www.WildernessAwareness.org

The Voice of Wilderness Awareness School, Summer 2017

How do you express the beautiful impact this school has on a child and our families? It’s hard to express in words. Our journey all began a while back when

I went through 2 years of Community School (our teen once-a-week program). This program forever changed my life and left a lasting impression on me. When my daughter was born I couldn’t wait for her to be a part of this magical school. However, juggling two kids and one income has been difficult for us and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get my precious girl into this amazing school. But I applied for a scholarship and was so overjoyed to receive financial

help and get her into Roots and Wings (our once-a-week program for 4 to 6 year olds).

So, now her story begins. Last fall my daughter went into Roots and Wings afraid of the woods and “all the scary animals out there”. What she came away with was astonishing. Confidence, for one. But more than that

By Racheal, Mother of Gwenevyre (age 4) COMING ALIVE

“Every week you could see the growth in her swelling, her confidence building,

and her love of nature intensifying.”

Article continued on page 4.

a respect and love for nature that I cannot express with words. Every week you could see the growth in her swelling, her confidence building, and her love of nature intensifying. I so cherish all the little ways this program has given her clarity in her life. She has come away talking about families and their “village”,

helping her friends find more appropriate length sticks to play with, teaching her friends to build fairy houses, munching on Dandelion leaves, noticing the birds and all their different colors and sounds, curiosity galore, and most importantly just a joyful love and connection to nature. My favorite thing is seeing how her

love and curiosity for the wild woods has translated to her little brother and her friends. When we go to the park now we’re not just playing on the playground, we’re down in the dirt questioning all the little creatures and plants and why they’re here and what they live for. On top of all this, being a part of this program has connected me to a lifelong friend. It has reached so far as to help me grow and reconnect with myself, nature and my community. That is a blessing that is indescribable. I could never possibly express with words all

“If I had to sum it up, I’d say this program has

helped us all to come ALIVE.”

Gwenevyre (on the left) with volunteer Kylah (middle - the Executive Director’s daughter!) and fellow camper Samara (right - Youth Instructor Andy Franjevic’s daughter).

Gwenevyre climbing on a stump

Wilderness Awareness School. A few core reasons being to offer empowering spaces to heal from systemic transphobia and homophobia and to reclaim the land-informed gifts of queerness.

Since that first skillshare on friction fire in October 2015, Queer Nature has grown in collaboration with Women’s

Wilderness Institute with our Queer Wilderness Project; with School of Lost Borders with our first Queer Youth Quest; with Youth Passageways offering webinars and consultation work on the intersection of rites of passage with social justice, making rites of passage relevant to gender-variant youth; and soon to be guest instructing at WAS in October amongst other collaborations. We offer grant-subsidized skillshares to acknowledge our difficult survival dance as queer and trans people–especially queer and trans

people of color–and to make ancestral skills accessible to our community. We kept getting overwhelming feedback

It’s our first Queer Nature skillshare as we go around in a group of queer and trans youth and ask them to share their name, pronouns and why they are here. Some are bubbling with excitement while some are more reserved and shy. The talking piece reaches a quiet voice in the room of a young transwoman, “I am here because the queer community has historically formed in places like bars and around a culture of partying and ‘getting high’ and I like the idea of

a queer community based in the earth.” Our hearts drop. This youth hit the nail on the head of why my spouse, So Sinopoulos-Lloyd (Anake grad ‘14), and I (Anake grad ‘13) wanted to create Queer Nature after our studies at

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Please direct article, poetry, art and photo submission ideas to: WarrenM@WildernessAwareness.org

“Since our time at WAS, we have been committed to centering marginalized voices

in nature-connection work to build our collective resiliency.”

“At Queer Nature, we are changing the narrative that queer and trans folks do not

belong in nature or that we are ‘unnatural’.”

So blowing a coal to life for a youth program

Founded in 1983, Wilderness Awareness School is dedicated to caring for the earth and our children by fostering understanding and appreciation of nature, community and self.

Foxprint is Published by:

Wilderness Awareness SchoolP.O. Box 219, PMB 137Duvall, WA 98019425.788.1301www.WildernessAwareness.org

Foxprint is the publication of Wilderness Awareness School, a division of The Awareness Society, a nonprofit organization, recognized as a Federal Tax-Exempt Organization under I.R.S. code section 501(c)(3). Wilderness Awareness School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, disability, creed, national or ethnic origin, or sexual orientation. Wilderness Awareness School is an equal opportunity employer.

The name Foxprint and the Wilderness Awareness School logo are registered trademarks belonging to Wilderness Awareness School.

