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Think Outside

Nonprofit outdoor education for all ages and all people

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MAKES US SO DIFFERENT?

Black Oak Wilderness School (or BOWS) is a queer founded 501c3 nonprofit created in 2017 by our current Executive Director Dane Nelson with the purpose of getting people from historically excluded or marginalized communities outside, having experiences that they would not otherwise have access to.  We offer a variety of programs to help youth and adults access outdoor spaces with confidence, including hiking, archery, blacksmithing, camping, and survival skills. Our adult classes help fund our youth programs for historically excluded or marginalized communities.

Our approach to outdoor education for both youth students and adults is very different from what you might be used to, and is rooted in wilderness survival, stone age skills, and traditional living skills. Our classes include things like:​

 

  • Archery 

  • Bow and Arrow Making

  • Blacksmithing

  • Blade/Knife Smithing

  • Wilderness Survival Basics

  • Animal Tracking

  • Bird Language

  • Flint Knapping (Stone Tools)

  • Knife Safety and Carving Techniques

  • Basket Weaving

  • Leather Working

  • Animal Processing

  • Hide Tanning

  • Natural Building/Shelter

  • Bushcraft

  • Edible and Medicinal Plant ID

  • Self Rescue/Emergency Med

  • Nature Connection

  • Campfire Cooking

  • Woodworking

  • Advanced Traditional Living

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