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Wild Earth Wisdom Camps Home

Awaken the Spirit of Youth
Through Earth’s Wild Wisdom.

Bring Nature-Based Empowerment Camps to YOUR community.

Learn About Licensing

The Challenge

Today's children face an unprecedented nature-deficit and screen-overload challenge. They're disconnected from nature, from each other, from meaningful challenge, and from their authentic selves.

57%

of girls don't believe they're smart enough

5.2M

U.S. teenagers experienced depression in 2024

Science Callout: Children spend 4-6 hours daily on screens, trapped in hyperactive brain states. Nature offers the antidote—the Earth's Schumann Resonance naturally synchronizes our brains back to calm, healing Alpha waves.

Children aren't broken. They're disconnected from their birthright: a deep, embodied relationship with the natural world.

Modern youth are over-stimulated, hyper-connected, and under-initiated. Explore the core challenges facing today's youth →

A child looking thoughtful and reflective in a natural setting, representing the need for nature connection

The Solution

Wild Earth Wisdom Camps offer multi-day immersion in nature where children disconnect from devices and reconnect with their authentic selves, their bodies, each other, and the living world.

Through 16 years with hundreds of children, we've created a system that consistently transforms. Our framework combines:

  • Deep nature connection practices
  • Exciting, Age-appropriate adventure and challenge
  • Ancient earth wisdom and modern science
  • Social-emotional learning and leadership
  • Rite-of-passage experiences and ceremony
Children laughing and playing in a forest, experiencing the joy of the Wild Earth Wisdom methodology

From Screens to Streams

Over a week, Wild Earth Wisdom campers leave their devices at home and discover their physical and emotional self, each other, and their relationship to the living world. They enjoy freedom to roam and adventurous challenges as they explore their inner and outer connection to Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Spirit.

Children playing in the forest, experiencing the joy of being connected to nature
Children enjoying playing age-appropriate games in the forest, experiencing the joy of being connected to nature

Specially designed challenges build toward our four pillars: Strength, Courage, Confidence, and Resilience. All campers receive an age-appropriate rite of passage ceremony.


Beyond outdoor activities lies a nature-connected transformative path toward self-trust, emotional grit, and lifelong resilience.


Explore these unique adventure camps →

"They come home tired, calm, happy, and glowing with the joy of being connected to the whole of nature."

— Camp Parent

"As both a licensed psychologist and a guide, I had the unique opportunity to watch the girls' growth unfold in real time. The transformation did not come from any single activity, but through repeated opportunities to experience themselves differently—to take meaningful risks, reflect, and try again. By the end of the week, there was a palpable sense of confidence, belonging, and joy."

— Brielle S., Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist & Camp Guide

"The camps are packed with learning, carefully woven in so that each day simply feels like more exciting adventure. And that is how all of life should be."

— Susie Kincade, Founder, Nature-based Coach, Lead Facilitator, Eagle, Colorado

Bring Wild Earth Wisdom Camps to Your Community

Two ways we deliver this transformational camp curriculum. Field-tested outdoor adventure camps that give kids what today's world often crowds out: unhurried time outdoors, real connection, and the chance to discover their own strength and confidence. Now available to license.


Note: All licenses are a one-time investment. No royalties, no renewals.

Curriculum Only License

For existing camps, schools, and nature centers that already have staff and a site, we offer our robust curriculum as a character-building addition to existing offerings. Included are day-by-day schedules, ceremony and rites-of-passage guide, Resources, Training Manual, and the "Powered by Wild Earth Wisdom Camps" badge.

TURN-KEY

Full Business License

For educators and entrepreneurs ready to launch their own Wild Earth Wisdom camp, license includes everything in the Curriculum license, plus brand rights, in-depth Licensee Handbook, Marketing and Operations systems, Founder-led training, and territory protection. Two tiers, depending on content desired.

Why Wild Earth Wisdom Camps Work

Wild Earth Wisdom Camps are available, backed by 16 years of proven curriculum and real, hands-on training to get you there with confidence.

Field-Tested

Sixteen years and hundreds of campers, blending earth science, ancient wisdom, and embodied fun.

Replicable

Day-by-day plans and in-depth Guide training let new teams lead camps with confidence.

Adaptable

Works in mountains, forests, arid climates, ranches, and urban parks alike. Also versatile as a day or overnight camp experience.

Expandable

Run it as a summer program or grow it into a year-round program.

Aligned with National Character Standards

Intentional Character Building in the Wild

True character is never an accidental byproduct of time outdoors—it must be cultivated with intention. Wild Earth Wisdom Camps delivers experiential character development aligned with the American Camp Association’s Character Framework and the ACA Character Academy. Through structured challenge, daily Council, personal reflection, and deep nature immersion, our programs grow children’s personal integrity, emotional resilience, teamwork, and affinity for the living earth.

