Whether you are a College student in an Environmental field, Naturalist, Wildlife Biologist, high school student, or simply passionate about Nature & the Environment, we welcome you to spend some quality time at our Nature Sanctuaries, RAVEN’S NEST & RAVEN’S MOUNTAIN, to gain a deeper understanding of a number of vital topics. Via hands-on and practical learning experiences – observing, studying, and interacting with the Biodiversity of the Sky Islands and the American Southwest – you’ll acquire an incredible set of skills and body of knowledge that will benefit you in countless ways. If you are interested in exploring a specific academic Summer Internship option for your College or University, please do not hesitate to send us an email explaining your situation, as we are always open to discussing ways to further your Environmental & Nature studies by working closely with you and your University.
I. FOCUSED STUDY INTERNSHIPS
We have designed this type of Internship for students and non-students alike seeking an immersion into several choices of diverse Nature Studies. While living on our 42-acre Nature Sanctuary, Raven’s Nest, you will engage in exciting and daily hands-on study and research based on a curriculum that will both challenge and enlighten you. Choose from one of our five Focused Study Options below or work with us to design your own custom-made curriculum.
During your Focused Study Program you will work one-on-one with Naturalist, Wildlife Biologist, and Wilderness Survival Expert Vincent Pinto. He will carefully guide you through your Program via a series of hands-on classes, field trips, slide shows, journaling exercises, and more. Given the individual attention that you will receive during your studies, Vince will adjust the curriculum of each day to reflect your needs, the ongoing Ravens-Way Wild Journeys Class Schedule, (you may attend some of our classes for free during your Internship with us), as well as the vagaries of weather. You may choose from the following five topics for your Focused Study Internship:
1. ETHNOBOTANY PROGRAM
ETHNOBOTANY is the study of how people use Native Plants. Thus in this Program you will learn how to find, identify, collect, process, and use the wild plants of the Southwestern U.S. for a myriad of purposes.
INCLUDES:
- Ethics
- History of Ethnobotany in the Southwest
- Wild Edible Plants
- Medicinal Plants
- Creating a Useful Plant Journal
- Plant-pressing
- Southwestern Habitats
- Fire-by-Friction & Fire-making
- Rope-making & Textiles
- Natural Shelters
- Hunting & Trapping
- Basketry
- Containers
- Paints & Dyes
- Arts & Crafts
- Personal Grooming & Hygiene
- Music
- Adhesives
- Tool-making
- Ethnobotanical Gardens and More!
2. NATURALIST TRAINING PROGRAM
Today the Art and Science of being a NATURALIST is experiencing a wonderful revival. A Naturaliststudies all the varied components of Nature in an attempt to understand the whole. He or she employs a wide variety of both scientific and artistic techniques in this quest to explore and understand Life on Earth.
INCLUDES:
- Wildlife Studies
- Southwestern Safety (i.e. Thorns,Stingers, & Fangs!)
- Field Botany
- Field Astronomy
- The Art of Nature Trekking
- Insect & Invertebrate Safaris
- Wildlife Safaris
- The Art & Science of Tracking
- The Naturalist’s Journal
- Sensory Awareness
- Nature Philosophy
- A Naturalist’s Tool Kit
- Nature Writing
- Basic Outdoor Skills (camping,fire-making,way-finding,etc)
- Nature Center Curation and More!
3. SOUTHWESTERN ECOLOGY PROGRAM
Our Southwestern Ecology Program provides a broad, yet detailed exploration of the Natural Ecosystems and resources that make our area so unique and diverse. Here you will use an interdisciplinary approach, studying a variety of topics and weaving them all together in an effort to better understand the dynamic Life of the American Southwest – in particular the Sky Islands of Southeastern Arizona.
INCLUDES:
- Historical overview of Humans & Ecology in the Southwest
- Basic Geology and Soils
- Ornithology (Birds)
- Herpetology (Reptiles & Amphibians)
- Mammalogy (Mammals)
- Invertebrate Ecology
- Aquatic Ecology
- Plant Communities
- Botany
- Hydrology
- Scientific Field Research
- Wildlife Tracking
- Bioregion Studies (Rocky Mountains, Chihuahuan Desert, Sierra Madre Mountains, Sonoran Desert)
- Human-caused Environmental Impacts
- Meteorology and More!
4. WILDERNESS SURVIVAL SKILLS PROGRAM
Combining a wide range of ancient, fascinating, and life-saving skills, this program is designed for those seeking practical knowledge of how to survive and thrive in the wilds. Though based in the American Southwest, most of the fascinating and potentially life-saving knowledge gained in this course can be applied throughout the world.
INCLUDES:
- Hunter-Gatherer Philosophy & History
- Pre-modern Human History of the Southwest
- Flint-knapping
- Fire-by-Friction & Fire-making
- Survival & Hunter-gatherer Shelters
- Quickie Tools,
- Basic Animal Tracking
- Ostrich Egg Water Jugs
- Knotted Net Bags
- Coil Basketry
- Wild Edible Plants
- Wilderness Safety
- Signaling
- Primitive Packs
- Burned Bowls
- Small Game Archery
- Hunting & Trapping
- Medicinal Plants
- Hafting Technologies
- Projects in our Stone-Age Village
- Stone-age Tools
- Survival Philosophy
- 3-day Wilderness Immersion Experience
- Stone-age Tool Kit and More!