Copyright 2017 by Wilderness Awareness School, or as stated in the individual piece. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without permission; however, we are here to serve the community, so don’t hesitate to ask.

Disclaimer: All articles without a byline are written by Foxprint editorial staff. The opinions and views expressed in articles not written by staff are those of the individual author, and are not necessarily those of Foxprint or Wilderness Awareness School.

Foxprint Editor: Warren Moon & Heather Durham

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By Pinar Ates Sinopoulos-Lloyd ALUMNI IN ACTION: QUEER NATURE

Pinar (center) introducing Monarda Fistulosa. Photo Credit: Megan Newton

Article continued on page 4.

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Michael AarnioDavid AhlersAmber AldrichMatt AllenSharee AndersonAnthony AndreasikLaura AppellLaurie ArchboldSusan Abbott and James ArismanKatie AustinDavid AverillUlyana and Alexander BabanovDavid and Annalei BabsonCor BaderJason and Carla BattlesMax BaumannLaurel BeckPhil BennettPeter and Laura KersonJulia BevinsSiddharth Bharath IyengarSarah BicknellDiane Birckbichler-KochLinda BittleBodi BlackSarah Blythe GlasscoNorm and Rita BoberAlan BookerElizabeth and Mike BooneJanie Booty, In Memory Of Michael BootySamuel BowmanSarah Ann & Laird BowmanDavid BoyleMerilee BradfordBobbe BranchRachel BrodskyThe BrookshiresBeth Brownfield, In Honor Of Billy Frank JrChad BrundageMichael BrundageNathaniel BrundigeHayley BubbValarie BudayrLee and Jennifer BuddeGwen BundyMichael BurgerMark ButlerGene and Sandy BuzzelliErin CampbellShawna Capp, In Memory Of Rob SandelinSarah CarnesSommer and Rob CarterDarlene CashKaren CastleRyan CavalcanteJiao ChenSandra ChervenakWes Childers and Sharon RoseCindy and Kareem Choudhry, In Memory Of Rob SandelinPatricia ChristensenFiona Clark & Jim BoggsHarley Clark Cathy CollinsMichele CollinsThe Conahan FamilyBrooke ConeysJim CooperDan and Caroline CorcoranJean Corcoran GilmoreTim Corcoran, SrJoanne CormierSharon Cormier-AagaardEric CortezPhilip and Sarah CotterillCarol CowanLiz CrainSara & Jeffrey CroftVirginia CurrieSandra CutuliAdam Cypress, In Honor Of Shirley GoldMorgen Daily, In Honor Of Patrick ChristiansenJennifer DanekBruce DarbyCalisle DeanSteve DentonChristine DeppeDiane DeVoreStephana Ditzler, In Memory Of Rob SandelinMichael DoranSol Marie & Michael DoranJanet and Jon DowellLarry DunlapLisa DunnGeorge DurhamHeather Durham

Judith DurhamRebecca DurhamRussell DusekJoanne EdinbergJessenia EisenmanPaul EnanderChristopher Engle, In Memory Of Rob SandelinHeidi Engle, In Memory Of Rob SandelinYasmin ErneMelissa EspositoMatt and Adriana EvansAnnika FaeStephen FigginsKaren Joy FletcherLynn FletcherDan FontaineMilt Footer, In Memory Of Clifford LeightonMonique FordhamAndy Franjevic, In Memory Of Linne Doran & Coho RidgeShari FranjevicDiana and Maurice FranklinBonnie Friedmann and John CunniffDavid FriedmannJennifer and Peter FriendKathy and Ed FriesDavid FromanRobert FultonLara GabrielLauren Gaddy and Howard GefenBettina GallagherCarol GallagherDiana GardRebecca GardnerDan GardoquiAnn GarnerBarbara GarnishJoe Gaydos, In Honor Of Warren MoonWes GietzNathaniel GilbertMallory GlaserLuis GlassTaylor and Bill GOforthDaniel Goldberg, In Memory Of Tony & Margaret LaliberteCharles GoldensherPatrick GormanAshley GrantGerald and Kathleen GreenPeter GreenJanet GreenhutBob GreshamFrank GrindrodJezanna GruberFrank and Diane GunionLaura GunionEllen HaasAmy and Roger HackettJen and Selso Hagander-LuanavaTom and Lin HagedornErik HagstromBrooke HallCheryl Hammond, In Memory Of Kevin HammondRachael HannahSusan HansenMette HansonRenee HardyEd and Suki HarkinsJosh HarperTimothy Harper, In Memory Of Josh HarperPhilippe HarscoetPam Hawes and Jack HundenMary HecoxRyan Heffernan and Meghan Eagan, In Honor Of Foxes instructorsMelissa HensleyLaura HershJerry HeymansEric HimelfarbEvelyn Hirata and Brian GuenterAnn HofsommerCaitlin HolcombKalle HollBrett and Laura HolmquistDavid HooperChuck HoppBridget and Bruce HorneWalter HouseDave and Theresa HuddaJulene HumesKaren Hust and Todd VogelElisa IllingMichael & Rusenia Ingram

