Ways of the Wild Guild ~ 2025
An Immersive Journey into Nature’s Language, Cultivating Land-Based Skills & Exploring Your Place in this Wild World!
The Ways of the Wild Guild is about so much more than acquiring new skills or memorizing the names and uses of plants.
It's about stepping away from the noise of the modern world to focus on your own personal growth.
It's about reconnecting with ancestral and timeless skills that are at the core of being human—skills like finding food from the land, harnessing fire and water, reading the landscape and weather, understanding bird language, and practicing survival, preparedness, and navigation.
It's about making time to listen to and learn from nature, forging a deeper connection with the species and elements that sustain us.
These practices don't just teach us to survive—they empower us to thrive. They make us more resilient, adaptable, and in tune with a rapidly changing world and climate.
All of this happens within a community of like-minded individuals, where you’ll learn, share, and have fun together outdoors!
The Guild meets in person each month to practice hands-on skills, spend time on the land, and deepen your connection with the natural world. In between sessions, you’ll receive ongoing support and mentoring through a private group on the Signal app (optional).
Read what past participants have said about their experiences and see some photos from past Guilds below.
Consider joining us this year, and carve out time for your own growth and transformation!
Logistics:
The Guild consists of 6 weekends in 2025. While attendance at all weekends is not required, priority will be given to those attending 3 or more sessions. Attending at least 3 weekends is also a requirement for the final session in September, which includes a camp out to practice everything we've learned.
Cost:
- All 5 = $1450 + HST ($290/each)
- Any 4 = $1280 + HST ( $320/each & includes Sept camp out)
- 1 - 3 wknds = $350/each + HST (does not include Sept Camp Out)
Dates & Locations:
April 12/13, May 3/4, July 19/20, Aug 30/31, Sept 27 - 29 (Sept is a camp out)
In-person sessions are 2-days a month in Muskoka
Does not include accommodations. Email me for options.
Important Enrollment Details:
This is an intimate, focused small group experience, and participation is by application only.
Each group is unique, and it’s important to me that we create a dynamic where everyone complements each other, both in experience and personality.
Previous outdoor experience is not required, but you should be physically capable of spending full days outdoors in various weather conditions, including hiking off-trail and uphill.
If you're interested, please fill out the brief application below and email me a few words about why you’d like to join at: .
Spots are limited, so I will be carefully selecting participants for the fall Guild.
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They Say
What Past Guild Members Say
I found a special healing deep inside of myself by being humbled while in the woods....
Ways of Wild, far exceeded my expectations. Frankly, I never thought to have gained the incredible amount of knowledge I managed to come away with. I am more aware of everything. Sounds, smells, sights, and how I walk in general. Not only did I gain incredible mountains of knowledge, I made awesome new friendships with like minded people, and I found a special healing deep inside of myself by being humbled while in the woods. When I stop to listen, I hear everything I need to hear. Learning every new day, while using my new skills and knowing I have the confidence to make survival camps. -
Denise Tompkins
Certified Thermalist®
Owner/ Creator
Element Outdoor Sauna
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"Chris was an incredible mentor who truly believes in practicing what you preach. As a newbie in the world of nature connection, there were so many ideas that felt overwhelming and too big to conquer but Chris was able to break them down into manageable pieces. I'm so thankful for Chris and his program; they changed the way that I think about and interact with the natural world"
Ana kiiskinen - Past participant
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I joined because my mental health is greatly improved by spending time in nature, developing skills that are central to the human experience. I was hoping to get further practice with bushcraft skills I’ve tried before, as well as learn some new skills. The most valuable part of the experience was making connections; to the land and to other like-minded people.
MEGAN KENZIE - SPRING 2024 GUILD MEMBER
Photo's From Past Guilds
(Click arrows to scroll)
Ways of the Wild Foundations:
Deep Ecological Awareness &
Personal Growth
Outdoor/Survival Skills & Self-Reliance in a Quickly Changing World
Naturalist Knowledge
& Land Stewardship
The Ways of the Wild is for YOU if:
- You love the outdoors and crave spending more time on the land, learning and connecting.
- You see the value and benefit of being highly skilled in the outdoors, from survival to navigation to wilderness travel.
- You are fascinated by ecology and want to deepen your naturalist knowledge and expand your awareness.
- You have concerns about the direction the world is heading, and know that building your skills and knowledge is a proactive way to prepare for the unknown.
- You want to be part of a friendly and inclusive community open to ALL genders, ethnicities and religions.
Meet Your Guide...
Chris Gilmour
Lead Mentor at ChrisOutdoors.ca
I've always loved the outdoors, but it wasn't until my early twenties that I realized how little of nature's language I was aware of.
After meeting a few mentors, I realized I enjoyed nature more as a spectator and tourist than an active and aware participant in nature's story.
I wanted to build deep relationships with all the amazing species we share this planet with, to know them like friends and family.
This sent me on a 20+ year (and counting) journey of rediscovery. I traveled North America studying wilderness survival, tracking, bird language, foraging and more from dozens of teachers.
I learned to read and interpret the tracks, trees, bird calls and other signs like words in a storybook. A story full of wonder that is all around us. And a story that many (myself included earlier in life) did not even know existed.
This new way of relating to the natural world completely changed my life. One of my biggest passions is sharing this with others, which I have been doing for the past two decades through Chris Outdoors and other organizations
IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ BELOW BEFORE APPLYING
Ethics, Values & Code of Conduct:
We strive to create a safe and welcoming space for people of all experience levels, genders, nationalities and spiritual/religious backgrounds. To us, interacting with and tending the wild is a sacred relationship with the land. We also believe strongly in Indigenous sovereignty and rights here on Turtle Island.
To maintain this safe and welcoming environment we keep politics out of programs. We recognize politics are important and part of the world, but these classes are about connection with the land, ourselves, each other and skill development.
We ask that all participants be open-minded and non-judgemental towards other participants and agree to the following values:
~ Respect for ALL other participants regardless of their religion, gender, nationality or political orientation.
~ Being good stewards and caretakers of the earth and forest and holding reverence for the other species and kin we share this planet with.
If you have any questions about these values, please email me before registering to discuss them.
If you disagree or have issues with these values, this class is probably NOT the right class for you.
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