World of the Hunter-Gatherer
The Practical Primitive Original Intensive Skills Program
The Application Deadline for the 2011
NEW JERSEY TRIBE has passed. Please check back in November for details
on how to apply for the 2012 Tribe.
» Delve deeply into the skills and resources needed to survive and to thrive in the Hunter-Gatherer lifestyle of our ancestors.
» Learn in a wholistic manner, leaving the randomness of individual skills behind.
» Acquire a fuller understanding of the Power of the Tribe and the importance of Community.
» Discover how you can become a part of the world around your, rather than living apart from the Earth and all her gifts.
» Test what you have learned in the week-long Survival Outing that is the culmination of the program.
"If you want
to take your skills from the field guide to the field, to move from
knowledgeable about skills to being highly-skilled, World of the Hunter-Gatherer
is one of the best paths to take!"
— Nate S. (2009 Tribe, TX)
The Application
Deadline for the 2011 Tribe was January 31.
Please check back in November
for information on applying for the 2012 Tribe.
Check out some of our Favorite Photos of Past Hunter-Gatherer Tribes!
About the Program
Hunter-Gatherer New Jersey
Upcoming Session: March – August,
2011
Location: Practical
Primitive, Great Meadows, NJ
Tuition: $3800 ($1000 deposit due upon acceptance.)
Application Deadline: January
31, 2011
Apply: ONLINE or BY
MAIL (The application deadline for the 2011 program has now passed.)
Since we implemented our World of the Hunter-Gatherer program in 2008, many other schools have begun to offer "Intensive" programs of a similar type, but they do not take into account many of the key factors that make our program the one-of-a-kind Intensive Skills experience like no other. You will be one of only FOUR people to spend 6 months learning from Eddie Starnater, one of the best, most highly skilled and experienced instructors in the world of primitive skills. In fact, many of the other schools offering similar programs have at least one instructor who learned some of what they know from Eddie! In designing the Hunter-Gatherer program, Eddie has used his decades of "in the woods" experience to choose each skill and every project carefully and specifically to build your skills set and teach you in a manner that will grow exponentially. You will receive intense and personalized instruction that simply can not be matched, all in an environment that is positive and fun and enjoyable, where we share each others successes and learn from each others failures. Eddie & Julie break down the skills in a way that make them accesible to everyone. You CAN do this! The Hunter-Gatherer program will take you places you have, up until now, only dreamed of being able to go.
"My confidence grew as the program
went on . I realized I COULD learn this stuff, and that one did not
need to be special to figure it out! Eddie makes things so easy to understand
that even a cave many like myself can do it. The class was a blast.
The instruction was excellent. The experence was awesom. I wish the
class never ended."
— Eric S. (2010 Tribe, NJ)
I had a tendency to kill a skill before trying it because I felt so lost. I learned how to approach new skills, that I can & should try new things, and that messing up is usually not a bad thing!
Also, Knowing that I continue to have a mentor provides a certain security to trying other new things since I know I can always check in with Practical Primitive. Having good mentors is worth it's weight in gold.
Thank you both! "
— Kati G. (2010 Tribe, NJ)
Like all our Intensive Skills Programs, World of the Hunter-Gatherer is meant to be as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. We have built a program in which it will be practical for virtually anyone participate, and will NOT require you to quit your job, be away from your family for extended periods, or uproot your life!
More than a simple immersion into primitive skills and survival, this specially designed six-month curriculum provides a wholistic structure to learning the ways of the Hunter-Gatherer; each skill specifically chosen and each project deliberately assigned to teach many lessons, causing your knowledge and abilities to increase exponentially.
As a Tribe member you will gain a thorough and hands-on understanding of the Hunter-Gatherer's most important skills — some of which you may have never before perceived how vital they are! But most important of all, you will gain an internal and visceral understanding of the connections between the skills — and of how, by learning to work within the community of the Tribe, you and your fellow Hunter-Gatherers will all become more than the sum of your parts.
Our focus will be on building a solid ability in and fundamental understanding of each skill. By coming to know a skill from the ground up you will discover how to transfer your existing knowledge in one skill to an entirely new subject. A new way of looking at the Hunter-Gatherer's world will begin to emerge, and you will see how easy it can become to pull knowledge and pieces from many different areas and to bring them together into a whole new skill; a new and dynamic way of learning and understanding your connection with our Ancestors and the whole of Creation.
"Practical Primitive's Hunter-Gatherer
program gave me the confidence
(that I could not find in any other primitive
skills school) to know that,
if need be,
I could walk out my front door, march
into the bush,
and never have to look back."
