Wild Moon Europe e.V.

Johan (Amadin)

Johan (Amadin Noodin – which means Rousing Wind in Ojibwa, and is my native name) I was a part of starting up the Wild Moon program at Teaching Drum in 2007. In 2008 I together with some others brought the Wild Moon program to Europe and have since then been a part of organizing 20+ something Wild Moons, I have lost count. Mostly it has been as a guide in camp but sometimes also as an outside support person, that brings in the food and takes care of things on the outside. I have completed two wilderness guide programs (WGP) at Teaching Drum (2005-2006 and 2012-2013), along with Guardian Intensive trainings at home and on ground – and a lot of other shorter courses and just living in the wild. I have been on the path of realizing my vision of a wilderness clan living together for over fifteen years now. I have learnt many things over the years and am humbled and grateful for this journey. My main occupation at the moment is running a year-long folk school course in Sweden, where I teach old way skills and awarenesses to the students. I also run an organization called Naturliv in Sweden, through which I for example take people on wildlife tours but also do immersion experiences. Also am a part of the newly started Guardian Way Europe project. I live in a collective family house together with my eleven year old daughter, who at age 3 was the youngest ever graduate of the WGP. Through the Wild Moons I can give further what I have been gifted myself and provide a space for close connection with ourselves, each other and nature – which is what I am called to do in this life; being part of us humans finding a balanced way to live together with all our relations.

Alex (Quick)

program lead

Alex (Quick) I am grateful that some turns of the seasons ago the path was shown to me that I was searching for so long. And although I did not recognize this path that had and still has so much impact on myself, I followed. The path that opened up consisted amongst others of different wilderness experiences e.g. several Wild Moon Europe experiences, the Family yearlong as well as the guardian training at the Teaching Drum Outdoor School. With time it felt that I came closer to myself, to who I really am, what gifts I carry and what vision I want to bring to life. Since then trust is evolving, trust in the way of life, that everything is just as it is supposed to be. My wish is to provide a space for people to experience their inner and the surrounding nature, to grow and blossom. To be strong, to speak the personal truth and go into processes that need to be gone through. A space to open up and learn from all our teachers who are everywhere around us.

Anja (Stone Mountain)

program lead

I am called Anja or StoneMountain. My fascination for nature and being outdoors started as a child, learning from my biologist grandfather and mother. They helped me to connect with the trees and the shrubs and herbs and also the wild animals. I kept that fire, always wanting to learn more about them until this day. Now it‘s been about ten years ago that I participated in my first wilderness weekend course, when I knew this is a path to be followed. Since then I completed a 4-year long wilderness pedagogy training in 2016 and finished my bachelor‘s degree in environmental education. Throughout that time I worked at summer camps for children and families each year. Finally I went to the Teaching Drum Outdoor school, where I did the Wilderness Guide Program 2019/20. During this program I also participated in the Guardian training there, which led me to be part of the Guardian Way Europe project. Exploring how people can live together in community again, has become part of my quest and the wish to make this learning process possible for others. Living in a small house community, taught me a lot about it on a daily basis. Something I also really love with people coming together, is to find new songs and bring them to the circle, celebrating the joy of life. Therefore I am truly honored to be guiding this upcoming wildmoon and being able to share the gifts of this experience with more people.

Elisabeth (Rose)

program lead

During my wilderness journey that started in 2013, I received the name 'Rambling Wild Rose' (while still also carrying my birthname Elisabeth). My main focus with all of what I'm doing is to create and hold safe spaces for myself and others so that we can find our way back to our true selves, and follow our wild and untamed hearts, fully living our gifts. I completed a 4-year wilderness pedagogy training in 2016, participated in all kinds of other wilderness courses and experiences in Austria, Germany and the US and in 2019 was part of the 2 month long Guardian Intensive on the ground training at Teaching Drum Outdoor School, after having done almost all of the at home trainings. This lead me to also translating the book on the Guardian "Like A Shadow" by Tamarack Song into German, as well as initiating and running the Guardian Way Europe project. I also integrate the wilderness lifestyle as well as different methodologies for nature-connection into my life and my seminars, coaching-programs and other offers. They all aim towards living a live closely connected to our inner voice and guidance and finding a way to combine that with today's challenges and technology. I am currently also writing a book on my experiences in the wilderness and how we can use this knowledge in our everyday work and live both as individuals and working in teams. All of my play also flows into the Wildliving Project, which encompasses the vision of creating a space and a culture to remember our role in healthy balance with all the beings around us, strengthening our relations. I am humbled each day of how many gifts there are around us, and how much we can still learn from everyone that crosses our path.

