Jeff

Jeff Gottlieb has been a Naturalist, Outdoor Educator and Primitive Skills Instructor on Long Island for more than 30 years. He works with school groups, nature centers, museums, scout troops and summer camps, and builds full-sized wigwams and longhouses. He also replicates primitive tools and artifacts for display.  He travels widely in the Eastern U.S. teaching at rendezvous, gatherings and historic fairs. He has written a how-to manual on building wigwams, and an instructors’ manual entitled, Teaching Primitive Skills to Children. He welcomes correspondence and can be reached via email at argskids@optonline.net, or at 57 Westgate Road, Massapequa, NY, 11762.

Herbie

Herb Dancinghorse Walters has lived, farmed and foraged in the Appalachian Mountains for  40 years. He has worked as an instructor at Turtle Island Preserve and Earth Camp where he led a “Walkabout” program that enabled 12 teens to live for two weeks of foraging, fishing, cooking wild game, living in self-made shelters, and practicing other ancient living skills such as fire-by-friction and primitive tool making.  Herb has been a mentor for many years  at our SEE program for schools and has been lead  mentor for many of our  Blue Ridge Expedition programs.  Herb loves music, dancing, horses and kids and when he’s not working and playing with kids or farming 10 acres of Blue Ridge land, he works nationally and internationally providing “Listening Project Training that enables organizations to overcome difficult community problems and conflict.

Star

Star Ellis graduated from Appalachian State with a BA in Education. His Teacher Certification is in Math and Science for 4th through 9th grades. Prior to transferring to Appalachian, he studied Zoology at NC State for two years.  During a year off from college, Star became one of the first to hike the entire Appalachian Trail in the winter time.

Star has worked as an outdoor instructor/ naturalist for 37 years at organizations such as Outward Bound, Inside Out, Camps Sequoyah, High Rocks, Arrowhead, Exploration, Talisman, and Green River Preserve. Star was one of the first mentors at Green River, joining the camp in its second year.

Hawk

For over two decades, Hawk Hurst has offered his educational programs across the country and internationally. He is an eight time recording artist and the author of two children’s books. Hawk’s stories bring the wonders and wisdom of ancient cultures to life. An accomplished naturalist and master craftsman, he personally creates many of the Native American-style flutes and drums used during his performances. Hawk and his wife live in Charleston, South Carolina where they operate Merhaven Bed no Breakfast.
Hawk leads artist-in-residency programs and adult classes in storytelling, Native American-style flute and drum making, as well as, a variety of gourd-inspired projects. He was the co-director for both the Stories for Life Storytelling Festival and the Piccolo Spoleto Children’s Festival, held in Charleston. He has served as the President of the South Carolina Storytelling Network, and is a long-standing member of both the North Carolina Storytelling Guild and the South Carolina Artist Roster. He has been a featured teller at festivals across the Southeast. Hawk’s educational background includes a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Education from Lesley College and the Audubon Expedition Institute, as well as undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Political Science from the University of Oklahoma. You may contact Hawk at: (843) 577-2821.  Web: www.hawkhurstflutes.com/ E-mail: hawkhurst@bellsout.net

Snow Bear

Fuz and Sharlene