Links: Preparing for Your Inner and Outer Journeys
The following are local groups and businesses, as well as web resources that may help you plan, interpret and share you inner and outer journeys. The resources here are varied, as we weave a complex web of psychological and naturalist resources for healthy, safe and sustainable journeys!
Kamana Naturalist Training Program
Here’s where you shop to purchase the home study Kamana Naturalist Training Program. These folks in Washington state have put together the best home training for different levels of depth, time and committment. Kamana One is an 6-8 week (or so) self-study program that covers a variety of nature awareness and wilderness skills. Kamana Two can take you deeper, getting you further on the path to increasing your awareness and knowledge of nature in about a 4-6 month window. Then on to Kamanas Three and Four for deeply diving into knowledge and refinement of skills through study of plants, animals, hazards, ecological indicators, trees…plus regular use of a sitspot, which at IWI we refer to as an EarthSpot practice. Please do all your online shopping for Wilderness Awareness School books and supplies through our site, as it generates us a bit of income to help support our programming, as well!
Birding Club of Augusta County.
Learn about and review the state’s Virginia Wildlife Action Plan and see links to ideas for home habitats, school programs, bird counts, frog calls, birding and wildlife trails and other access to nature supported by state agencies.
Cranberry’s Grocery and Eatery
Need natural insect repellent? Cranberry’s carries a local product by Janet’s Garden and also carries a Burt’s Bees product, plus a full line of essential oils for making your own insect repellent (which perhaps helps with scent camouflaging as well!).
They carry organic and natural foodstuffs and remedies, espresso, a juice bar, wraps and sandwiches. In downtown Staunton, 7 South New Street. 540-885-4757.
Mammal Page: Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries
Lists all the mammal species in Virginia, with links to info and maps so you can learn more about our closest other-than-human neighbors!
Site with so much info- Certifying you Back yard as a Wildlife Habitat, June 27th Great American Backyard Campout, Ranger Rick programs. This great nonprofit has been with us a long time and is going strong. Remember reading Ranger Rick when you were a kid?
Outdoor Adventure Experiences, Inc.
Derek Young runs this local outfitter service that will get you having new, affordable adventures here in the Valley. River sports, climbing, caving, backpacking… Derek’s goal is to make the outdoors safe and accessible to you and your family.
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Hiking and rustic cabins along the Appalachian Trail. Some accessible with a short walk, all in the wilderness!
Join thousands of others in gathering valuable environmental and climate change information from across the country. Project BudBurst engages the public in making careful observations of the phenophases such as first leafing, first flower, and first fruit ripening of a diversity of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses in their local area.
Author of Last Child in the Woods, this site offer a great resource page to help you jumpstart ideas for yourself and your kids to get back out into nature in fun, easy and meaningful ways. Great links to activities such as backyard camping, butterfly projects, “green hours”, making your yard a certified wildlife habitat and other great ideas for right at home. Also great links to lots of resources.
Rockingham County area’s birding group!
A great resource in downtown Staunton for new and used books on world spirituality themes, including a wide range of books on the environment, native cultures, nature spirituality and all major world religions. Also fair-trade items in a welcoming atmosphere.
In Virginia, Sierra Club is 17,000 members strong– friends and neighbors working to build healthy, livable communities, and to conserve and restore our natural environment.
Founded in 1990, the Council is dedicated to protecting the Shenandoah Valley region’s natural, agricultural, and cultural resources through private action and public planning. To date it has helped private land owners complete dozens of conservation projects using conservation easements and agricultural and forestal districts to protect their land. Over 42,000 acres of private farm and forest land is permanently protected in our region by our partner organization, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, with another 125,000 protected through agricultural and forestal districts. The Council is regularly invited to speak and consult with local governments and civic groups, winning the respect of elected officials, planners, and the business and agricultural communities throughout the Valley.
Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail
Outing ideas for the George Washington National Forest, trails.
Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited
There’s more to fishing than fishing. VCTU’s 4,000 members are actively engaged in protecting, restoring, reconnecting, and sustaining cold water fisheries in the Commonwealth.
Virginia Forest Watch (VAFW) is a grass-roots based coalition of individuals and environmental groups organizing throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our mission is “to maintain and restore the natural ecology and biodiversity of woodlands across Virginia through education and citizen participation.”
Virginia Herpatological Society
Lots of great local information to get to know our amphibian and reptile neighbors, including maps, development charts, pictures and details species info.
The Society’s programs emphasize public education, protection of endangered species, habitat preservation, and encouragement of appropriate landscape use of native plants. Learn more about our wilderness gems!
Links to all the State Park’s in the State with hiking, boating , camping and cabin info!
A Charlottesville group dedicated yo protecting Virginia Wilderness that offer group hikes and other activities in our area.
Harrisonburg outfitting store with camping, hiking, climbing gear and clothes, boots and more. Staff help you select what is right for you, demonstrating good knowledge of what they sell and working hard to help you get what’s best for your situation. Great customer service.
