures have been posted from this past springs Empowering Ancient Ways course

- Click Here To View -

May 5, 2008

New courses have been added to the 2008 schedule including:

Bow Making Workshop

Empowering Ancient Ways (Sept 08')

EAW Advanced Skills

Click Here for more Info

 

May 3, 2008

I'd like to give a huge thanks to all those who volunteered for and participated in this past weeks Empowering Ancient Ways course. It was obviously a Huge success!! THANK YOU!

April 2, 08'

Empowering Ancient Ways is almost full. Let us know a.s.a.p. If you still wish to attend

March 20, 08'

I'm finished up dog sledding for the season and looking forward to spending the next few weeks in the woods and preparing for the EAW course!

Feb 10, 08'

Location confirmed for Empowering Ancient Ways course, April 27 - May 2. It will be held at the Wolf Den hostel in Oxtongue, ON (west side of Algonquin Park, hwy 60). Feb 10, 08' EMP has started a facebook group. Check it out by searching for: "Chris Gilmour's; Earth Mentorship Programs" on Facebook

Jan 15, 08'

New Course Added: Empowering Ancient Ways This great new course will be running in April 2008. - click here to learn more - Jan 10, 08' Updated Programs section. Jan 9, 08' I have just started an e-mail mailing list for updates, events, and wilderness living articles

Jan 3, 08'

The photo album has been updated

Dec 4, 07'

Northern Edge Algonquin has launched a facebook group. Check it out for upcoming "Wilderness Arts" programs Find it by looking up "Northern Edge Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Ontario" under facebook groups

Nov 03, 07'

Designing New Programs The past few days I have been working on the outlines for a number of new programs that I will be running over the next year. Highlights so far include: Two already booked programs with the students of Outward Bound Canada Colleges semester program. One is a one day tracking course entitled: “Studying Ecology Through the Eyes of a Tracker”, and second a three day wilderness awareness and primitive living course in December (I ran this program for them last December (06') as well.

Oct 25 07'

Tracking Deer I've been fortunate to have the past week and a half free from many obligations. I have been spending between 3 – 8 hours out everyday tracking deer. What an exciting time of the year heading into the fall rut. I came across the first fresh antler rub I have seen this season and herd a buck snort the other night.

Official Launch of Web Page This web page along with the Earth Mentorship Guild, an ontario naturalist and primitive skills web page, have been on my mind for well over a year now. October 2007 I finally saw these dreams come to life and I am very pleased with both of them

Sept 21 -23, 2007

The First “Headwaters Gathering” – Earth Based Living Skills - “Fall 2007 we held this first of hopefully many to come primitive and earth based skills gathering. We came together with nearly 40 people for 3 days to practice and learn ancient skills to help us deepen our connection with the earth. Please visit www.earthmentorship.com to learn more.

September 15, 07'

Winter Guiding for Outward Bound Canada I have just accepted a winter contract with Outward Bound Canada starting the middle of December and running to the middle of March. I will be an outdoor education instructor using dog sleds, cross country skis, snowshoes, and of course the wilderness as a medium for education.