Alyssa JacobsGeorge JansonErik JensenDave JohanssonMelissa JohnsonScott JohnsonGeorgene JonesAngie Jordan, In Honor Of Thelma JordanKaren KaneOwen KehoeElizabeth KempAngela and William KennedyCharles Khoury, In Honor Of Camp Raven in GermanyJoseph KiegelKimchi FamilyBrionna KingLisa KlinkNick and Susan KnowlesKat KochKyle KochMelissa and Jeremiah KonkleMichael KopfSascha KraderDick & Marcia KramerCarol KufeldtGrietje LagaSusan LandahlJosh Langille-HoppeCatherine LaraLarsen Family FundWilliam LavelyMaxine and Mike LeeseNys LehmbergEvan and Joy LeonardLeslie LevensonTerry LeyenbergerHannah LibbyAmanda LinsteadLucinda Lloyd, In Honor Of Karen & Nate and unborn childVarda LobanovGeorgene LockwoodAlana LoganOlivia Lorgen-JonesKylie Loynd, Niya and Keenan SchlichtingRuth and Jim Loynd, In Honor Of Granddaughters Niya & KeenanLynn and Gary LubeckAaron LundSharon MaffettMary Magnant, In Honor Of Mark A. ZannoniTerry Mandeville, In Honor Of The Wild Women of WASNizan MaorLise MaringRobert MartinBriana MartinezDavid MaukJohn McConnell and Virginia RhoadsPatrick McCutcheonDeirdre McInerney-Liu, In Honor Of Patrick LiuJohn and Carol McLainDuke McMillinAnneke Meijer-TreepMeredith FamilySusan MichaelLinda MilksThe Miller Family, In Honor of WAS instructorsJason & Ellen MirroScott MitchellCassidy MoonJudy MoonKylah MoonSuzanne MoonTony Moon, In Honor Of Ingwe & JakeWarren and M’Liss MoonChristine and Jon Moon HalvorsonKate MooreRyan MooreHoward Alexander MorinChris MortimerMatthew Murgida, In Honor Of Frank MurgidaJohn MurphyToshikatsu NakanoRuta NanivadekarTravis and Mink NeelyChuck and Leslie NewquistErik Newquist

Erin NicolardiJordan NiebuhrThe Nolan FamilyJess NormanJean and Todd NunnallyChris OByrneDonna O’Hearn, In Memory Of Brian O’HearnJames O’Leary, In Memory Of Ocean AhlesJenna OlligesRick OlsenChristine OlsonOlga and Tom OlufsThe O’Neal FamilyTeresa OpolkaAnne OsbaldestonDoreet J OsmanAmy Paige and Timothy CallahanAnne PairYvonne and Johnny PalkaLinda S. ParkLeslie Pearson, In Memory Of Rob SandelinSara PedscalnyWolfgang PehamSantosh PhilipJesse Phillips, In Honor Of Pete & Trish Steel Eugene Howard StokesRuth PickeringAaron PilandMelissa Platt, In Honor Of Erin BrookshireNick Poccia, In Honor Of Elia PocciaPamela Poholsky, In Honor Of Jon Young, Tom Brown Jr., and native eldersTiffanie PopeJudy Posner, In Memory Of Daniel PosnerElizabeth PowellSusannah PowellKyle Pratt, In Honor Of Olivia MeehlederRobert PretlowPhrin PrickettMike PrinceDaniel PuplettCarmelo QuetellBrendan Quirk, In Memory Of KC ChapekDebbie RamosTodd and Char RawlingsJohn ReedMeaghan ReedBob RepoleyMarc and Freda ReynersonMarcus Reynerson, In Memory Of Chris KenworthyMarcy ReynoldsLinda RitscherRichie Rivera-BoothBrock RodenMike RodenbaughJosh RossMatthew RossByron RotAnnie Roth, On Behalf Of Jake RothMark RothAdam RubenJenna RudolphRaynee RyanKathy and Paul SchertzJessica SchindlerJulie and Jeff SchoenfeldSeth and Dian SchulerDave ScottTiana ScottTillie Scruton and Chris RoggeScot and Patty SeaCharlie SerraJanice SetserBridget SevignyPaul SharpeVictoria SharpeLiza SheehanAndrew ShellKatherine SheltonKimberly SheltonSarah ShepherdColeman SimpsonBeth SkoczenChris SmithGail and Phil SmithHolly Hosford Smith and Edward SmithLindsey SmithCheryl Snell

