Residential Immersion Program 8-Week

Residential Immersion Program

Live the Skills. Build the Life.

This is the full immersion—the deep end of the pool. Over eight weeks, you’ll live off-grid with fellow apprentices in a supportive, skill-sharing community guided by seasoned mentors. You won’t just take classes—you’ll live the rhythms of wilderness life, from daily routines and group projects to solo challenges and storytelling by firelight. This program is a launchpad for future outdoor educators, guides, and leaders, but more than that, it’s a powerful return to a life aligned with nature, growth, and intention.

Whether you’re raking wild blueberries along Maine’s coast or building shelters deep in the forest, every moment is designed to reconnect you with the land and with yourself. From Saturday to Wednesday each week, you’ll be immersed in structured learning, with time for rest and reflection on Thursdays and Fridays.

Residential Immersion Program Details

Live off-grid. Learn by doing. Lead with confidence.

This eight-week immersive program is designed for those ready to reconnect with the land, step into self-reliance, and build real-world skills that carry over into every area of life. You’ll live in our off-grid Apprentice Village, surrounded by nature and supported by a small, dedicated community of learners.

You’ll be taught directly by Michael Douglas, one of the top five trackers in the world, or by his trusted team of expert instructors. Days are filled with hands-on training, outdoor routines, group challenges, and time for rest, reflection, and connection. This is an unforgettable experience that builds deep awareness, capability, and resilience.

Whether you’re preparing for a life closer to nature, becoming an outdoor educator, or seeking a powerful reset—this program gives you the skills and mindset to thrive.

What You'll Do Each Week

• Saturday–Wednesday: Full days of instruction and hands-on skills (approx. 40 hrs/week)

• Thursday–Friday: Time for solo practice, group projects, rest, or guided reflection

• Location: Off-grid at the Apprentice Village in Maine
  

Skills You Will Acquire

• Shelter Building: Learn how to build debris huts, thatch roofs, cob walls, and seasonal shelters that actually keep you warm and dry.

• Fire by Friction: Master bow drill and hand drill techniques to create fire from nothing but natural materials.

• Wild Food and Foraging: Identify, harvest, and prepare edible and medicinal plants safely and respectfully.

• Water Systems: Find, collect, and purify water using primitive and modern techniques.

• Tracking & Bird Language: Learn to read animal tracks, trails, and behavior, and decode bird calls for early warnings and landscape awareness.

• Tool Crafting: Make your own cordage, stone tools, bows, arrows, and adhesives from what you find around you.

• Primitive Cooking & Food Preservation: Cook over open flame, preserve wild food, and learn ancestral nutrition.

• Awareness & Movement: Develop your senses through nature awareness games, camouflage, and quiet movement techniques.

• Teaching & Leadership: Learn the Invisible School framework, mentor others, and facilitate learning experiences using Coyote Teaching methods.

• Community Living: Build strong communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution skills while living and learning with others.

A Sample Week Might Include:

• Building and sleeping in your own shelter

• Lighting your first hand-drill fire

• Learning to trail deer or identify edible plants

• Cooking a shared wild meal over an open fire

• Leading a nature-based lesson with your peers

• Harvesting wild herbs for your own apothecary

• Reflecting with your group under the stars

Who This Is For:

• Outdoor educators, guides, and mentors

• People seeking a personal reset or lifestyle change

• Those wanting to live more simply, sustainably, and skillfully

• Anyone ready to deepen their connection with nature—and themselves

The Difference:

• Residential students live the experience 24/7—building a rhythm of earth-based living through full immersion.

• Non-residential students train deeply during course time, then integrate skills into their daily life at home.
  
  

Both paths lead toward self-reliance, confidence, community, and nature connection. Choose the one that meets you where you are—and stretches you toward who you want to become.