See How Our Camps Meet ACA Character Standards →
SEE INSIDE THE CAMPS → SEE LICENSING OPTIONS → MEET THE FOUNDER →

Testimonials

"The nature connections and personal development we explore at Wild Earth Wisdom Camps is nothing short of what people need from birth to death. It’s lifelong connection and learning."

— Mike Loots, Earth Keeper Camps Facilitator

"As a former Eagle County Commissioner, I can attest to the positive effect the Wild Earth Wisdom Camps have had, not only on participants, but on our entire community. As children become grounded in nature and gain skills to successfully navigate our amazing earth, they bring that grounding and sense of belonging to their families and neighborhoods. Having a Wild Earth Wisdom Camp in your community is a wonderful way to strengthen bonds and build resiliency - tools that are needed now more than ever."

— Kathy Chandler-Henry, Eagle County Commissioner 2013-2024

"The day-by-day plans, and the in-depth training in social-emotional learning made it easy to step into the role of camp facilitator with confidence."

— Courtney Moore, Full Business Licensee, Eagle, Colorado

Why Nature? Why Now?

Kids today spend hours a day on screens and often far less time outside. Research on attention and stress suggests time in nature helps children settle, focus, and reconnect, and our camps are designed to give them exactly that.

Read the research →

Bring nature's wisdom to your community

Every license includes everything we've learned and curated over the past 16 years: the games that land, the ceremonies that move hearts, and training that walks you through every piece

Book a Discovery Call with the Founder
Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Wild Earth Wisdom Camps, methodology, and licensing.

Wild Earth Wisdom Camps (WEWC) is a research-backed, nature-based empowerment organization founded by Susie Kincade in Eagle, Colorado. With over 16 years of field-tested curriculum, WEWC provides transformative outdoor immersion programs and licensing blueprints that reconnect children and teens with nature, their communities, and their authentic selves. The methodology integrates modern developmental neuroscience, indigenous earth wisdom, social-emotional learning, and traditional rites of passage across four elemental pillars: Strength (Earth), Courage (Air), Confidence (Water), and Resilience (Fire). WEWC operates through both direct summer camps in Colorado and turnkey curriculum licensing for outdoor centres and community leaders worldwide.

While traditional summer camps focus primarily on surface entertainment, competitive sports, or high-adrenaline thrills, Wild Earth Wisdom Camps delivers "Wisdom-Led Transformation." Rather than treating the outdoors simply as an activity gym, WEWC utilizes nature as an active co-facilitator to down-regulate hyperactive nervous systems and build emotional intelligence. We replace high-stimulation distractions with grounding wilderness skills, mindful "sit spots," and daily Council Circles. Instead of temporary amusement, youth leave with portable somatic self-regulation tools and self-belief earned through authentic, age-appropriate rites of passage.

Wild Earth Wisdom Camps was founded in 2010 by Susie Kincade, an experiential outdoor educator, certified nature coach, and lifelong wilderness advocate based in the Eagle/Vail Valley of Colorado. Kincade created the curriculum after observing an alarming surge in childhood digital addiction, nature-deficit disorder, and anxiety among youth. Drawing upon decades of river guiding, wilderness experience, somatic coaching, and nature ceremonial traditions, she engineered a curriculum that has empowered hundreds of campers ages 7–17 and is now licensed internationally.

WEWC offers specialized, developmentally tailored outdoor programs for children and adolescents ages 7 through 17. Programs are divided into two distinct developmental bands:

  • Ages 7–10 (Elementary): Caterpillar Girls Nature Camp and Earth Keeper Explorers Boys Camp—five-day nature immersion day camps focusing on sensory awakening, curiosity, earth crafts, and exploring the elements.
  • Ages 11–17 (Adolescent): Chrysalis Circle for Young Women and Earth Keeper Way for Young Men—six-day immersive journeys featuring wilderness expeditions (rafting, rock climbing, fire craft) and a culminating overnight rite-of-passage initiation.

We separate spaces by gender identification because developmental needs differ significantly during these formative years. Girls face intense social media and appearance perfectionism, and self-criticism, requiring an emotionally safe, non-judgmental sisterhood. Boys need a supportive brotherhood that combines physical challenge with vulnerability and positive male mentorship. Providing intentional, gender-specific spaces allows campers to shed protective social masks and speak honestly. This intentional environment encourages deep, non-competitive brotherhood for boys and enduring, non-judgmental sisterhood for girls as they navigate puberty.

