One Fire forest school

About One Fire

Nature Is THE PLACE For Healing

Connecting with nature nurtures the body, soul and spirit. Explore, engage, and discover the gifts of deep nature connection. Youth program focus areas include art and creativity, music and singing, movement and play, exploration and discovery, and outdoor living skills. We also take advantage of any opportunity to hone our soft skills

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Find YOURSELF In Nature!

Nature Is THE PLACE For Healing

Engage your creative and meditative spirit in natural crafts and nature-inspired art. Navigate the forest in deep nature exploration experiences. Take a dive into a primitive skill such as pine bark baskets and matchless fires. Search your soul on a nature-based rite of passage quest.

Nature Is Waiting For YOU!

Nature Is THE PLACE For Healing

Nature Is Waiting For YOU!

One Fire offers a variety programs for youth, teens, adults, and families. Or you can contact us to design your own program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at wrenanjali@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.

FAQ's

Where do OneFire programs take place?

Most OneFire programs take place at EcoVillage Ithaca; 100 Rachel Carson Way. Unless otherwise noted, drop-off and pick-up is at the playground just behind the Tree Common House (the multi-story building adjacent to the bus turn-around on Rachel Carson Way). The outdoor classroom in the “Enchanted Forest” area (in the woods behind the Tree Common House) is our primary basecamp, however most days we venture into the forest and fields for fun and exploration.

What will participants be doing?

While our programs are highly driven by participant interests, we do enter each day with a schedule and activity plans. We always overplan, and flexibly respond to the group’s energy and interests. We are especially ready to switch it up any time the wonders of nature take the stage and participant interests are piqued (someone finds an animal bone or a toad hops into camp).

We begin each day with a circle of connection including acknowledging those that were here before us, checking out the weather, and singing a few of our favorite nature songs. We pass a talking object around and share our names and pronouns. We review our behavioral expectations (stay with the group, respect and use the “crow call” to come together, be kind/generous to yourself and others and nature, care for our tools and supplies), and get an overview of the plan of the day.

During the program day we often feed the birds, care for the native plants in our nursery areas, learn about the native flora and fauna, explore our surroundings, develop our outdoor skills (such as fire-making and navigation), do some campfire cooking and nature crafting, and play many games (many of which are low-competition or cooperative in nature). Most days we have at least one “epic adventure” through which we build our cultural mythology. Don’t be surprised if your child comes home talking about the Wild Orange Children that we “rescued”, or the Troll that sneaked in and left us a gift.

We end the day with a closing circle where we share our stories of the day, favorite moments/activities, and appreciations of each other and/or nature; and of course we sing another nature song or two.

Are all of the programs outside? What about “bad” weather?

Our outdoor classroom in the “Enchanted Forest” includes a 10x20 foot three-sided canvas canopy tent which provides shelter against the elements and boasts comfy straw-bale seats. During significant weather events (lightning/thunderstorms, snow squalls, high winds) programs move indoors. While the Tree Common House is our closest shelter, we have a preferred indoor space in the Song Common House Multipurpose Room. Parents will be notified if participants will be indoors at pick-up time.

Are bathrooms available?

Our outdoor classroom in the “Enchanted Forest” is less than 100 yards from the Tree Common House where we have access to private bathrooms with flushing toilets. We make trips to the flushing toilets throughout the day as needs arise. Participants are also invited to use the “facili-trees” for urinating, are instructed to do so in a private location, and are discreetly supervised from afar by an adult. We do not provide toileting assistance except in emergencies (i.e. accidentally soiled clothing). We do provide a hand-washing station and encourage routine hand-washing after toileting and before snack and lunch-times.

About Us

Program Director Wren Anjali

Wren Anjali is a nature connection mentor, leader, wilderness guide and medic, devoted to supporting human-nature relationships. Wren offers adult and youth programs through One Fire Forest School with a focus on supporting positive and empowering experiences in nature. Wren has a knack for recognizing and acknowledging the unique gif

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Some favorite school break activities

We had fun making bird feeders and hanging them in our "Bird Sanctuary" area. The birds came in almost immediately, grateful for some peanut buttery nuts and seeds in these food-scarce times.
We learned about making fire, and practiced match lighting safety. Of course that includes only practicing with adult supervision from either a parent or our teacher.
Some of us worked on breaking hickory nuts open to make hickory nut milk - a One Fire favorite!
We learned about carving wood, carving safety rules, and knife use skills. We made wands out of basswood. Under 6 kids used vegetable peelers (which work amazingly well). Over 6, with demonstrated readiness, were supervised in carving.
We ended our day by making a fire to pop popcorn and cook our hickory nut milk. We shared our favorite things from the day and sang a few songs including "Thank You Trees", "Wood, Stone, Feather and Bone" and a reprise of the "Critter Song".

One Fire lyrics and recipe (docx)Download

One Fire

One Fire

Welcome to One Fire

Welcome to One Fire

Current programs

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About One Fire

Nature Is THE PLACE For Healing

Nature Is THE PLACE For Healing

Nature Is THE PLACE For Healing

Find YOURSELF In Nature!

Nature Is THE PLACE For Healing

Nature Is THE PLACE For Healing

Nature Is Waiting For YOU!

Nature Is THE PLACE For Healing

Nature Is Waiting For YOU!

Frequently Asked Questions

Photo Gallery

About Us

Program Director Wren Anjali

One happy camper

Some favorite school break activities

Contact Us

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One Fire

“Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in nature.”