Vermont Wilderness School

What Vermont Wilderness School does

Vermont Wilderness School (VWS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in Brattleboro, Vermont, that delivers nature-connection mentoring to youth and adults. It traces its lineage to 1999, when the Great Blue Heron Community School began as Oyase Community School with 22 homeschooled children, and was formalized under the VWS brand in 2007. Its core program set spans weekly school-year forest schools for ages 5-15 (Foxwalk Forest School and Great Blue Heron Community School), a portfolio of summer day and overnight camps for ages 5-17, adult tracking and naturalist programs (Wildlife Tracking Apprenticeship, Hunter's Heart Hunting Apprenticeship, Track and Sign Certification, Lynx Tracking Expedition), nature-connection mentoring training workshops, and consulting services for schools and organizations.

The school monetizes through a three-tier sliding scale (Access, Sustainer, Supporter) on all programs, with scholarships and a Reparations Fund layered on top; pricing ranges from roughly $35 for a single short workshop to $3,250 for the highest school-year subscription tier. It also generates revenue through consulting engagements (rates $35-$100/hour, first hour free; custom programs $350-$1,000/day), donations (including a '26 for 26' recurring donor campaign and stock donations), and event programming (notably a 26th anniversary celebration in 2025-2026). Distribution is direct-to-consumer via its website and in-person at partner venues across southern Vermont, with limited geographic reach into Maine and Western Massachusetts. Customer acquisition relies primarily on word-of-mouth, its monthly email newsletter, and a Facebook page; there are no resellers or third-party distributors.

Governance is a five-member volunteer Board of Directors and an executive team led by Executive Director Richard Berkfield, with Senior Program Directors Amy Hyatt and Bob Etzweiler directing youth and adult programming. The organization reports no parent company, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and no external investors; it operates as an independent nonprofit.

Name

Vermont Wilderness School

Legal name

Vermont Wilderness School

Website

https://vermontwildernessschool.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vermont Wilderness School is a Brattleboro, Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering nature-connection mentoring programs for youth (ages 5-17) and adults across southern Vermont. It operates weekly forest schools, summer camps, tracking and hunting apprenticeships, and consulting services, financed through sliding-scale tuition, donations, and B2B training engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Nature Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG), Outdoor/Nature/Forest Preschools (EDACABAJ)

Keywords

• Nature connection education
• Wilderness skills training
• Outdoor youth programs
• Wildlife tracking certification
• Forest school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brattleboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Youth and Adult Educational Programs: VWS generates primary revenue through fee-for-service nature connection programs. Youth programs include weekly Forest Schools (Foxwalk for ages 5-7, Great Blue Heron for ages 7-15), seasonal day camps (Otter, Foxwalk Day Camp, Earthfriend Discovery, Shambhala Warrior, Ranger's Sanctuary, Teen Leadership, Teen Hunting), and break camps. Adult programs include tracking workshops, hunting apprenticeships, naturalist training, birding, and nature connection mentoring courses. All programs use a sliding scale pricing model with Access, Sustainer, and Supporter tiers.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: VWS operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and accepts tax-deductible donations. The organization runs specific fundraising campaigns including the '26 for 26' monthly donor initiative seeking 26 new monthly supporters, accepts stock donations, and maintains a free donation platform through Zeffy. Donations support scholarships and reparations funds.
3. Consulting Services: VWS offers consulting services to schools, organizations, and individuals seeking guidance on nature connection program development. Consulting services include personal mentoring, training workshops, advising on program development, and custom programs. Rates range from $35-$100/hour on a sliding scale, with the first hour free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Vermont Wilderness School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers nature connection mentoring programs to youth and adults in southern Vermont. Core offerings include weekly school-year forest schools (Foxwalk for ages 5-7 and Great Blue Heron Community School for ages 7-15), summer day camps, break camps, adult tracking and hunting apprenticeships, naturalist workshops, and nature connection mentoring training, all delivered in-person at natural sites with sliding scale pricing and scholarships.