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF NATURE CONNECTIONWE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU – THE MANY INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS AND BUSINESSES THAT SUPPORT

GETTING MORE KIDS OF ALL AGES OUTSIDE AND CONNECTED WITH NATURE. THE FOLLOWING ALPHABETIZED LIST INCLUDES DONATIONS RECEIVED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1, 2017 AND JUNE 30, 2017.

Elizabeth Sokol, In Memory Of Sheila CarrollSarah SpaethDawn Spiegelberg, In Honor Of Lindsey Smith FosterConnor StedmanAnn Hungar-SteelDebbie StevensDana StokesMatt and Sherene Sturtevant, In Honor Of Nathan Sturtevant (son)Nate SummersChandana Surlu & Joseph JoyEleanor SutherlandHeather Nordell and Benjamin KaufmanBill SydorVivi TallmanFred TaubDon and Ellen TavesLucy TaylorJohn TharpAnnie ThoeGreg & Carolyn ThomasMichelle Thompsen, In Honor Of Lizzy ThompsenAron and Sara ThompsonAlex ThomsonRachel and Nick TomczekKaren TomkinsNyn TomkinsJaime Torre EderTara TroutnerGina TroyVeronica Truffat and Brad RoterUnzelman FamilyAmber Valett, In Honor Of Manon McPetersHeidi Van der VeldenMargaret van Naerssen, In Memory Of Eric van NaerssenMichelle van NaerssenPieter Van WinkleEileen and Paul VanBronkhorstO Jay WaddleMaya WallachWendy Wartes, In Memory Of Rob SandelinEstelle WatermanNancy Waters, In Memory Of Phyllis & Fred HelmMichael Chapko and Marcia Weaver, In Honor Of Makara Chapko’s high school graduationDaniel WebberBronwen WelchJennifer WheelhouseRyan WhisnantMichelle WhittenJane Wicklund, In Honor Of Karen Fletcher & Nate SummersGigi Wickwire, In Honor Of Emma HumesRosemarie WiegmanStephanie Mosher & David WolbrechtJenn WolfeRobin WolthausenColin WongDeborah WoolstonJulie WrightMerrily WymanGail WynnElaine YamadaAidan YoungEvan YoungJon YoungSequoia YoungCarla YoungblutAmisha Zuber

Corporations and FoundationsAdobe MatchingThe Dickey FundExpedia Matching Gift ProgramGoogle Matching Gifts ProgramHawthorn FarmHelium AdvisorsInternational Institute Of Qualitative InquiryKim G Redding Charitable TrustKool Change PrintingThe Robert and Margaret McNamara Foundation #3Microsoft Matching Gifts ProgramPCC Natural Markets Scrip ProgramSalesforce Matching ProgramTableau SoftwareT-Mobile Matching GiftsWyman Youth Trust, On Behalf Of Evan Wyman

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from queer and trans folks wanting to connect in nature but having difficulty finding communities who included them. Often times, queer and trans folks have left rural areas with access to nature for their own safety and to find sanctuary and community in cities. I honor those beautiful survival strategies to keep themselves safe! Trans and queer folks often have different barriers to nature-connection.

My experience at WAS is that I could bring my queer and trans self there. I eventually had experiences at WAS of community members expressing that my critical voice was integral to the whole and that my liminality was a gift. This further illustrates the point that diversity generates resiliency just as our ecological communities mirror to us. After my Anake year, I participated in the Wildlife Tracking Intensive. Being on hormone treatment while at the Tracking Intensive was such a beautiful gift in exploring the expansive wilderness of my own gender. That further inspired the work at Queer Nature for folks to explore the landscapes of queer and transness in the natural world.

Since our time at WAS, we have been committed to centering marginalized voices in nature-connection work to build our collective resiliency. My experience at Anake has given me the courage to deepen my connection to my lineages and to walk honorably with the indigenous history of the land I connect to. In our mentorship, we encourage that in others as a foundational part of nature-connection. The 8 Shields work is a work of cultural regeneration that has inspired my own gift in the ecosystem to uplift marginalized voices for the resiliency of the whole.

