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Headwaters Outdoor School

Earth Caretaker School

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

PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“With the Headwaters Outdoor School I’ve seen more and done more in the wilderness than I’d ever do on my own! From these many wonderful experiences I find my life richer, deeper and stronger for it.”

- Judy Grant, Grant and Associates
Headwaters Outdoor School
2018-05-23T18:27:50+00:00
- Judy Grant, Grant and Associates
https://hwos.com/testimonials/with-the-headwaters-outdoor-school-ive-seen-more-and-done-more-in-the-wilderness-than-id-ever-do-on-my-own-from-these-many-wonderful-experiences-i-find-my-life-richer-deeper-and-stronger-for-i/

“My first winter class back in ’93 was a monumental event in my life, as my journal reveals. My connection to the Earth was so powerful (right then). I owe much of that to Tim and his presence with Nature.”

- Steve Bollock, River Guide
Headwaters Outdoor School
2018-05-23T18:30:02+00:00
- Steve Bollock, River Guide
https://hwos.com/testimonials/my-first-winter-class-back-in-93-was-a-monumental-event-in-my-life-as-my-journal-reveals-my-connection-to-the-earth-was-so-powerful-right-then-i-owe-much-of-that-to-tim-and-his-presence-with/

“Between the strokes of the bow drill and reading tracks in the snow, I received gifts unexpected: family, community, inspiration, laughter and the relationship with nature beyond belief.”

- Kelly Callahan, Teacher
Headwaters Outdoor School
2018-05-23T18:30:28+00:00
- Kelly Callahan, Teacher
https://hwos.com/testimonials/between-the-strokes-of-the-bow-drill-and-reading-tracks-in-the-snow-i-received-gifts-unexpected-family-community-inspiration-laughter-and-the-relationship-with-nature-beyond-belief/

“As a teacher and a counselor—and simply as a human being—my life is still enhanced daily by things I learned over 20 years ago with Tim and the Headwaters family. I happily carry nature awareness and earth philosophy in my bones, even decades later. Whether it’s a long hike, or a quick walk around the block, my experience is so much deeper because of this good medicine. I am forever grateful and wholeheartedly wish the same for you.”

-Rich Mertes
Headwaters Outdoor School
2022-02-18T20:27:38+00:00
-Rich Mertes
https://hwos.com/testimonials/as-a-teacher-and-a-counselor-and-simply-as-a-human-being-my-life-is-still-enhanced-daily-by-things-i-learned-over-20-years-ago-with-tim-and-the-headwaters-family-i-happily-carry-na/

“I’ve been making a pilgrimage to Headwaters at least once a year for 15 years, and bringing people to this land for nearly as long. The space that Tim, Julie & the staff create is powerful & sacred, and no person is not better for having spent time here. Both of my children have been coming to this land their whole lives. There is nowhere I would rather they be, and there is no one I trust more with the lives & spirits of my children than Tim & Julie. If there is any way to get yourself and/or your children here, you should definitely do it – you won’t regret it!”

-Kendra Cunov
Headwaters Outdoor School
2022-02-18T20:28:22+00:00
-Kendra Cunov
https://hwos.com/testimonials/ive-been-making-a-pilgrimage-to-headwaters-at-least-once-a-year-for-15-years-and-bringing-people-to-this-land-for-nearly-as-long-the-space-that-tim-julie-the-staff-create-is-powerful-sacre/
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Headwaters Outdoor School

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Headwaters Outdoor School
PO Box 1210
Mount Shasta, CA 96067
 
(530) 938-1304

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The Walker/Hupp Fund is a non-profit organization that helps young men and women whose families do not have the financial resources to attend Headwaters Outdoor School, either through the Boys Rites of Passage or the Apprenticeship Program.
 
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