Rewild Portland

What Rewild Portland does

Rewild Portland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating since 2009 as the environmental education arm of parent nonprofit Mythmedia (founded January 2002). The organization serves Portland, Oregon and surrounding wild and rural communities, with a stated mission of fostering cultural and environmental resilience through the teaching of place-based ancestral skills. Its product portfolio spans free community programming (the Resilient Skills Series / Free Skills Series running monthly since 2009, attracting 100+ attendees per event and 360–600 participants annually), tuition-based multi-month immersions (The Weaver's Wheel at $3,495, The Color Wheel at $3,495, Bushcraft Immersion at $4,995, Coming-of-Age Program for Girls at $175/month), single-session workshops (English Ivy Basketmaking at $195, Rewilding 101 at $147–$347 tiered, Friction Fire), community gatherings (Portland Spoon Club, Death Cafe, Philosopher's Fire, Community Hikes), a volunteer-based Community Nursery at the Green Anchors eco-industrial park in St. Johns, the 500+ volume Rewild Library, and signature annual conferences (Echoes in Time, the mostly-online North American Rewilding Conference). Core technology is negligible: the organization relies on commodity third-party platforms (NeonOne CRM, Zoom, Google Forms, Bonfire for merchandise, social media) rather than proprietary systems, with the actual product being hands-on ecological knowledge, traditional craft techniques (basket weaving, fiber arts, friction fire), and permaculture pedagogy rooted in Jon Young's Art of Mentoring and 8 Shields framework.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack: (1) recurring individual monthly donations (suggested $5/month, tax-deductible); (2) four-tier corporate sponsorships for the Free Skills Series (Spark $50/mo, Tinder $100/mo, Kindling $250/mo, Hearth $500/mo) with logo placement and event acknowledgment benefits; (3) tuition for premium programs and workshops, with tiered pricing referencing the PUGSpdx model and a 20% "friend discount" (code MYBUDDY); (4) grants (Portland Parks City Nature named as a sponsor); and (5) merchandise sales through the Bonfire Rewild Shoppe. Marketing is community-led, driven by the 6,500+ subscriber newsletter, 9.8k Facebook and 13.5k Instagram followings, the Rewilding Podcast, word-of-mouth, and business sponsorship cross-promotion. Customer segments include Portland metro adults and families (primary), youth and homeschool families, corporate and business sponsors, and community/tribal partner organizations (Portland Fruit Tree Project, Native American Youth and Family Center, Friends of the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Green Anchors). The organization operates from three locations: a PO Box mailing address, the Green Anchors eco-industrial park in St. Johns (nursery, library, and core programs), and the MudHut Kulturhaus permaculture homestead (Coming-of-Age evening sessions). Paid staff is small (1–10) and supported by a working board of directors and a larger volunteer base; leadership is Executive Director Peter Michael Bauer with a four-person board (Chair Mindy Fitch, Secretary Rhiannon Patterson, Treasurer Paulé Wood, member Nicki Youngsma) plus member Sheila Henson.

Name

Rewild Portland

Legal name

Rewild Portland

Website

https://rewildportland.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rewild Portland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2009 that delivers place-based ancestral skills education, fiber arts, and ecological restoration programs to Portland, Oregon residents and families, funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, tuition, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and ancestral-skills education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (6117), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Forestry (800), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ecosystem Restoration & Rewilding Services (AFAMAMAE), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Forestry, Land Use & REDD+ Programs (BPADALAF)