— Nick K., aka "Big Nick" (2009
Tribe, NJ)
The World of the Hunter-Gatherer — The Purpose and Philosophy behind this Program
For most of our collective history our ancestors lived as Hunter-Gatherers, existing within the natural boundaries, patterns and balance of the earth. More than the skill and knowledge of that time has been lost to our modern selves; our very connection with the natural world around us has been severed, leaving many people feeling as though they are missing something very important in their lives. It is this connection that we strive to rebuild in the World of the Hunter-Gatherer.
Throughout the program we will approach the skills of our ancestors in a different way than you will find by taking regular classes. No one skill is learned in a vacuum — instead, each is woven into the next so that very soon you will see how basketry relates to shelter building, which relates to water, which relates to plants, which relates to traps, which relates to tracking, which relates to flintknapping, and so on and so on and so on. A large portion of this program focuses on becoming more familiar with the plant kingdom and our dependence on it. By the end of your time you will intimately know a minimum of thirty-five plants (but probably many, many more) and be able to prepare and use each one in multiple edible, medicinal and utilitarian ways.
By building this type of wholistic base of knowledge in the ancient skills you will be better prepared to face any challenge you may encounter, in any eco-system in the world. We will go deep into the principles that lie beneath each skill so that very soon you will come to realize that you do not need to know every design for every trap ever thought of — you will instinctively know the basis for the one you need to create for this situation, in this place, with these materials.
"This is the smallest notebook on my shelf but
I don't know how many times I will actually even look at it because I
"own" the knowledge of these skills now, in my head and my hands and my
heart.
And for that I can never thank you enough."
— Tracy E. (2010 Tribe, NJ)
At the end of this intensive process you will have the opportunity to test yourself against what you have learned in a week-long survival experience that is the culmination of our program. The purpose of this outing will not be to live a perfect, easy, comfortable week — although we hope you will! Rather, it will help you to look honestly at yourself and your skills, see where the knowledge has permeated your being and where you are still in want of a more thorough understanding and further practice. It is during this experience that you will discover how much has truly become a part of you…
The Earth will take care of those who take care of Her — if you are ready to begin doing your part to help take care of the Earth, if you are prepared to work hard, get your hands dirty, try, fail, try again, become frustrated, keep going, and discover the absolute joy that comes with finding your true place, your true purpose within the bounds of Creation, then this program is for you.
"It may seem
like a small thing, but through woodwork, stonework, pottery, netting,
twining, basketry, bonework,
and all the myriad skills developed in
order to produce quality items for daily survival,
you enter a new world
of ability AND awareness.
You also become bolder in taking on difficult or complex craft projects because
you can understand
how to get there from where you are!"
— Jon T. (2009 Tribe, TX)
Program FAQs
PROGRAM LOGISTICS
Q. How do I apply and when is the deadline?
A. You can apply for the Hunter-Gatherer
program online, or you can download
and print a PDF version of the application
to mail in. All applications must be received by midnight January 31, 2011
to be considered for this year's Tribe.
Q. How many people
do you accept into the Hunter-Gatherer program?
A. Each Hunter-Gatherer program
is limited to a maximum of 4 people. We
feel that this is the optimum number for the Tribe, providing a good combination
of a Tribal Community Experience together with enough one-on-one time and
personal time with the Instructors to produce the greatest overall learning
experience. This same dynamic can simply not be re-created in larger groups.
Q. Is there an age limit?
A. Yes, you must be at least 18 years
old to apply for the Hunter-Gatherer program. There is no upper age limit
and so long as you are physically able to complete the course-work and
participate in the outing we encourage you to apply!
Q. Where do the Hunter-Gatherer weekends take place?
A. The World
of the Hunter-Gatherer weekends all take place at our main Pracitcal Primitive location near
Great Meadows, NJ. Check out our Locations page for more detailed information
and directions.
Q. Do you ever offer the Hunter-Gatherer program anywhere else?
A. We also offer our World of the
Hunter-Gatherer program at our Texas location, though not every year.
This program runs slightly differently than it's New Jersey counterpart,
in that it begins in September and runs through May, with participants
meeting for a 3-day weekend every other month (September, November, January,
March & May), with the Survival Outing taking place in June. Check
out the website for more information on our Texas location.
"By far the Hunter-Gatherer program
was much more than I anticipated. Eddie must have put in
a lot of forethought
and planning for us to have been exposed to so much quality material.
I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to be a part of the program...
