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essp intro & description
| essp outline | essp
application | essp testimonial
December 16, 2000
Dear prospective ESSP student,
Hi, my name is Kathy Chen. I apprenticed with Dan Fisher during
the summer of 2000. From late night campfires, exploring natural
lands, watching ocean waves, studying wild plants, weaving
baskets, cooking meals, to sleeping under the stars, I had
an incredible time with other apprentices and instructors.
When I heard that Dan was starting the College Program, a
more intensive version of the apprenticeship program, I wanted
to share some of my experiences to let people get a student-view
of the things they can expect to learn and experience during
the ESSP.
 Looking
back, it is amazing to me not only the number of skills I
learned, but how much I grew intellectually, emotionally,
and spiritually. During my three-month apprenticeship, Dan
taught basic survival skills such as shelter building, friction
fire, finding water, and identifying edible plants. I lived
in a natural shelter and helped construct other shelters.
Living in a natural shelter is a reflection of the entire
apprenticeship experience - it is remarkably unique and you
are literally surrounded by nature.
I've been a suburban/city person most my life so the apprenticeship
program was quite a change. The day I arrived, I sat outside
my shelter for a while just amazed at how different it was
than anything I'd seen before. I finally got up the courage
to enter after Dan's dog led the way. Any reservations I had
about becoming an apprentice melted away the first night.
Lying on a bed of boughs (evergreen branches), my new home
smelled like earth, trees, and coolness. Spring peepers' chorus
and other nighttime noises surrounded me like a warm homecoming.
Even for city people like me, the life style, living arrangements,
and survival skills at the Wilderness School (now Beartraks
School of Wilderness Living) promote developing a connection
with the Earth. I have never felt as close with Nature, or
as comfortable and happy being outdoors.
My two favorite features of the ESSP are its length and instructors.
Unlike other intensive classes, the ESSP not only teaches
new skills, it also allows time for practice, refinement,
and integration of these skills. Supervision and help are
provided to ensure that you take the most important step in
learning - bridging the gap between understanding a concept
and being able to apply/perform it. Dan and Tim are both incredible
teachers who are approachable, friendly, knowledgeable, and
good people.
The benefits of learning survival skills have followed me
out of the woods and into every aspect of my life. In many
ways, survival skills are a tool to expand your mind. For
example, living on wild edibles is outside the realm of many
people's imagination and therefore seems impossible. Seeing
its feasibility breaks the hold of the idea that it is "impossible".
Experiences at the Wilderness School break many such perceived
limitations and allow for a whole new take on life. Because
of the survival skills I learned and the amazing people I
met in Dan's community, I realized that almost anything is
possible. This understanding awakens dreams and aspirations
as well as creates the motivation and confidence to pursue
them. I've also found it allows you to take control of circumstances
and problems, making life easier.
Being a biology and education major, conservation is very
important to me. I have seen through my studies that a holistic,
large picture understanding of the Earth is essential for
conservation. Most of the survival skills I learned depend
closely on understanding the Earth and were taught with respect
of the land and conservation in mind. Because of this, these
skills have given me a type of connection and knowledge of
our Earth that few biology classes could. I feel that this
awareness of the Earth has made me a more effective conservationist;
after all, you cannot help what you do not understand.
Meeting and learning from the community at the Wilderness
School was a life changing experience. For anyone who is pursuing
a career or has interest in the sciences, education, or conservation,
I found the apprenticeship to be a huge benefit. I can't imagine
a more useful experience that will set you apart from your
peers. For those in college, the time at the ESSP can count
for internship/applied learning credits. More importantly,
it is an amazingly unique chance to open your mind to different
possibilities, life styles, philosophies, and spirituality
that can make the college experience easier and more meaningful.
For all people, the ESSP is a unique opportunity to learn
survival skills and attitudes that promote an intimate understanding
of nature with wonderfully skilled and humorous teachers.
I wish that everyone had the opportunity to take part in this
experience.
Kathy Chen
kc4@duke.edu
Duke University
P.O. Box 96609
Durham, NC 27708
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