Keywords

• Ancestral skills education
• Ecological restoration
• Community resilience programs
• Bushcraft survival training
• Place-based learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Monthly Giving: Rewild Portland relies heavily on recurring monthly donations from individual supporters. They encourage donors to sign up for small monthly contributions ($5/month suggested), which are tax-deductible as a 501(c)(3) organization. One-time donations are also accepted via their website or mail.
2. Business Sponsorships: Corporate and business sponsors support the monthly Free Skills Series through four sponsorship tiers: Hearth ($500/month or $6,000/year), Kindling ($250/month or $3,000/year), Tinder ($100/month or $1,200/year), and Spark ($50/month or $600/year). Benefits include logo placement, verbal acknowledgment, social media content, and event banner displays.
3. Tuition-Based Programs: The organization generates revenue through tuition for structured multi-month programs including the Weaver's Wheel ($3,495), Color Wheel ($3,495), Bushcraft Immersion ($4,995), Coming-of-Age Program ($175/month), and single-day workshops like English Ivy Basketry ($195) and Rewilding 101 ($147-347 tiered).
4. Grants: Rewild Portland receives funding through grants, with Portland Parks City Nature mentioned as a sponsor for the Free Skills Series program.
5. Merchandise Sales: The organization sells Rewild Portland merchandise through their Bonfire store (Rewild Shoppe).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rewild Portland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers place-based ancestral-skills education to Portland-area residents through free monthly community classes, multi-month immersion programs in fiber arts and bushcraft, single-day workshops (English Ivy Basketmaking, Friction Fire), youth mentorship (Coming-of-Age Program for Girls), and annual conferences. Programs are priced from free up to $4,995 with tiered/sliding-scale options and scholarships, and combine ecological restoration (e.g., invasive English ivy removal) with traditional craft, foraging, fire-making, and nature-connection pedagogy.

Product overview

Rewild Portland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2009 as a project of Mythmedia, serving Portland, Oregon with a portfolio of educational programs centered on place-based skills for cultural and environmental resilience. The organization operates primarily as a program-based service rather than a technology product, offering: the Free Skills Series (monthly free community skills classes as the core foundational program since 2009), youth programs (Coming-of-Age Program for Girls, Youth Camps, Homeschool Programs), adult education courses (Rewilding 101, Survival Skills & Bushcraft Immersion, Rewilding Your Health), fiber arts immersion programs (The Weaver's Wheel, The Color Wheel), specialty workshops (English Ivy Basketmaking, Friction Fire), community gatherings (Portland Spoon Club, Death Cafe, Philosopher's Fire, Community Hikes), the Rewild Library, Social Forestry Club, Community Nursery, and annual conferences (Echoes in Time, Annual North American Rewilding Conference). The Rewilding Podcast extends their reach online. Programs range from free community offerings to tuition-based courses ($147-$4,995), with tiered pricing and scholarships for accessibility. No software product, API, or AI capabilities are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Skills Series (Resilient Skills Series) Free once-a-month community skills class exploring rewilding topics for Portland-area adults and families, with no previous experience required.
• The Weaver's Wheel 9-month fiber arts immersion program covering basketry, spinning, botanical dyeing, felting, loom weaving, papermaking, and book binding through the seasonal wheel of the year.
• The Color Wheel 9-month fiber arts immersion program focused on plant-based natural dyeing techniques using roots, leaves, flowers, mushrooms, and seeds through seasonal themes.
• Survival Skills & Bushcraft Immersion 12-month bushcraft program with monthly weekend overnight camps covering knife and axe craft, cordage, fire basics, friction fire kits, stone tools, bone tools, survival baskets, traps, shelter building, and navigation.
• Rewilding 101 Four-week online or in-person course covering cultural rewilding concepts through peer-reviewed science, archaeology, ecology, anthropology, and human behavioral ecology, taught by Executive Director Peter Michael Bauer.
• English Ivy Basketmaking Signature workshop series teaching basket weaving using invasive English ivy and other invasive species removed from Portland parks, combining ecological restoration with traditional crafts.
• Friction Fire Workshops Hands-on workshop teaching bow-drill construction and friction fire techniques for wilderness fire-starting from scratch using stone tools.
• Coming-of-Age Program for Girls Yearlong mentoring program for female-identifying and nonbinary youth ages 10-12, meeting twice monthly to explore nature through art, games, crafts, and ancestral/survival skills.
• Echoes in Time Conference Annual week-long ancestral skills conference involving hundreds of participants of all ages camping out and taking hands-on skills classes.
• Annual North American Rewilding Conference Mostly online annual conference featuring curated speakers and Open Space dialogue, broadcasting the rewilding message nationally and internationally.