(it) not only gave me
skills I always longed for but ones I would never
have known about."
— Scott F. (2009 Tribe, TX)
ABOUT THE SCHEDULE / HUNTER-GATHERER WEEKEND INFO
Q. What is the schedule for the program?
A. Tribe members will gather for one 3-day
weekend each month for 6 months, beginning in March. (See
our Workshop Schedule for the proposed
Hunter-Gatherer weekends.) We will get started at 9am Friday morning and
finish up around 4pm Sunday afternoon. Each weekend will be filled with
intense instruction in new skills, an outline of the homework assignments
for the upcoming month, as well as a debrief of the homework and exercises
from the previous month. The
program culminates with a week-long Survival Outing in August.
Q. I really want to apply but have a conflict for one of the
weekends listed on the schedule. What can I do?
A. The first weekend of each month
is the standard time set aside for Hunter-Gatherer, however variations
can be made and the final dates will be based on the schedules of accepted
participants, and agreed upon by all.
"Being able
to think clearly and organize your priorities if the worst happens
is essential and you will be taught how to make these kinds of decisions
from your first Hunter-Gatherer weekend.
Plus, you'd be hard pressed
to find a more entertaining instructor in any course of any kind! "
— Jon T. (2009 Tribe, TX)
Q. What if I will definitely not be able to make one of the weekends
no matter when it is rescheduled? Should I still apply?
A. As a Hunter-Gatherer Tribe member you must commit
to attend every get-together weekend without fail. If you know that
you will be away for an extended period, or are unable to commit to
attending every one of the Hunter-Gatherer weekends it would be best
that you wait to apply until your schedule is more accomodating.
Q. Where can I stay during the weekend?
A. Participants will camp on-site
at Practical Primitive over the weekends. You may either bring a tent
or choose to stay in one of the shelters over nights. You will have full
access to facilities, and all meals will be provided over the course of
the weekend.
Q. I live far away & can not "commute". Do you
have a Residential option?
A. A limited number of Residential
spaces are available for the New Jersey program
for an additional fee. If you would like more information please e-mail
us for details. Alternatively, we live near a college town with many
reasonably-priced rooms for rent. We would be happy to provide you with
local information to check out this more private option.
"Anyone serious about survival skills who feel
paralyzed with the frustration caused by failure shoud consider taking
this course... Hunter-Gatherer is hands-on learning."
— Eric S. (2010 Tribe, NJ)
ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION
Q. How do I apply and when is the deadline?
A. You can apply for the Hunter-Gatherer
program online, or you can print a PDF version of the application to
mail in. All applications must be received by midnight
January 31, 2011 to
be considered for this year's Tribe.
Q. What sort of skills / experience do I need to have to apply?
A. There are no minimum or maximum skill-level
requirements for the Hunter-Gatherer program. Whether you are
a skilled outdoorsperson, someone who has taken a few classes over the
years, or one who has to this point been only an armchair enthusiast,
will make no difference when we are reviewing applications.
Q. Then what ARE you looking for in participants?
A. We are looking for people who want
to LEARN!!! This is not a "fill your notebook then leave it on the
shelf" type
of program. We are seeking Tribe-members who have a passion for learning
the ways of our ancestors and a real desire to discover how those skills
can be integrated into our modern world and passed on to others. If you
are dedicated, self-motivated, prepared to learn and always ready to try,
perhaps fail, and try again, then we hope you will apply today!
Q. How do you choose your Tribe members?
A. Participants will be chosen based on the answers in
their application, and our belief that they will be productive and accepting
members of the Tribe. We choose carefully to bring together a group we
believe will work well together and bring out the best in each other.
Q. Do I have to have taken a Practical Primitive workshop in
order to apply?
A. No, it is not mandatory to have attended a Practical
Primitive workshop in order to apply for the World
of the Hunter-Gatherer.
We have had several Tribe-members for whom Hunter-Gatherer was their first
Practical Primitive experience. However, due to the incredible importance
of the Power of the Tribe, 
preference may be given to applicants we have
had the opportunity to meet and get to know, whether through workshops,
attendance at our free Open Skills Nights,
at events, or through other means.
If we have never met but you submit
an excellent and compelling application that piques our interest we will
want to chat with you on the phone and, if the distance is feasible, ask
that you come to meet us in-person and possibly attend a "group" event
(such as an Open Skills Night) to help us get a better sense of how your
personality will "fit" with the other members of the Tribe.
Remember, you will be spending a week in the woods with your Tribe-mates
at the end of the program — we want you to like each other!
