COVID-19 and Summer 2020 Classes

To our Headwaters Family, Friends and Community;

It grieves me through and through to inform you all that we must close Headwaters Outdoor School for the summer season of 2020 due to the Covid-19 virus.

I have thought long and hard about this decision. I have counseled with many good people about the safety of running our classes this summer. I spoke with the land itself. I’ve spoken with the Earth Keeper. Only I can make this decision for the safety of our students and apprentices, for the safety of our staff, for the safety of our community, and for the safety of those who live here on Headwaters land.

Our small towns up here could also be negatively impacted severely by the influx of non-residents, and I need to make responsible decisions for the greater community that I am a part of.

At moments I have felt I am failing you, and not being loyal to all of you who hold out all year until you can be back here again, but then I have been reminded that my loyalty to you ultimately is to make sure you are safe and alive, and at this point with all of the unknowns I would not be able invite you up here in good conscience. And that is the truth of our situation with this global pandemic.

This is the only decision I can make, it’s the right one, and it saddens me to my core. My heart weeps. I feel all of you, I do, and I love you all. You have made my dream come true to be an Earth Caretaker and teacher of nature, and of Earth Keeper ways. By being a part of Headwaters Outdoor School you have helped create a sacred sanctuary on our land, a space for all of you to enjoy and remember our true purpose of care taking our sacred Earth.

All of you are hurting in these times in your own way, and many have had direct experience with this virus yourselves or a loved one. Besides the very real impact of this virus, one of the toughest parts of this journey to deal with is the uncertainty of it all. What will happen? Will I get sick? How will I live and learn? How should I act and live as a person in this new world? What will happen to our Earth?

Feeling uncertain is disrupting to our hearts and soul. It is in times like this that we can and must find our better angels. It’s times like this that we are called to be great and wonderful humans. Especially in times like this.

Our ancestors faced many of these rough times and they made it through those struggles, and then brought us to this moment in time. They went through war, famine, disease, and unimaginable loss, and yet here we are today. Our ancestors live in us, we are one in the same. This is our time now to draw strength and inspiration from our ancestors, from the Earth, the trees, the birds, the animals and insects, and the water. We live on a miracle called the Earth. All who live on Her are miracles, including us.

It’s time for us to make our lives count through action. This is no accident that we are here, at this time, during this crisis. Use what you have learned at Headwaters to inspire you to be a force for good. Keep Headwaters alive through the way you live.

Take this time, as I will, to reflect on what you are ready to let go of that no longer serves you for your highest good, and begin to dream and set into action new steps that will continue your personal growth, and keep you moving forward on your amazing life’s journey.

I give you all, our community, my word that those of us who are living here on the land will keep the land in a beautiful way. Headwaters will reopen for Fall private classes if it is safe and permitted to do so. 2021 will be our most amazing year ever. That is my word of honor. We will hold this space for you to return to heal on and celebrate on.

So, I will weep for the loss of this season, it really hurts. Tears flow and I ache just writing this. I will tell you there are many days I am afraid because I know there is still so much to do, and still because I feel you all and I love you all, I will get up every day and be a force for good. I will remind myself to live by this great saying, “Sometimes if you look just right you might find the light.” I will seek out the light and help to keep it bright and shining. It’s the right thing to do. It’s who I am, it’s who you are.

Blessings and well wishes for you all this year! I WILL see you here again. In the mean time look for our new YouTube Channel to be set up very soon, where I will continue teaching from the land.

-Tim