Flying Deer instructors are excited to share with you naturalist, self-care, and home gardening skills to inspire you—and make you laugh a little, too!
Crafting an Atl Atl
From the Aztec Nahuatl language, atl atl means “far, far” (not just far but really far!). This hunting tool has been found on every inhabited continent, and predates the bow and arrow. It is a simple, elegant and sophisticated piece of technology that brought human hunters through the Ice Age. Try making one and you will see why some folks really catch the atl atl bug!
Create Your Own Watertight Bark Container
Julie Kunz offers a step-by-step guide, from tree branch to pine bark container. (The music is great, too!)
How to Make Fire Tongs
Flying Deer instructor River Otter (Chris Wiltshire) shows us the simple steps for making a pair of tongs using a branch, cord, and a knife. Younger children will need supervision and some hands-on help for this project!
How to Make a Moss Garden
Mosses and club mosses are ancient plants. We’re talking like dinosaur ancient! What’s the difference between the two? Mosses are the low-growing, fuzzy patches of green fur that like to grow on fallen logs, rocks, tree roots, and the forest floor. They can soak up a ton of water and go dormant when there is no rainfall, only to spring back to life. They grow very sloooooowly. Club mosses look like baby evergreen trees, and grow to about five inches. Both are sensitive species, so be mindful of taking only a small portion of the colony and make sure that you keep your moss garden alive!
Charred Material Experiments
Program Director Josh Wood shows us all the ways to make charred tinder for fire starting, using multiple materials and charring containers. Kindling a fire with a flint and steel requires tinder that will catch a small spark and grow it into something larger that can produce a flame. Some plants give us great sources for tinder, others become excellent tinder when they are charred. Charring—heating without fully combusting—changes the properties of the material. Many of our students are adept at kindling a fire this way. Have fun experimenting!
How to Make Your Own Bow and Arrows
Program Director Josh Wood demonstrates how to use natural materials to craft this essential survival tool.
Going on a Rampage, Part 1: Identifying & Harvesting
Join instructor Julie Kunz on a hunt for wild leeks!
Going on a Rampage, Part 2: Transplanting
Instructor Julie Kunz demonstrates how to transport a patch of wild leeks to your yard.
Bird Bingo
Explore the world of birds with JJ Luceno! Download the Bird Bingo handout to play the game!
How to Make Pitch Sticks
Program Director Devin Franklin and a couple of special guests demonstrate how to create natural fire-lighting tools.