What to Expect:

Expect to run (or walk) in the beautiful wilds.  

Expect to feel the wind and sun and rain on your face.

Expect to connect with nature in new and unimagined ways. 

Expect to feel challenged and expanded- physically, emotionally, and energetically.  

Expect to feel supported in these feelings.  

Expect to be empowered.

Expect to learn things.  

Expect to be wowed out of your mind with the beauty and intelligence of nature.  

Expect to eat wild foods and consume wild medicines.  

Expect to sit quietly.  

Expect to make plant medicines together.

Expect to have and hold a safe space for sharing.  

Expect to see and hear things you’ve never seen or heard before.  

Expect to grow wilder.

What Else You’ll Get: 

Besides all the amazingness mentioned above (in the What to Expect section) we will be gathering wild plants together and turning them into medicines as a part of our field day experiences.  Since I practice letting medicines rest a full moon cycle before I/we process them and they are ready to consume, each Re-Wilding Woman will be receiving her portion of the medicines we made after the summer outings are completed.

What You’ll Need:

We will have Zoom calls before each Immersion, talking more specifics about the place and the weather and the drive.  But in general, you’ll need to have these items for the 2024 Woman Re-Wild Program:

- comfortable hiking boots (that you’ve worn at least a few times already so that they are “broken in” a bit)

- a small backpack that can carry your food for the day and 2 water bottles (enough water for your day) plus any extra socks or additional gear (rain jacket, sunhat, insect repellant, sunscreen, snacky things, camera, sunglasses, notebook, necessary personal items, any necessary medications you might need for the day (like an Epi-pen if you are allergic to bees))

- transportation to and from the Immersion location (although ridesharing with other participants is highly encouraged)

- willingness to be/remain outside in all kinds of weather

Your Guide: 

Hi!  I’m Brooke Smokelin!  I’m a devoted naturalist and passionate environmental educator. I love creating experiences that awaken people to the beauty and intelligence of nature.  

I studied Environmental Education in college many moons ago.  Since then I’ve created a cornucopia of nature-oriented experiences.  I’ve run summer immersion programs for kids and taught environmental education in private and public schools.  I’ve co-directed an environmental art studio in upstate New York. I’ve led college students and groups of women on multi-day backpacking retreats.  I’ve done a mountaineering expedition with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).  I’ve created nature therapy programs for trauma survivors after 9/11.  You can read more about all the nature fun I’ve had here.

The short of it is, I’m an experienced, knowledgeable, and trustworthy nature guide and I’m really excited about this program.  

The Questions:

1) I’ve never heard of “re-wilding” before.  What does it mean?

In the simplest, broadest sense, re-wilding means “to return to a more wild or natural state; it is the process of undoing domestication.” 

In an ecological/conservational context it refers to the “restoration (of an area of land) to its natural uncultivated state (used especially with reference to the reintroduction of species of wild animals or plants)”.

Human re-wilding “encourages the conscious undoing of human domestication and the returning to the lifeways of (more land-based) cultures.” It is often “associated with primitive skills and learning knowledge of wild plants and animals... as well as development of the senses and fostering deepening personal relationships with members of other species and the natural world.” (Wikipedia)

2) I haven’t spent much time in nature but I’m really intrigued and want to learn more.  Is this for me?

If you can walk for a few miles on a trail in the woods...

If you have good hiking shoes...

If you are eager to learn and slow to complain...

If you are able to be quiet and listen...

If you are in good health...

If you are willing to be outside, rain or shine, all afternoon…

If you delight in the wild things and won’t try to kill them…

If you can carry your own food and water and provisions in a small backpack…

If you are genuinely interested in deepening your connection to the natural world

If you are open to new things, and the sacred ways of all cultures, not just your own…

If you can drive (or ride share with another participant) to our different locations…

If you can play by the covid rules (wear a mask, social distance, be respectful) for everyone’s benefit and comfort until it’s no longer necessary….

I think you’ll do just fine!

3) Where are we going on these Immersions?

Locations will be revealed to Rewilding participants as we progress through the program.  Unfortunately, a lot of wild places are overrun by human visitors.  As a result I prefer to keep my sacred places secret.  Let it remain a mystery for now…   (I will say they are all within a 75 minute drive of Pittsburgh, most of them are within 40 minutes.)