4 Elements Earth Education

What 4 Elements Earth Education does

4 Elements Earth Education (4EEE) is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit founded by Rick Berry that delivers in-person wilderness survival, tracking, and nature awareness programs to youth (ages 4–12+), teens (12–18), and families across four U.S. regional locations: California (Burton Educational Preserve in Nevada City), Philadelphia (urban parks), New Jersey (Pine Barrens Primitive Camp and Wells Mills State Park), and South Texas (Red Sun Ranch near Alice). The curriculum is built on a proprietary '4 Elements of Survival' framework — Shelter, Water, Fire, Food — drawn from Indigenous teachings passed through a lineage from Grandfather Stalking Wolf (Southern Lipan Apache) to Tom Brown Jr. (Tracker School, founded 1978) to current 4EEE instructors, and is supported by long-standing partnerships with the Southern Lipan Apache (17+ years) and the Siakumne Tribe (15 years), the latter co-creating the Pata Panaka Village cultural center.

The program portfolio includes weekly youth day programs (Fox Walkers in California, Coyote Tracks in Philadelphia, Young Fox Walkers, Tiny Fox Walkers), teen offerings (Wilderness Passage, Teen Scout Games, Teen Adventure Trips including Death Valley expeditions, Teen Earth Skills Series), multi-day family camps, adult Earth Skills workshops, online and in-person teacher training courses ('The Re-education of our Children'), volunteer land-stewardship events, and a branded merchandise line (hats, t-shirts, hoodies). Registration is handled via UltraCamp for youth day programs and Eventbrite for teen and family programs, with a Squarespace-based website driving content, donations, and e-commerce.

Revenue is generated through multiple streams: program registration fees (sliding-scale tiered pricing, e.g., $300–$1,000 per person for family camps; $25–$75 per camper for Philadelphia Coyote Tracks), donations to a 501(c)(3) scholarship fund that has disbursed $260,000 to children and families over the past 3 years, a sustainer recurring-donation program, teacher training and workshop fees, and merchandise sales. The go-to-market motion is community- and event-driven — relying on word-of-mouth, tribal community partnerships, participation in events such as Indigenous Peoples Days and Earth Fest, and organic social channels rather than paid acquisition.

Name

4 Elements Earth Education

Legal name

4 Elements Earth Education Inc.

Website

https://4eee.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

4 Elements Earth Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering in-person wilderness survival and nature awareness programs based on Indigenous earth-skills teachings to youth, teens, and families across four U.S. locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Wilderness Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

School, University & NGO Outdoor Programs (Curriculum/Program Delivery) (THAAAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAJ), Certification & Training Providers (Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Guide Training) (THAAAOAF), Nature-Based / Forest School Early Learning Programs (EDACADAD)

Keywords

• Wilderness survival education
• Nature awareness programs
• Youth outdoor education
• Earth skills training
• Family wilderness camps

Headquarters

HQ city

Nevada City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Registration Fees: Revenue from youth day programs, teen adventure programs, and family camps. Programs range from single-day youth sessions to multi-day wilderness camps. Registration prices vary by program type with processing fees.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including embossed hats ($35), t-shirts for youth and adults ($20), youth hats ($25), and hoodies. Sold through the organization's e-commerce storefront.
3. Donations and Scholarships: Tax-deductible donations from supporters to a 501(c)(3) scholarship fund that has provided $260,000 in scholarships to children and families over 3 years. Also includes sustainer program recurring donations.
4. Teacher Training Courses: Revenue from 'The Re-education of our Children' teacher training courses, offered both online (Zoom) and in-person at the Burton Educational Preserve.
5. Workshop Revenue: Revenue from specialized workshops such as basketry and foraging classes held at various locations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

4 Elements Earth Education (4EEE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers hands-on wilderness survival and nature awareness programs for youth, teens, families, and adults. Programs are built around the "4 Elements of Survival" curriculum (Shelter, Water, Fire, Food) and delivered in-person at four regional field locations in California, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and South Texas. The organization also sells branded merchandise and operates a scholarship fund subsidized by donations.

Product overview

4 Elements Earth Education (4EEE) offers a portfolio of wilderness and earth skills educational programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include youth day programs (Fox Walkers in California, Coyote Tracks in Philadelphia), family camps at multiple locations (Pine Barrens NJ, Tunnel Mills CA, Red Sun Ranch TX), teen programs (Wilderness Passage, Teen Scout Games, Teen Adventure Trips), adult Earth Skills workshops, and teacher training courses. Programs teach the 4 Elements of Survival: Shelter, Water, Fire, and Food through hands-on wilderness skills, tracking, and nature awareness. The organization also sells branded merchandise including hats and t-shirts. All programs are delivered in-person at various outdoor locations across California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and South Texas, with some online components for teacher training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fox Walkers: Youth day programs in California based at Burton Educational Preserve, introducing Earth Skills to children.
• Coyote Tracks
• Teen Wilderness Passage
• Young Fox Walkers

