Non-Residential Apprenticeship Program
Nature Literacy On Your Schedule
The Non-Residential Immersion Program is designed for those who have prior commitments that keep them from engaging in our residential immersion, but still want a rigorous curriculum of outdoor education.
Two Full Years Of Courses And Instructor Mentorship.
Similar to the residential apprenticeship, the purpose of the non-residential program is to generate experienced skills practitioners who are motivated to grow in their personal skills and share within the context of a talented skills community. The Non-Residential Apprenticeship includes the following opportunities:
- Register for any class open to the public or apprentices offered at the school for a two year period.
- Participate in any Apprentice Only programs which may include: Wild Rice school, 5 day canoe trip, and various leadership trainings
- Camp at our Apprentice Camping area with access to the outdoor kitchen, bathrooms, and seasonally available shower.
- Support and mentoring from our Staff. This may include developing a custom “learning path” designed to meet your interests, one-on-one nature and wilderness skills mentoring, homework assignments, and more.
- Volunteer at any workshop you have previously attended to gain leadership training by aiding instructors; or work with instructors to modify a particular course to challenge any skill sets pertaining to course material.
The Non-Residential Immersion is designed so that you can still uphold your integrity towards prior commitments such as family and work, while also still being a part of your wild story and gaining the skills you want.
The Non-Residential Community
The Non-Residential Apprenticeship is the consistent ‘heart’ of the community here at MPSS. While seasonal apprentices come for a few months at a time before returning home, our ‘non-res’ cohort is a set of familiar faces at many of our classes; they often become a welcome part of our community after their apprenticeship ends. We have had an incredible variety of non-res apprentices over the years; from doctors to farmers and hunters, professional educators to interested outdoors-folk. All experience levels are eagerly invited to join, as we find that everybody invariably has some wisdom to share!
Our non-residential apprentices get the unique opportunity to form lasting connections with other apprentices, non-res and residential alike. There is nothing as nourishing and effective as learning these ancestral skills in a supportive community, and this program offers that option to folks with other scheduled commitments.
Choose Which Classes You Take
You are able to tailor your program to your needs, and learn exactly what you want to study as a non-residential apprentice. Many folks come for classes like foraging or basketry, but aren’t thrilled about sleeping in a debris hut and digging hemlock roots for bow-drill cordage in our Earth-Living courses; we’re glad to offer an experience that fits most anyone! Our Non-Res folks can pick and choose the classes they come for, or get some time outside of class to work on a specific skill with our staff.
2024-2026 Tuition
- One payment due prior to attending first course. 50% non-refundable deposit required 30 days from date of acceptance.