The WEWC curriculum is grounded in environmental neuroscience, Attention Restoration Theory (ART), and clinical endocrine research. Landmark studies from the University of Michigan and global biophilia researchers prove that multi-day nature immersion reduces physiological cortisol levels by up to 40%, shifts frantic Beta brainwaves into calm Alpha and Theta rhythms, and restores depleted executive functioning. Physical contact with the earth supports bio-rhythmic synchronization, while natural fractal patterns reduce amygdala-driven fight-or-flight triggers.

The Four Pillars of Wild Earth Wisdom are Strength (Earth), Courage (Air), Confidence (Water), and Resilience (Fire). These elemental qualities form our core pedagogical compass, linking psychological growth directly to outdoor challenges:

  • Strength (Earth): Cultivating bodily stamina, physical grit, self-reliance, and grounded roots in the living world.
  • Courage (Air): Finding an authentic voice, shedding performative masks, and practicing the lost art of deep, heart-centered listening.
  • Confidence (Water): Navigating turbulent emotions, learning when to flow and when to steer, and developing deep self-trust through genuine mastery.
  • Resilience (Fire): Igniting personal passion, meeting adversity with resolve, and learning that failure is simply fuel for growth.

Yes, Wild Earth Wisdom licenses its complete curriculum and operational blueprints to camp directors, nature centres, schools, and visionary community leaders worldwide. Through digital training portals, operational handbooks, and direct mentorship from founder Susie Kincade, licensees can replicate WEWC programs across diverse terrains—including municipal woodlands, state parks, private ranches, and residential campuses. Programs adapt seamlessly as summer day camps, multi-day residential programs, or year-round outdoor academies.

Wild Earth Wisdom Camps adheres to stringent wilderness risk management and emotional safeguarding protocols. All programs maintain tight guide-to-camper ratios (never exceeding 1:6 for teens and 1:5 for younger groups) and are led by background-checked outdoor professionals certified in Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and CPR. Guides complete the proprietary Wild Earth Wisdom Guide Academy, mastering physical risk mitigation, trauma-informed leadership, de-escalation, and sacred circle stewardship. Operations easily align with American Camp Association (ACA) criteria and international standards like Scotland’s AALA and PVG schemes.

Parents consistently report that their children return home noticeably calmer, more emotionally grounded, communicative, and independent. Common post-camp observations include dramatically decreased screen fixation, less mood reactivity, higher self-regulation during stress, and a proactive willingness to help within family systems. Campers carry home practical somatic coping tools—such as grounding breathwork and "sit spots"—that help them manage school pressures and social dynamics long after camp concludes.

Camp operators and educators can apply directly to schedule a Discovery Call with founder Susie Kincade. During this initial consultation, we discuss regional market needs, curriculum licensing tiers, land requirements, and practical rollout timelines to bring Wild Earth Wisdom to your local community.

We are thrilled to help new Licensees adapt our day/partial overnight camps into fully overnight camp offerings. This will be included with all Licenses upon request at no extra charge. Since every camp setting and facility is unique, we’ll help you integrate nighttime games and activities that incorporate each day’s theme, as well as consult as needed on logistics, pricing, and expenses.

Our camp curricula and Guide training are intentionally aligned with the American Camp Association (ACA) Character Framework and the ACA Character Academy. The ACA emphasizes that character formation requires intentional programming, active staff modeling, and structured reflection—not just outdoor entertainment.

Wild Earth Wisdom embeds these exact principles into our daily camp rhythms, supporting core developmental outcomes measured by the ACA Youth Outcomes Battery (YOB):

  • Affinity for Nature: Cultivating deep, lifelong environmental stewardship and biological connection.
  • Independence & Courage: Overcoming real-world physical and social edges on trails, rivers, and rock pitches.
  • Perceived Competence & Self-Trust: Replacing digital self-doubt with self-worth earned through genuine accomplishment and a sense of belonging in the web of life.
  • Teamwork & Social Skill: Developing empathy, deep listening, and mutual respect in daily Council Circles.

The Opportunity

We're licensing Wild Earth Wisdom Camps to passionate leaders who recognize the urgent need for nature reconnection in their communities. You'll receive everything we've learned—every game that landed perfectly, every ceremony that moved hearts, every curriculum refinement, and the complete business framework to make this sustainable and successful. And you won't be building alone: significant training options walk you through every piece, from curriculum delivery to day-to-day operations, so you launch with real confidence, not just a manual. This is more than a business opportunity. It's a calling to serve the next generation as they reclaim their birthright in the web of life.

Book a Discovery Call with the Founder