"It was an experience hard to put
into words —
eye-opening and amazing;
it changed my life."
— Apor M. (2009 Tribe, NJ)
ABOUT THE HUNTER-GATHERER PROGRAM
Q. What will be covered in the program? What sorts of skills will I learn?
A. Over the course
of your six months you will learn many more skills than there is space
to list here, but below are a few of the main highlights to give you
an idea:
- Build multiple shelter styles, both individual and group
- Identify, harvest, prepare and consume a MINIMUM of 35 different plants
- Become proficient with several different fire-by-friction methods, using both "cured" and "off-the-landscape" materials
- Discover how to find, process and use natural cordage for a multitude of purposes, including clothing
- Learn to hunt with throwing sticks, slings and atlatls, as well as primitive fishing methods
- Build and set a variety of different primitive-style traps using whatever materials you have at hand, and more importantly, how and where to place them for best effect
- Become proficient at building fires under all sorts of circumstances and in all weather conditions
- Develop a true understanding of how to use stone tools to accomplish almost any task
- Find, harvest and process your own clay, then make and fire your own clay pots for cooking, water, eating etc.
- Make several types of baskets, bags and containers of all different styles to suit all sorts of purposes, including a backpack, fire bag, gathering basket, quiver and more.
- Understand the Nature of the Skills and the Power of the Tribe in a way that brings you closer to your tribe-mates, the skills you practice and the earth itself.
- ... and much, much more!
"I didn't read about clay from a chalkboard. I
collected it from the ground, processed it, formed it
into tools and bowls
and fired it in my friend's backyard... When I was able to get fire with
a
hand drill on my first day I know he had a gift as a teacher.
Eddie
lays things out simply, is able to laugh with your struggles, and gets
you to a new level.
If you want to be light years ahead of your current
skill level, spend the next six months in this program!"
— David B. (2008 Tribe, NJ)
Q. Will I learn to make bows and hunt in this program?
A. You will make
"survival" bows of an effective draw-weight, but the Hunter-Gatherer
program focuses more on the "target of opportunity" styles
of hunting, such as traps, throwing sticks, slings, nets etc.
These types of "always on the lookout" hunting are
highly efficient way of procuring game, and cause you to really ramp
up your levels of awareness in terms of what is moving, where, how long
ago, and how can to put it in your cooking pot!
Six months simply isn't time to cover everything effectively, so
we have split bow-making and traditional hunting off into their own Intensive
Skills Programs to give them the time and energy they deserve. The
World of the Bow focuses
exclusively on making beautiful, well-tuned self bows, and the Ultimate
Hunter program
is geared solely toward learning and understanding animal movement, tracking,
trailing and the tennents of how to be successful in a "spot and
stalk"
hunt. If that is your interest be sure to check them out!
Q. What do you mean by "Homework"? Will I have to write
essays or something?
A. No written assignments, we promise! The World
of the Hunter-Gatherer is a hands-on, project-based program in which
you will make all of your own tools and equipment. Each weekend we
will cover the basics of certain skills and will often begin a project
together. You will then be given "homework projects" to
complete on your own within a given time frame. Examples of homework
projects include finishing your Pack Basket, constructing a Fire
Kit, collecting, harvesting and processing clay, making & firing
clay pots, making cordage, understanding local stone
sources, identifying, collecting and preparing edible and medicinal
plants, and much more!
Q. I am really busy with family/work/life etc. Does it matter
if I won't have time to do all the homework projects?
A. If you are accepted into the Hunter-Gatherer Tribe
we require that you work diligently to do your
best to complete all of the homework assignments each month. We realize
that life gets busy, but fully expect that you will make this program
a priority in your life for those six months. This is a hands-on, project-based
program and each month builds on the skills and projects of the last.
If you fall behind it will affect not just you, but the entire group.
Remember, as part of the Tribe you are not only working to better your
own skills, but to be a productive and contributing member of the community!
If you are unable to devote time and energy to working and practicing
your skills on a regular basis it would be best if you waited to apply
until your schedule is more accomodating.
"This program builds a strong foundation
in a much wider range of essential and useful skills than you could ever
imagine! Furthermore, the overall attitudes Eddie & Julie engender in
their students through this course wil be a blessing to your life in ways
that you will not at first see."
— Jon T. (2009 Tribe, TX)
HUNTER-GATHERER TUITION & ADDITIONAL PROGRAM BENEFITS
Q. How much is the tuition for the Hunter-Gatherer
program?
