Mindful Foraging: Ethical Wildcrafting & Nature Journaling With Vanessa Chakour
Explore the wonders of nature with our Wild Life course series, inspired by Atlas Obscura's new book Wild Life. Dive into immersive lessons that bring the extraordinary and hidden marvels of the natural world to life!
In this four-part lecture series, explore mindful wildcrafting, practical foraging, and nature journaling to deepen your connection with nature.
Course Description
Discover the art of mindful foraging and deepen your connection to nature with author and naturalist Vanessa Chakour. This four-session course invites you to explore the autumnal landscape through a blend of practical foraging skills and reflective journaling. Guided by Vanessa's expertise, you'll explore plant identification, safety, and regenerative harvesting practices, all while fostering a profound appreciation for your local ecosystems.
From the basics of ethical foraging to understanding the seasonal rhythms of the natural world, this course will equip you with the skills to become a conscientious steward of the land. Through hands-on activities, visual presentations, and guided journaling, you’ll document your discoveries, refine your observation skills, and plan future foraging adventures. Join us to embrace your inner naturalist and cultivate a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the environment around you.
Explore the wonders of nature with our Wild Life course series, inspired by Atlas Obscura's new book Wild Life. Dive into immersive lessons that bring the extraordinary and hidden marvels of the natural world to life!
Syllabus At A Glance
This course includes four total sessions, each lasting 1 hours on four consecutive Tuesdays beginning October 8.
Session 1 (Tuesday, 10/8, 5:30–6:30 PM ET) | Foundations of Foraging and Wildcrafting
In this introductory session, participants will learn the basics of ethical foraging and wildcrafting, including plant identification, safety, and ethical practices. They will also explore nature journaling as a tool for enhancing attention to detail and building a deeper connection with the land
Session 2 (Tuesday, 10/15, 5:30–6:30 PM ET) | Autumn Harvest: Edible Plants and Fungi
This session will explore the abundance of edible plants and fungi in autumn. Participants will learn respectful wildcrafting practices and use nature journaling to capture the beauty of the season, document identifications, and deepen their understanding of the natural world.
Session 3 (Tuesday, 10/22, 5:30–6:30 PM ET) | Exploring Seasonal Changes: Beyond Autumn
In this session, participants will explore how changing seasons impact the natural world. They'll learn about plant and animal adaptations, using nature journaling to document observations, hone their skills, and cultivate attention to detail.
Session 4 (Tuesday, 10/29, 5:30–6:30 PM ET) | A Blueprint for Future Discoveries: Beyond Autumn
In the final session, participants will reflect on their journey, share insights, and plan future foraging adventures. Nature journaling will be used for reflection, planning, and maintaining a deep connection to the land.
Between Sessions
Nature journaling activities between sessions may include:
- Daily Observations: Journaling about daily observations in nature, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem.
- Seasonal Changes: Tracking seasonal changes in their local ecosystem through their nature journals.
- Plant and Animal Identification: Challenge participants to identify plants and animals they encounter and record their findings in their journals.
- Nature-Inspired Art: Encourage participants to create nature-inspired art, such as drawings, paintings, or collages.
Pricing Options
This course is available at three ticket prices. This tiered pricing model is designed to increase access for a wider range of students as well as to support our instructors. In addition to tiered tickets, we offer a limited number of no-pay spots for students who would not otherwise be able to take this course. No-pay spots are selected via a randomized drawing two weeks before each section begins. For more information and to apply for a no-pay spot, please click here. To learn more about our pricing model and randomized selection process for no-pay spots, please visit our FAQ page.
Community Guidelines for Students
Please take a moment to review our community guidelines for students, which aim to share our classroom ethos and help set the stage for the best possible learning experience.
Atlas Obscura Online Courses
Atlas Obscura Courses offer opportunities for participants to emerge with new skills, knowledge, connections, and perspectives through multi-session classes designed and taught by expert instructors. To learn more about our current course offerings, please visit www.atlasobscura.com/online-courses. For answers to commonly asked questions, check out our FAQ page here.
Founded in 2009, Atlas Obscura created the definitive community-driven guide to incredible places across the planet and is now an award-winning company that shares the world’s hidden wonders in person and online.
Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite that will provide access to each class meeting. Please save the confirmation email as you’ll use it to access all sessions of your course via Zoom.
Vanessa Chakour is an author, naturalist, visual artist, herbalist and nature advocate. A dynamic blend of her vast personal experiences over 20+ years, she facilitates courses and retreats; helping students access their inner wild while learning from the plants, fungi and animals that share their ecosystems. She created Rewilding Through Writing programs to facilitate healing through the creative process; encouraging writers to trust their creative instincts and build confidence in their voice. Vanessa lives with her partner in Western Massachusetts where they steward Mount Owen Forest Sanctuary, promoting ecosystem diversity and resilience through forest stewardship and propagation of native and endangered plants and fungi. She is the author of Awakening Artemis, a memoir of healing through the lens of 24 medicinal plants.
Check out Vanessa's forthcoming book Earthly Bodies: Embracing Animal Nature coming September 24. Examining the cultural belief that our animal instincts are to be corrected or corralled, nature advocate and rewilding facilitator Vanessa Chakour explores our inner and outer landscapes through the lens of wild animals.
This lecture series is designed so students can participate live or watch a recording of each session, after it airs, at a time that is convenient for them. Sessions will take place live over Zoom, with dedicated Q&A segments for students to ask questions via video or chat. Within 72 hours after each session meets, students will receive access to a recording of the live session, which they can watch for up to two weeks after the course concludes.
Instructors may use Google Classroom to communicate with students outside of class. While students aren’t required to use Google Classroom, instructors may use this platform to post resources, discussion questions, or assignments. This platform also offers a space for students to connect with one another about course material between sessions.
We provide closed captioning for all of our courses and can share transcripts upon request. Please reach out to us at experiences@atlasobscura.com if you have any questions, requests, or accessibility needs.