Products and services

• Fox Walkers Youth Day Programs Recurring youth day programs at Burton Educational Preserve in Nevada City, CA, introducing Earth Skills such as tracking, wilderness survival, and nature awareness through the 4 Elements of Survival: Shelter, Water, Fire, and Food. Includes weekly sessions and summer day camps for children ages 4-12+.
• Coyote Tracks Youth Day Programs Urban youth day programs run in local parks and recreation areas in Philadelphia, teaching Earth Skills and nature awareness to children through weekly sessions and summer offerings.
• Family Camps Multi-day wilderness camps for families at the Pine Barrens Primitive Camp in New Jersey, Tunnel Mills Group Campground in California, and Red Sun Ranch in South Texas, teaching shelter building, fire-making, tracking, and survival skills for parents and children together.
• Wilderness Passage Teen Programs Week-long teen wilderness immersion programs in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Wilderness, focused on building debris huts, friction fire, and learning the four elemental needs: shelter, water, fire, and food.
• Teen Scout Games Advanced teen program that pushes experienced teens to deepen skills in awareness, tracking, survival, stalking, and movement through Scout awareness games in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Wilderness.
• Teen Adventure Trips Epic adventure trips for teens, including Death Valley expeditions featuring survival trek, counter tracking, escape scenarios, and exploration of petroglyphs and natural formations.
• Teen Earth Skills Series Multi-session teen programs focusing on specific skills such as Track & Sign and Wild Foods & Foraging, held at New Jersey and Philadelphia locations.
• The Re-education of our Children - Teacher Training Online (Zoom) and in-person teacher training course focused on reconnecting children with nature and Earth Skills, offered as 5-week sessions or weekend workshops at the Burton Educational Preserve.
• Earth Skills for Adults Weekend adult programs teaching wilderness survival skills including shelter building, fire-making, and nature awareness at Burton Educational Preserve in California.
• 4EEE Embossed Hat - Adult RICHARDSON Trucker hat with embossed leather patch featuring the 4EEE emblem representing the sacred order of the 4 elements of survival: Shelter, Water, Fire, and Food. Price: $35.
• 4EEE T-Shirt - Adult Unisex Unisex adult t-shirt featuring artwork by Lipan Apache artist Isela Villarreal depicting coyote and wolf (representing Grandfather Stalking Wolf and Tom Brown Jr.) with Pine Barrens scenery. Material: 100% cotton. Price: $20.
• 4EEE Hat - Youth ADAMS Kids hat with embroidered 4EEE symbol. Available in Forest and Orange colors. Price: $25.
• 4EEE T-Shirt - Youth Youth-sized t-shirt with 4EEE branding. Available in Light Blue. Price: $20.

Quantifiable outcome

• $260,000 in scholarships provided to children and families over 3 years

Named customers3 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southern Lipan Apache (Juan Villarreal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner4EEE has maintained a partnership with the Southern Lipan Apache through Juan Villarreal for over 17 years. This partnership includes the establishment and use of Red Sun Ranch in South Texas as a program location. Juan Villarreal shares Indigenous teachings and cultural knowledge with program participants.
• Siakumne Tribe (Chairman Don Ryberg)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner4EEE has maintained a 15-year partnership with the Siakumne Tribe and Chairman Don Ryberg. Together they have re-created Pata Panaka Village in Nevada City, CA as a living cultural center. The tribe co-hosts the annual Indigenous Peoples Days event.
• Burton Educational PreservecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Burton Educational Preserve in Nevada City, CA provides the home base for Fox Walkers Youth day programs, teen programs, and family camps. The preserve hosts the 4EEE California operations.
• Tracker School / Tom Brown Jr.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner4EEE's programs are based on foundational teachings from The Tracker School and Tom Brown Jr., who learned from Grandfather Stalking Wolf of the Southern Lipan Apache lineage. The curriculum draws directly from this teaching lineage.
• Joseph A Citta Scout ReservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Jersey teen programs utilize facilities at Joseph A Citta Scout Reservation in Ocean Township, NJ for winter skills weekends and other programs.
• Wells Mills State ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Jersey programs meet and utilize Wells Mills State Park as a location for spring family wilderness skills weekends.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Earth Native Wilderness School: A Texas-based outdoor school offering wilderness skills, tracking, and nature connection programs for youth and adults. Operates in a similar geographic footprint to 4EEE's South Texas location and serves overlapping customer segments with comparable curriculum.
• Wilderness Awareness School: A Washington-state based nature awareness and wilderness survival school that draws on similar Coyote Mentoring pedagogy. Offers youth and adult programs with comparable field-based, naturalist-focused curriculum.
• Tracker School: Founded by Tom Brown Jr. in 1978, the Tracker School is the direct lineage source for 4EEE's curriculum (Stalking Wolf → Tom Brown Jr. → 4EEE instructors). It offers similar wilderness survival and tracking programs in New Jersey, making it the closest comparable peer.
• White Pine Programs: A nature connection mentoring organization offering year-round programs for youth and adults using Coyote Mentoring approaches. Operates at smaller scale with similar naturalist curriculum.
• Earthwork Institute: Offers nature-based and earth skills programs including foraging, tracking, and wilderness living skills. Similar in curriculum scope and small nonprofit operating model.
• Children of the Earth Foundation: The organization from which 4EEE was directly born. Focuses on Indigenous-rooted nature connection and earth skills for youth, sharing lineage, mission, and pedagogy with 4EEE.

Broad incumbents

• Boy Scouts of America: National youth organization offering outdoor skills, camping, and wilderness training. Competes broadly for the same families seeking outdoor character-building programs for youth and teens.
• Outward Bound USA: The largest U.S. outdoor education nonprofit offering wilderness expeditions for youth, teens, and adults. Broader in scale and curriculum but competes for the same outdoor-education-seeking families and school partnerships.

Regional players

• North House Folk School: A Minnesota-based folk school offering courses in traditional crafts, foraging, and wilderness skills. Comparable in adult-workshop and craft-based programming, though geographically distant from 4EEE's markets.

Emerging players

• Forest Schools across the U.S. An emerging category of nature-based early childhood programs including forest kindergartens and nature preschools. Represents both a comparable offering for younger children and potential adjacent market for 4EEE's Fox Walkers/Coyote Tracks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/4ElementsEarthEducation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/4-elements-earth-education-incorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 4 Elements Earth Education