Product overview

Vermont Wilderness School offers nature connection mentoring programs for youth and adults through a portfolio of distinct programs. Youth programs include school-year offerings (Foxwalk Forest School for ages 5-7 and Great Blue Heron Community School for ages 7-15) and summer camps (Otter Day Camp, Foxwalk Day Camp, Earthfriend Discovery, Shambhala Warrior, Rangers Sanctuary, Teen Leadership, and Teen Hunting camps) plus break camps. Adult programs encompass wildlife tracking (Tracking Apprenticeship, Summer Tracking Intensive, Tracking Weekends, Tracking Days, Lynx Expedition, Track & Sign Certification), hunting programs (Hunter's Heart, Deer Hunting Prep), naturalist workshops (Birding by Ear), and nature connection mentoring training (Renewal of Creative Purpose, Intro to NCM, Peacemaking, Core Routines). The organization also provides consulting services for schools, educators, families, and organizations seeking nature connection program development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foxwalk Forest School

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants develop practical wilderness skills including fire-making, tracking, hunting, and naturalist knowledge
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The Manitou ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVWS partnered with The Manitou Project in 2010 to run Earthfriend Discovery Day Camp. The Manitou Project owns the land in Williamsville, VT where the camp operates. VWS provides quality, experienced staff and professionalism while maintaining the Manitou vision.
• Windham Southeast Supervisory UnioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVWS consultant Ani Schaeffer (in collaboration with Mikaela Simms) provided free training to over 120 teachers and administrators on Diversity and Equity in Outdoor Education and COVID-safe outdoor learning.
• Juniper Hill Outdoor SchoolmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAmy Hyatt led a two-day online training for the 12-person teaching staff at Juniper Hill Outdoor School in Maine.
• Winston Prouty CentermajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAni Schaeffer led a series of remote and in-person trainings with the Early Childhood staff at the Winston Prouty Center in Brattleboro, VT.
• Greenfield Center SchoolmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBob Etzweiler, Ani Schaeffer, Ash Young, and Jeannie McGartland provided training to Greenfield Center School on transitioning to full-time outdoor learning.
• Coyote ProgramsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing advising relationship with Coyote Programs on nature connection program development.
• Vermont Abenaki Artist AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVWS partners with Vermont Abenaki Artist Association for mid-summer staff training, providing cultural education and connection to indigenous knowledge.
• Bonnyvale Environmental Education CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoxwalk Forest School on Wednesdays operates at the Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center in West Brattleboro, VT.
• The Greenwood SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoxwalk Forest School on Tuesdays and Great Blue Heron Community School on Tuesdays operate at The Greenwood School in Putney, VT.
• Fort Dummer State ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOtter Day Camp and Foxwalk Day Camp operate at Fort Dummer State Park. The park offers 200+ acres of diverse habitat including wetland, streams, mixed hardwood forest, and hiking trails.
• Garland SchoolmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAni Schaeffer and Amy Hyatt are working with kindergarten teachers at the Garland School to develop a robust forest kindergarten with seasonal and local outdoor curriculum.
• Marlboro Elementary SchoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerVWS staff led a 2020-21 school-year program partnership with Marlboro Elementary School.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• White Pine Programs: New Hampshire-based nature connection school offering year-round youth programs, summer camps, and adult tracking/wilderness skills training in the same New England ecology as VWS.
• Earth Native Wilderness School: Austin, TX-based nature skills school offering youth programs, summer camps, tracking workshops, and adult apprenticeships; competes with VWS in curriculum category if not geography.
• Roots School: Portland, OR-based nature connection school (formerly Trackers Earth) offering youth programs, summer camps, and adult wilderness skills; comparable in program mix and audience.
• Wilderness Awareness School: Duvall, WA-based nonprofit running youth and adult nature connection programs, tracking apprenticeships, and instructor trainings since 1983; widely viewed as a peer and sector leader.
• 8 Shields Institute: Nonprofit founded by Jon Young that originated the nature connection mentoring methodology VWS uses; trains mentors and runs programs globally. Closest methodological peer.
• Coyote Programs: Nature connection mentoring organization closely tied to Jon Young's network and 8 Shields; VWS explicitly maintains an ongoing advising relationship with this group.
• Greenfield Center School: New York-based nature-based elementary school; VWS provided transition-to-outdoor-learning training, and the schools share audience and pedagogy.
• Juniper Hill Outdoor School: Maine-based outdoor/nature preschool and forest school; VWS has previously delivered paid staff training here, indicating direct overlap in audience and methodology.

Emerging players

• EarthSkills: Runs primitive skills and nature connection gatherings and apprenticeships in the Northeast; overlapping adult-program audience with VWS's tracking and hunting apprenticeships.

Others

• CyberTracker North America: Network that administers the Track & Sign Certification VWS offers; functions as an enabling/infrastructure peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VermontWildernessSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vermont-wilderness-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Vermont Wilderness School