The program includes:

• Online Foundations (June 22–25)
• In-Person Leadership Intensive (July 10–20)

Participants may enroll in the full certification path or select portions à la carte.

 The program is designed to develop skilled leaders who foster environmental stewardship, build resilient communities, and inspire youth and adults through hands-on, land-based education. Participants learn to lead outdoor programs, create immersive experiential learning activities, and facilitate meaningful community engagement.

Participants complete live evening courses 5pm – 7pm (PST) 

• June 22- Grants and Partnerships
• June 23- Programming, Interviewing, Conflict Resolution
• June 24- Registration Systems, Accounting, Organization, Smooth Systems
• June 25 & 26 –Building Culture, Formatting and Structuring program Experiences, Training Staff

Each session will compose of 1 hour presentation followed by interactive portion.

* Sessions will be recorded and shared after 2 weeks for self-paced access if you are unable to join us live.

Participants have access to AWI Teacher and Hiking Guide Training Modules (Self-Paced)

From June through October for the following 2 years, participants who complete the ENTIRE course will be eligible to apply for the farm fellowship apprenticeship program:

• Two weeks of on-site practical training during retreat season
• Leading hikes, workshops, and stewardship projects
• Designing and facilitating a community stewardship event
• Completing 10 hours of remote mentorship in curriculum and resource development

* Eligible students will conduct an interview process with the farm management team to qualify for a $500 stipend towards a fellowship of practicing leading adventures during the retreats.

Exceptional apprentices may be considered for future farm employment opportunities.

1. ONLINE COURSE – June 22 – 26 (10-hour program)
   PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION & BACKEND OPERATIONS

Program Design & Planning
Design and plan a program
Preparing tools, materials, and mindset for immersive learning
Nuts and bolts of putting on a program
Systems matter: protocols and handbooks
Everything can be better: program/staff assessments

Financial & Funding Management
Financials & accounting
Funding sources and grants
Writing grants
Insurance, paperwork

Community & Partnership Development
Community partnerships and collective stewardship models
Building alliances/partnerships
Hiring stars and why the “why” matters

Systems, Workflow & Assessment
Backend systems and workflow organization
Management systems/platforms
Surveys, reporting, and impact assessment

Culture, Educational Resources & Creative Engagement
Building a strong organizational culture rooted in stewardship values
Developing graphics, visual guides, and educational materials for outdoor programs
Designing field guides, lesson templates, and experiential learning resources
Storytelling, signage, and visual cues to enhance learning and engagement
Supporting staff and volunteers in hands-on, creative teaching methods

2. NATURALIST 101 & BUSHCRAFT
   Dates: July 10 – July 12 | Format: In-Person Intensive
   Focus: Land literacy, self-reliance, and working with what the land provides

Key Skills & Learning:
Landscape reading and ecological observation
Plant and animal identification
Ecosystem relationships and interdependence
Understanding seasonal and natural cycles
Leave No Trace ethics
Pack preparation and field logistics
Risk assessment and basic first aid
Navigation using natural cues
Shelter-building using natural materials
Campfire building
Knife safety and practical tool use
Foraging basics and plant-based teas

3. THE LEADER’S JOURNEY
   Dates: July 13 – July 16 | Format: In-Person Intensive
   Focus: Leadership, facilitation, public speaking, community building, and engagement
   Featuring: Dr. Omar Ezzeldine, Executive Director of Foundation for Muslim Camps

Key Skills & Learning:

Outdoor Leadership & Safety
Leading hikes and outdoor programs (A–Z)
Trail safety and group management
Route selection and pacing
Outdoor risk awareness

Public Speaking & Facilitation
Confident public speaking in outdoor settings
Storytelling and voice projection
Leading engaging, interactive programs
Building presence and clarity as a guide

Group Dynamics & Community Building
Reading group “ecosystems”
Inclusive facilitation practices
Conflict navigation and relational leadership
Working with children, teens, and adults
Adapting leadership styles across ages and abilities
Inspiring responsibility, confidence, and belonging

Emotional & Intuitive Leadership
Grounding and sensory awareness practices
Emotional regulation strategies
Reflective and intuitive facilitation
Modeling values-based environmental leadership

Engagement, Wonder & MAGIC
Storytelling, play, and interactive learning
Teaching through curiosity and wonder
Building “MAGIC” into outdoor programs
Mastery of 4 magic tricks for focus and engagement

4. STEWARDSHIP & PERMACULTURE IN ACTION
   Dates: July 17 – July 19 | Format: In-Person Intensive
   Focus: Regenerative practices, creativity, and applied teaching
   Featuring: Zion Davidson – Farmer/Food as Medicine Chef at Sage Steward Farm

Key Skills & Learning:

Regenerative Land Practices
Basic farming and permaculture principles
Closed-loop systems in action
Composting

Habitat Restoration
Stewardship projects rooted in care and responsibility
Applying regenerative thinking in community settings

Integration & Apprenticeship Preparation
Field guide creation
Field-proof journals and plant pressing

5. FINAL DAY CELEBRATION & ASSESSMENT
   Date: July 20 | Format: In-Person
   Includes mentoring sessions, reflections, practical & written skills assessments, and a closing ceremony.