Quantifiable outcome

• 360-600 participants annually attend free programming
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Portland Parks City NaturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPortland Parks City Nature is a sponsor of the monthly Free Skills Series program. This partnership enables free community programming to rotate through different Portland neighborhoods, providing accessible nature-based education to Portlanders across the metro area.
• Portland Fruit Tree ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner that benefits directly from Rewild Portland's nursery plant production. Organizations collaborate on food sovereignty and community resilience initiatives.
• Native American Youth and Family CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAYA serves as a community partner receiving plants and educational support from Rewild Portland's nursery programs.
• Friends of the Ridgefield Wildlife RefugeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner benefiting from nursery and restoration collaboration efforts.
• Confederated Tribes of Grand RondecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRewild Portland acknowledges that Portland sits on land belonging to the Chinook, Kalapuya, and Molalla Indians, now part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. They partner with the Tribes on cultural education and land stewardship initiatives.
• Green AnchorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Anchors is an eco-industrial park (former shipyard and Superfund site) that hosts Rewild Portland's nursery, library, and many programs. This partnership provides operational space and community connection for restoration and education work.
• Blue Star PortlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal business partner shown as community sponsor on the Resilient Skills Series page. Blue Star Portland is a bookstore that promotes the Resilient Skills Series to its customers.
• MythmediacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRewild Portland is a project of Mythmedia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in January 2002. Mythmedia originally focused on video and film production for environmental sustainability and grassroots storytelling, and created Rewild Portland as its environmental education arm in 2009.
• Wilderness Awareness SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRewild Portland's educational pedagogy is rooted in Jon Young's Art of Mentoring and 8 Shields framework, originally developed through Wilderness Awareness School. This influences their mentoring and nature connection curriculum.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Echoes in Time: An annual ancestral skills conference co-organized by Rewild Portland leadership. Adjacent, ecosystem-level peer as a complementary gathering/event rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• School of Lost Borders: A nonprofit wilderness rites-of-passage organization in Bishop, CA offering vision fasts and wilderness intensives. Comparable to Rewild Portland's Coming-of-Age Program and nature connection philosophy.
• Tracker School: Founded by Tom Brown Jr., offers wilderness survival and tracking education in New Jersey. Comparable as a long-running bushcraft/ancestral skills school, though more commercial in orientation than Rewild Portland.
• Wild Earth: A nonprofit wilderness education organization in High Falls, NY offering yearlong immersion programs, summer camps, and adult trainings in ancestral skills, tracking, and nature connection. Closely comparable in mission, pedagogy, and program mix to Rewild Portland.
• Wilderness Awareness School: A nonprofit wilderness education organization in Duvall/Carnation, WA offering nature-based mentoring, survival skills, and naturalist training. Most directly comparable to Rewild Portland: shares Jon Young's Art of Mentoring and 8 Shields methodology, similar ancestral skills curriculum, and serves the Pacific Northwest.

Emerging players

• Rewild Salish Sea: A community rewilding organization in the Pacific Northwest (Salish Sea region) co-initiated by Rewild Portland board treasurer Paul\u00e9 Wood. Part of the broader Rewild Alliance, sharing pedagogical lineage with Rewild Portland.

Regional players

• Nature Connect NW: A Pacific Northwest network connecting nature-based educators, mentors, and programs. Adjacent to Rewild Portland's mission and geography; less of a direct competitor and more of an ecosystem convener.
• Friends of Tryon Creek: A Portland-area nonprofit operating Tryon Creek State Natural Area with nature education programs. Comparable geographically and thematically; Peter Bauer previously taught there.
• Cascadia Wild: A Portland-based nonprofit focused on wildlife monitoring and habitat restoration education. Comparable geographically and thematically (rewilding Portland-area landscapes); Executive Director Peter Bauer previously taught there.

Broad incumbents

• Audubon Society of Portland: A large established environmental education nonprofit in Portland with wildlife sanctuary, classes, and community programs. Broader in scope but overlaps with Rewild Portland on adult education and nature connection; Peter Bauer previously taught there.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks9 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rewildportland
• Instagraminstagram.com/rewildportland
• Xx.com/rewildportland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rewild-portland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rewild Portland