REFERENCES

Why do we offer some of the most reasonably priced classes around?

Because we don't believe in price gouging.  It's that simple.  It shouldn't cost a fortune to learn to rub two sticks together.  We want to put outdoor skills in the hands of everyone.  Maybe your money is limited, or your time is limited.  Not everyone can take off  a week of work (and spend a thousand dollars, too) to go break rocks in the woods.  We run concise, subject specific weekend classes that are respectful of our student's time and money.  Some of our students said that they didn't try us first because they thought we were "too cheap".  They thought that the high dollar classes at big name schools must be better.  They told us that they were sadly disappointed with the expensive classes, and very glad they found us. 

How can the cheapest be the best?  We invite you to come to see for yourself.  2008 will be our 12th year of continuous operation,
offering public classes every season of every year, and now we offer daily Private Classes year-round.  Over three quarters of our students are returning students, taking multiple classes with us.  And often, they bring their friends back with them to share their experiences.  Their repeat patronage speaks volumes.
 

Why do we teach this stuff?

In a nut shell, we love the subjects that we teach; and we love teaching. The philosophy of Earth Connection and it's staff is pretty simple - we love nature and history; we want to preserve both; share them with others; and hopefully, inspire our students to do the same.  

Our school's mission is to share the concept that all of our ancestors lived in a similar way.  Everyone's ancestors rubbed sticks to get fire, broke stones to make tools and made homes from the natural materials around them, no matter what culture they lived in or which continent they lived on.  We believe that from this prehistoric common ground, we learn lessons about cultural understanding and harmony today.  Our business plan is to provide you with high quality class content; reasonable and realistic survival strategies; and a safe, enjoyable learning experience. 

What we are

We are living historians and primitive technologists.  We are stewards of the land and the skills of our ancestors who lived close to the land.  We teach how to be a part of the landscape,  and how to preserve it for future generations.  One of the nicest compliments that we ever got from a student was simply - " You guys are exactly what I wanted, a cross between the Sierra Club and my college Anthropology Department."  Mike C. of Washington, D.C. 

Our survival skills do not destroy nature, in fact, we feel it is our duty to preserve nature and the skills of the peoples close to the earth for future generations.  We feel that our future will be positively affected by promoting an understanding of the skills common to all of our  ancestors.  That's how we think and operate.  Moving toward something positive.  And hoping to inspire some fellow travelers to join us on similar paths.  

What we are NOT

We are not a cult.  There is no religious or philosophical agenda at our classes.  We are not "Survivalists" waiting for the BIG ONE to drop.  We are not new age weirdos motivating people through fear like so many outdoor gurus who sell you the illusion of salvation along with the promise of Apocalypse.  We DO NOT believe that the End of the World is coming.  I (Tim) have sat in other school's classes and heard their head person promise me that the world will end in my lifetime, and if I take all of their classes now, my family and I have a 100% chance of surviving.  Well, that was my last visit there.  That's not how we operate, or think.  We're not trying to get you to take our classes through any scare tactics.  Each class stands alone.  We enjoy repeat guests, and we get A LOT of repeat guests, but we are certainly not trying to scam anyone into taking all of our classes. 

Now don't get offended if you believe with all your heart that the "Sword of Damocles" is dangling over our collective head.  I heard a lot of that growing up, and we did get a little nervous around Y2K.  We just realized that it is horrible to live in fear and be motivated by fear.  What a miserable life.  So we look to the future with hope now.  We've come so far in the last century, we have to make good things happen from here on out (or at least die trying).  I'll never again sit glumly waiting for the end.  Now I plan ahead for my retirement, and my children's retirement, and that feels pretty good.

And if I'm wrong... It's never a bad idea to have a few survival skills to fall back on.  I would recommend that everyone "Be Prepared", as the Boy Scouts would say.  You never know when a little crazy weather, a pandemic or general mayhem could put a hiccup in your normal routine and resources.  But we're certainly not trying to scare you into taking any classes.   

Very Sincerely,

Tim, Hueston and the gang at Earth Connection

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Web site designed by Jennifer MacWelch        Last modified: August 27, 2008