At Queer Nature, we are changing the narrative that queer and trans folks do not belong in nature or that we are “unnatural”. We have a long history of earth-based queerness. We are whole and sacred people who are gifts to our communities. We are at home in the liminal and transitional spaces (NW & NE) and we have medicine for our people. Thank you, WAS, for affirming the truth of each of our own ecological niches within a community.

Editors Note: We are excited to host a workshop with Queer Nature on October 14-15, 2017 in Duvall, WA. See our website for more details: wildernessawareness.org/adult-programs/queer-nature-project-weekend

You can also learn more about their programs at: www.queernature.org

Article continued from page 2.Alumni in Action

Article continued from page 1.Coming Alive

the beautiful and wonderful ways this program has brought so much into our lives but if I had to sum it up, I’d say this program has helped us all to come ALIVE.

A big and glorious THANK YOU to all the amazing people who have donated and given my daughter the opportunity to blossom into this beautiful human being. Our lives would not be the same without your support.

School Year Program TestimonialsYour support truly makes a difference in the lives of our students. Below are a couple of my favorite

testimonials from our 2016-2017 school-year programs that demonstrate this positive impact:

Thank you for instilling a wonderment and connection to nature in a supportive and positive

environment. My boys love being a part of the Wilderness Awareness tribe!.

Leah, mother of Reese (age 9) and Grayson (age 7)

My daughter found herself and her tribe.Jo Anne, mother of Josie (age 16)

My daughter learned so many fun facts and skills but most of all we saw her become confident in her ability to navigate the outdoors and recognize how

rewarding it was to spend time in nature.Maria, Mother of Evelyn (age 10)

She has become a deeper, truer version of herself since attending the program.

Mother of Ella (age 7)

“A big and glorious THANK YOU to all the amazing people who have donated and given my daughter the

opportunity to blossom into this beautiful human being.”

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Board of Trustees Kristen Bauer — PresidentTony Laliberte — Vice PresidentAndy Held — TreasurerLuis Glass — Secretary Members — Sarah Bicknell, Dani Gennety, Warren Moon, Howard Morin, Chris Springate and Dan Webber

Elders Bobbe Branch, Gene Buzzelli, Wes Childers, Ellen Haas, Ed Harkins, Pam Hawes, Chuck Newquist, John Reed, Don Taves, Eileen VanBronkhorst and Jenn Wolfe

Staff Quinn Bailey, Richie Booth, Samuel Bowman, Merilee Bradford, Erin Brookshire, Dan Corcoran, Sol Doran, Heather Durham, Annika Fae, Andy Franjevic, Laura Gunion, Kyle Koch, Hannah Libby, Warren Moon, Jesse Phillips, Mike Prince, Marcus Reynerson, Charlie Serra and Nate Summers

by Warren Moon, Executive Director

NOTES FROM THE EAGLE’S NEST: WE DID IT!

Thanks to you, our community of caring supporters, we now fully own our beloved land Linne Doran! Your support not only helped us reach our goal of $560,000 for the Linne Doran Capital Campaign, but inspired one of our matching donors to extend the match. In the end, we were able to significantly exceed our goal, raising $636,092 – absolutely amazing!

I am deeply touched and inspired by the success of this campaign. You clearly understand the significance of our land in all that we do and the importance of our mission – to help children and adults cultivate healthy relationships with nature, community and self.

In July, I was able to pay off our mortgage, which felt incredible. We now fully own and are able to preserve

our beloved land in perpetuity. And since we exceeded our goal, we also have much needed funds to provide some critical infrastructure improvements and maintenance. I am filled with gratitude for your generosity. Thank You!

I want to also acknowledge our Elders, Board and Staff who were critical in the success of the campaign, and every one (100%) of whom gave a donation. It is a great honor and blessing to work with such amazing, passionate and caring people.

Ingwe, our co-founder, always preached about the importance of having hope. I know that I am filled with hope by the incredible generosity of our community and by knowing there will forever be a special and beloved place for people to deeply connect with nature. Thank You!

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Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDSeattle

Permit No. 1523

Please consider renewing, if this is your last issue. A convenient renewal envelope is enclosed. We thank you for your contribution!

Wilderness Awareness SchoolA Division of The Awareness SocietyPO Box 219, PMB 137 Duvall, WA 98019www.WildernessAwareness.org

Linne Doran Capital Campaign Celebration and Tree Planting

You’re invited! Please join us on Saturday, September 23rd to

celebrate owning our beloved land Linne Doran.

10 am to 1 pm: Tree Planting – over 300 trees and shrubs to plant

1 pm to 3 pm: Lunch and Celebration

Join us for the entire day or for only one of the two pieces.

Please RSVP – Capital Campaign Celebration