Extremely mature high school students who are interested must pass through an interview prior to being allowed to join.

If your family would like to come, there is a campsite next door (Costanoa.com) that your whole family can camp out at and you are welcome to come over for the classes portions and then head back to spend time with your family.

For those attending a partial module, airport transfers are not included. We will try our best though to see if we can help you coordinate rides.

We suggest if you are coming in for a partial module to rent a car.

The full course is ideal for:

• Educators and facilitators
• Community leaders and organizers
• Outdoor guides and mentors
• Nonprofit and sustainability professionals
• Anyone committed to environmental and community leadership

Partical courses are are ideal for nature, gardening, and bushcraft enthusiasts who want to challenge themselves, get their feet dirty, and unearth new possibilities within themselves

Yes! Lodging in our premier glamping tents is included for FULL COURSE participants only. Glamping tents include plush mattresses, bedding, a pillow, and a nightstand with lighting.

Partial MODULE Attendees are welcome to add on glamping to their registration if they do not feel like bringing all their camping gear.

If you wish to stay OFF-SITE, nearby accomadations include Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Costanoa Lodge. These 2 sites are located within a few miles from Sage Steward Farm. If you choose to stay off-site, its probably best that you have your own transportation.

• One meal (Either Lunch or Dinner) will be provided each day: We will be featuring one Farm-to-Table meals each day.
• Breakfast will be cooked by your team each day: You will be given a list of ingredients to bring with you and you will be placed on a team. You and your team will cook a meal at some point during the retreat
• The third meal is on you. This is an outdoor leadership course so we ask you to plan meals you can camp cook. Camp cooking is part of this experience and we want you to experience what that looks like.

  FARM-TO-TABLE MEALS
  

Our beautifu restrooms have HOT SHOWERS, are clean, and quite an experience in and of themselves! 

What You’ll Learn

Land Literacy & Ecological Awareness

• Reading the land: soil, water, weather, and seasonal cues

• Understanding ecosystem relationships and natural cycles

• Plant and animal identification

• Ethical land care and Leave No Trace principles

• Using nature as a living classroom across disciplines

Bushcraft & Self-Reliance

• Shelter-building using natural materials

• Knife safety and foundational tool skills

• Foraging basics and plant-based teas

• Navigation using natural cues and landscape markers

• Field preparedness, risk awareness, and basic first aid

Regenerative Farming & Stewardship

• Foundations of regenerative agriculture and permaculture

• Closed-loop systems and regenerative design thinking

• Basic farming practices and land stewardship techniques

• Participating in hands-on stewardship and land care projects

Creative & Experiential Learning

• Nature journaling and observational drawing

• Art-in-nature and ephemeral land art

• Field guide creation (illustration, layout, and content)

• Making field-proof journals and simple plant presses

• Creative strategies for engaging learners in outdoor settings

Leadership & Facilitation (The Leader’s Journey)

• Leading hikes safely and confidently

• Group facilitation and inclusive leadership practices

• Reading group dynamics and adapting in real time

• Conflict navigation and community care

• Emotional regulation and grounding practices for groups

• Teaching children, youth, and adults in outdoor environments

Mindfulness, Presence & Intuitive Teaching

• Sensory awareness and grounding practices

• Reflective facilitation and holding space

• Developing intuition and responsiveness as an educator

• Cultivating presence, attentiveness, and trust in the learning process

Curriculum Design & Program Building

• Designing outdoor curriculum rooted in place and season

• Lesson planning and facilitator guide creation

• Structuring experiential learning programs

• Backend operations and program administration

• Event planning from concept to completion

• Measuring impact through reflection, surveys, and reporting

Community Engagement & Stewardship Leadership

• Mobilizing community skills and collective effort

• Designing and leading community stewardship initiatives

• Building partnerships and long-term community relationships

• Stewardship as service, reciprocity, and care

Storytelling, Wonder & Engagement

• Storytelling as a teaching and leadership tool

• Play-based and interactive learning techniques

• Building “magic” into educational programs

• Mastery of four simple magic tricks to support focus and engagement

Applied Learning & Professional Development

• Real-world facilitation during retreats and programs

• Mentorship and guided practice

• Eligibility to apply for the seasonal farm fellowship program

• Certification as a Wilderness Guide & Environmental Trainer