5. EARTH STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
Many people are well aware of the countless impacts that humans have upon our fragile planet, but often feel powerless to create any real, positive change. Here, then, is your opportunity to learn a wide range of practical, everyday skills that you can use to become an EARTH STEWARD – someone who strives to minimize their negative effects and maximize their positive ones upon the Earth with every action that they take.
INCLUDES:
- “Greening” your House
- Wildlife Habitat Rehabilitation
- Organic Gardening
- Creating & Maintaining Nature Trails
- Rainwater Harvesting (active & passive)
- Non-native Plant Control
- Lowering your Carbon Footprint
- Community Networking
- Xeriscaping
- Tree-planting
- Creating a Nature Almanac and Wildlife/Plant lists for your property
- Reduce/Reuse/Recycle
- Earth Philosophy & Ethics and More!
II. CUSTOM-MADE FOCUSED STUDY PROGRAM
If you can’t quite decide which of the above programs to enroll in, then we can work with you to create a custom-made immersion that will suit your exact interests and needs. With our help you can pick and choose topics from the other Focused Study Programs, weaving together a curriculum all your own!
TUITION
- $1200 for a month-long, 60 hour program
- $1600 for a month-long, 80 hour program
- (*receive a 10% tuition discount for taking multiple Programs with us!)
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
- All instruction and materials for the Focused Study Program of your choice (some Programs include take-home crafts & projects).
- Free attendance in some RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS classes, during your Internship with us.
- Use of our large Nature & Science Discovery Center as a base of your studies, including Nature Library & Countless Nature Displays.
- Camping at our 42-acre Nature Sanctuary, Raven’s Nest.
- Use of Solar Showers, Sinks, Incinerator Toilets, BBQ, Fridge/Freezer and Stove.
- Use of our extensive Nature Trails.
- Access to our Stone-age Village.
WHAT WE EXPECT
- You MUST be: drug & alcohol-free, and pet-free.
- You will be expected to follow our ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY and also, clean up after yourself to maintain all spaces that you use (inside and outside) in good condition.
- You will work on a RWWJ Environmental Project of your choice during your stay at Raven’s Nest, as part of your studies.
- You will greatly benefit from this learning experience if You are open-minded, self-sufficient, adventurous, flexible, and hard-working.
- At RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS, We reserve the right to suspend the Program at any time and request You to leave if You are not meeting the expectations of the Program.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Submit your Resume with a cover letter stating which Program you are applying for and why do You want to join a Program at RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS.
- Submit 3 References.
- Submit an Essay about an Environmental topic that You are passionate about.
III. OPEN STUDY INTERNSHIPS
This type of Internship is more flexible in structure, allowing you to continually change course along the way. While you may come in with a particular set of interests based on the offerings of RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS, we know that a student’s needs can easily change during their the course or their studies. At the start of each week with us we will develop a plan of action based upon a one-on-one meeting. Given the wide range of topics that we cover, you can pick from any of our classes and weave them together in a fashion that most suits your interests and learning style.
This is also a more affordable Internship option designed for those people seeking to pay for part of their tuition via a work exchange in Environmental Projects each week (i.e. 20 hours). In addition to the one-on-one learning you will participate in, your work project time will greatly advance your knowledge in a number of key areas. Otherwise, many of the requirements for this Internship are the same are the same as those described for the Focused Study Internship.
TUITION
- $100/week, plus 20 hours of work/week on Environmental Projects
- (*2-week minimum stay for this Internship)
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
- 10 hours of instruction/week
- Guidance and review on a variety of self-guided studies & projects
- Free attendance in some RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS classes, during your Internship with us.
- Camping at our 42-acre Nature Sanctuary, Raven’s Nest.
- Use of our large Nature & Science Discovery Center as a base of your studies including Nature Library & Countless Nature Displays.
- Use of Solar Showers, Sinks, Incinerator Toilets, BBQ, Fridge/Freezer and Stove.
- Use of our extensive Nature Trails
- Access to our Stone-age Village
WHAT WE EXPECT
- 20 hours of work/week in any number of Environmental Projects, such as Organic Gardening, Wildlife Habitat Rehabilitation, Stone-age Village Projects, Nature & Science Discovery Center Projects, Tree-planting, etc. All of your Projects will be aimed at furthering your Environmental Education as well.
- You MUST be: drug & alcohol-free, and pet-free.
- You will be expected to follow our ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY and also, clean up after yourself to maintain all spaces that you use (inside and outside) in good condition.
- You will greatly benefit from this learning experience if you are open-minded, self-sufficient, adventurous, flexible, and hard-working.
- At RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS, We reserve the right to suspend the Program at any time and request You to leave if You are not meeting the expectations of the Program.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Submit your Resume or a detailed letter stating your education, background, which Program you are applying for, and why do You want to join a Program at RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS.
- Submit 3 References.
- Submit an Essay about an Environmental topic that You are passionate about.