Elena

program lead

I am Elena and saying that encompasses so much. How can I describe my person in all the different ways I am? I had many different names over the years, naming a few of them might give some insight: Impatience, Sees-the-needs, Let-people-speak, Finds-her-voice, Raven, … The name that is most dear to me is Carries-the-spark, which I received from my clan after spending a year together on the wild lands of the Great Lakes region in Wisconsin. It represents one of my gifts – a bright smile and enlivening spirit. That flourishes most when I’m out on the land, with only animal trails and a group of people to share tears, laughs and play. This love originated from growing up on a small-scale farm in Germany with many animals and nature courses. From there I needed to explore the big world and travelled for 2 years, shedding multiple skins. Finding a passion in white-water kayaking and becoming a raft guide. When I was longing for more stability, I chose to study geology in Innsbruck. It was not what my heart was beating for, so I committed to live a year primitively like our ancestors with Teaching Drum Outdoor School. That’s how I learned to feel belonging, open heartedness and truth speaking, which I carry with me. Currently I’m living in Canada in a little off grid community, surrounded by bears, goats, cougars and mountains. I’m trying to incorporate the ancestral way of living into modernity. I choose to sleep outside in a lean-to, without running water and only a sauna and lake to get clean. Always knowing that there is a house with a wood stove to be cozy and abundant food. Tackling the questions of how to support my life and loved ones in a balanced way. I don’t want to escape our modern world, and I wish to share with anyone who is willing a more primitive approach and how that resonates with our bodies and minds to feel alive.

Max

program lead

My name is Max, and for as long as I can remember, I have felt a deep connection to nature. I have always spent a lot of my time in the forest. There I practiced lighting fires without artificial aids, building shelters and all the exciting things my father taught me. After my studies in forest engineering, I went traveling and immersed myself in the knowledge of our ancestors. In numerous courses, I learned ancient knowledge and gained profound experience. Over time, I have deepened my survival skills on my own. I took part in the Survival Intensive and then spent 5 days without equipment in the wilderness of New Zealand. This was followed by seminars with Jürgen Gerzabek and the Tracker School of Tom Brown jr. After working as a trainer in the nature of Sweden, I spent three months in the Wilderness Guide Program of the Teaching Drum Outdoor School in the USA and was part of the Wild Moon in 2023. My goal is to preserve and pass on the knowledge of our ancestors. I am grateful for the enrichment that this path holds and look forward to walking this path together with you so that we can share our experiences.

Korra

program lead

Hello, my name is Korra and I am a trained nature and wilderness mentor and even in my childhood in the Swiss mountains, I felt at home outdoors in nature. In my early twenties, I discovered wilderness schools and trained as a wilderness teacher at NaturLeben. I then attended further courses and completed a one-year training course with Jürgen Gerzabek. I spent six weeks twice in the wilderness of New Zealand. I then hiked from Switzerland to Croatia and lived in a spiritual community in Greece. My journey took me to America, where I lived and learned with 4 other people for a year in the wilderness of Wisconsin under the guidance and supervision of the Teaching Drum Outdoor School. For me, living with nature and respecting all life has become a cornerstone of my philosophy. I want to pass on my knowledge and skills and teach others about the beauty of nature.

Frauke

program lead

Frauke or Weaves Light. I feel most alive when I travel in nature, everything I need on my back and held by the beings around me. I love connecting to their spirits and seeing life from their perspective. Music is an essential way of accessing and expressing my inner world, and especially singing with others will nourish me deeply and help me feel connected. My curiosity led me to explore the small, winding trails in the forest as a child, they held the promise of adventure so much more than the wide well-trodden ones. The mysteries of creeks explored barefoot and the hidden stories of the little birds on winter feeders brought me so much joy. Longing for a life outside of an office led me to studying biology, learning more about the creatures of the world and the life within them. My fascination with the Earth and especially with birds grew, and at the same time I realized I was missing a certain kind of emotional connection in my relationship to nature. Following a deep longing for this heart connection I signed up for a Wilderness Pedagogy training in 2020. A year later I joined my first Wild Moon and got inspired to live the old way for a full turn of the seasons at Teaching Drum Outdoor School, so I became a Seeker in the 2022/23 Wilderness Guide Program. One of the biggest gifts of that time for me is a sense of being part of this big community of life, and that my biggest value lies in my relationships. There is a knowing that whatever I do is a contribution to life and that I have value in who I am, not just my achievements, but by being me in this world. I believe that this sense of belonging lives in everyone of us, and it is dear to me to support people on their journeys to more connection to themselves and nature.

Jeremy

program lead

Jeremy or „inspiring flame“ loves to provide for the circle. He spends lots time tanning animal hides, and doing primitive crafts. He is a trained nature and wilderness educator, and floor layer As a child, he first came into contact with "wilderness weekends" and he got inspired by storyes from tom brown jr. When he was 10. He did a apprenticeship as a nature and wilderness trainer at "NaturLeben", when he was 16. He grew up in the swiss mountains and spent 12 months at the Wonyia Wilderness School as a community service worker, cooking at the open fire and helping to lead children's and adult courses. He also helps out at the Alpine Wilderness School in Austria. He was part of the wilderness Guide program 2023/2024. at the Teaching Drum Outdoorschool He took part in various trainings with Tom Brown Jr., Tamarack Song, Ron and Geli Bachmann, Paul Wernicke and Sal Gencarelle