Forest Family Days
Get outdoors and learn place-based skills!This family-oriented series of classes will get you outside learning skills and connecting with nature.
Our location is the beautiful Dorris Ranch Living History Village in Springfield, Oregon.
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Native Plants ID and Cordage Making
Saturday, May 9th 1pm – 2:30pm
Individual: $35
Family of 3: $50
Family of 4 or more: $65
Learn about the native plants for food or medicine found at Dorris Ranch with our instructor, Ana Bradley. Then learn to make cordage from stinging nettle or dogbane which you can take home to finish.
We will learn about early conservationists like John Muir and why protecting wild places is so important. This class is great for ages 8 and up. Pre-registration only. Wear shoes and clothes that can get dirty and bring your own water bottle.
Address:
Dorris Ranch, 205 Dorris Street, Springfield, OR
(Turn left upon entering the driveway and head up the hill to park near the restrooms.)
Ana Bradley
Instructor
Ana Bradley is the co-founder of Whole Earth Nature School. She has dedicated her life to deepening her connection with the Earth through nature awareness and attunement, cultivating a deeper sense of self-awareness, and supporting others in awakening their natural awareness of the environment, the land, and themselves. Through experiential/psycho-education, nature-based therapeutic practices, and land-based lived experiences, Ana blends person-centered and trauma-informed care practices into her mentoring style. Ana has worked with people of all ages across the lifespan, from one-on-one mentoring to facilitating groups of varying sizes and multicultural backgrounds. Ana is a mother, Clinical Herbalist, musician, and will be receiving her Master’s in Counseling in May of 2026 to blend her skill sets into a nature and experiential-based licensed professional counselor.
Previous Classes
Map, Compass and Navigation 101
9:30am – Noon
Sunday, October 19, 2025
$50/family $35/individual
Min 8, Max 15 students (counting ages 7+)
Bring water bottles, snacks, and dress to be outside. Optional: bring a sack lunch and enjoy a picnic at the Living History Village with the group after the class.
Get outside and hands-on with Singing Creek Educational Center and Wild Alive Outside, a family-centered wilderness skills series for all ages. Each workshop focuses on one or more wilderness skills—knots, navigation, shelters, fire-building, basketry, carving, plant identification, nature journaling and more—practical learning in a safe, supportive environment.
Map, compass, and Navigation 101: This workshop introduces the cardinal directions, basics of reading a map, using a compass to take a bearing, and more.
No prior experience needed. Come dressed to get dirty and for the weather. Many activities will not be ideal for young children, but all ages are welcome with parental supervision and guidance. Individual adults and teens are also welcome to join in the fun!
Location: Dorris Ranch Living History Village
