Every Journey Has Roots
From the backwoods of Maine to classrooms and communities around the world, the story of Maine Primitive is one of resilience, rediscovery, and reconnection.
The Good Earth School
In 1989, Michael Douglas founded what was initially called "The Good Earth School" at the University of Maine in Orono, with the goal of rekindling humanity’s lost connection to the land. The early courses focused on survival, tracking, and awareness, providing students with both the hard skills of bushcraft and the softer, more elusive skills of nature awareness and community-building.
By 1993, the school relocated to Augusta, Maine, expanding its offerings and formalizing its structure. As the demand for deeper, more immersive learning grew, the school evolved. By 1998, it had adopted the name Maine Primitive Skills School, reflecting a broader mission that now included training military survival instructors, mentoring environmental educators, and serving as a beacon for those seeking self-reliance and sustainability.
1989 – The Beginning
The Good Earth School is founded at the University of Maine in Orono by Michael Douglas.
1993 – Moving to Augusta
The school relocates to Augusta, Maine, expanding both its programs and facilities.
1998 – Becoming Maine Primitive Skills School
A new name reflects a growing mission—serving educators, military instructors, and everyday citizens seeking resilience.
2003 – Infrastructure & Ecosystem
Facilities are upgraded, and a network of instructors, apprentices, volunteers, and students turns the school into a living ecosystem of shared wisdom.
Rooted in Lineage
The school’s lineage is deeply rooted in the wisdom of those who came before. The Northern Lipan Apache, through Stalking Wolf, passed down teachings that eventually reached Tom Brown Jr., whose Tracker School profoundly shaped Michael Douglas’s approach to teaching.
Additionally, the knowledge of the Iroquois, Lakota, Abenaki, and many other Indigenous nations contributed to the school’s evolving philosophy. These traditions, coupled with insights from modern mentors like Jon Young, Mal Stephens, and Paul Raphael, have guided the school’s journey in preserving and passing on these essential skills.
More Than Skills—A Way of Life
Beyond skill-building, Maine Primitive is a community dedicated to restoring humanity’s place within the natural world. The school honors the belief that deep nature connection fosters more than just survival—it cultivates empathy, awareness, and resilience.
Its programs, from wilderness immersion to foraging and tracking courses, are designed not just to teach but to transform. Students emerge with a renewed sense of purpose, a deeper understanding of their
Our Living Legacy
Today, Maine Primitive stands as a testament to the power of shared knowledge and the resilience of ancestral wisdom. It is through hands-on experiences, mentorship, and an ever-growing community of passionate educators and students, that Maine Primitive continues to thrive.
It remains a source, more than a place, where the ancient skills of tracking, foraging, and survival are not only shared but woven into a way of life—one that honors the past, serves the present, and builds a future deeply rooted in the land.