A. The six-month World of the Hunter-Gatherer
program tuition runs at $3800, which includes all of the project
supplies and materials, all of your meals during the Hunter-Gatherer weekends,
the option to schedule up to 8 hours of one-on-one Mentoring time each
month, and the option to participate in any 1, 2, or 3-day Practical Primitive
workshop that takes place during the course of your program at no additional
cost.
Q. Is there an application fee?
A. No, there is no application fee
for any of our Intensive Skills Programs. If you are accepted into the
Tribe we require a $1000 deposit to secure your place in the program,
with the balance of the tuition due on or before the first day.
Q. What is included in my tuition?
A. Your program tuition includes all of the supplies
and materials for your projects, as well as all of your meals during
the Hunter-Gatherer weekends. Plus, you will also have the option to
schedule up to eight hours of individual mentoring each
month to gain additional instruction in or assistance with skills learned
and projects assigned during the Hunter-Gatherer program, and
the option to participate in any 1, 2, or 3-day Practical Primitive
workshop that
takes place during the course of your program —
a $4200 value at
no additional cost to you!
Q. Are there any "Materials" fees on top
of the tuition?
A. No, there are not any additional fees; we provide
the materials for your Hunter-Gatherer projects at no
extra charge. We do give you a list of reference books you will need
to purchase for your "skills library", as well as a few inexpensive
tools you will require to complete your homework projects, however these
additional costs are minimal. Feel free to contact
us for more specific details.
Q. Do you offer any scholarships or tuition assistance?
A. We do not currently provide tuition
assistance or work-study programs for the Hunter-Gatherer Intensive Skills
Program, however requests for extended payment
plans may be considered on an individual basis. (For tuition assistance
with our regular workshops you may wish to consider applying for our Internship program.
Intern hours may not be used toward Intensive Skills Programs.)
"I consider the time I spent with the Hunter-Gatherer
program
to be the best money and time I've ever spent on
survival skills.
I had learned everything in "theory"
before working with Eddie.
After those six month I had actually gotten my hands dirty."
— David B. (2008 Tribe, NJ)
ABOUT THE "SURVIVAL OUTING"
Q. Where will the Survival Outing take place?
A. The location for the week-long Survival
Outing will be decided upon during the course of the program. We strive
to take the Tribe to an area which is relatively unfamiliar
in order to provide a better testing ground for the skills learned
over the previous six months. Previous New Jersey Tribes have had their
Outings in southern Pennsylvania and in the Adirondack mountains.
Q. What can you tell me about the Outing? That whole
idea scares me!
A. Don't worry about it! The Hunter-Gatherer Survival
Outing is NOT meant to be some sort "endurance test". It is designed as
a way for you to test your skills in a new and different environment under
more realistic circumstances. You can take with you anything you make during
the program, including baskets, clay pots, bowls & spoons, trap parts,
throwing sticks, fire kits, and even a certain amount of dried food. If
you require a special pillow, or want to take your sleeping bag, or have
a knife or hatchet along for "back up" that is all just fine. The purpose
of the Outing is for you to gain a better understanding of where your skills
strengths and weaknesses actually lie under primitive circumstances —
to discover for yourself what you really KNOW, and what you only thought
you knew. :-) So if
that is the only thing keeping you from applying for the H-G program then
by all means get started on your application today!
If you are thinking of taking this course,
please understand that my H-G course ended 8 months ago and I am nowhere
near finished unpacking and exploring all of the lessons that this course
had to offer.
I highly reccomend this course to anyone, period. But if
you are concerned with enhancing your skill at the survival arts,
or have an interest in primitive culture, this is a can't miss situation
for you!"
— Jon T. (2009 Tribe, TX)
Check out photos of the 2008
Survival Outing at our Pennsylvania camp,
and the 2009 Survival Outing in the Adirondacks.
Hunter-Gatherer
New Jersey
Program Length: 6
Months
Upcoming Session: March – August,
2011
Location: Practical
Primitive, Great Meadows, NJ
Tuition: $3800 ($1000
deposit due upon acceptance.)
Application Deadline: January
31, 2011
Apply: ONLINE or BY
MAIL
The Application Deadline
for the 2011 NEW JERSEY TRIBE has now passed.
Please check back in November for information on the 2012 Tribe.
Click Here to Apply Online
OR
Print off your Application to Mail in
Applications
must be filled out in their entirety and received by MIDNIGHT JANUARY
31, 2011.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you have any questions about the program feel free to give us a call,
or send an e-mail to info@practicalprimitive.com.
Printable Application Form
If you would prefer to mail in your application you
may download
a printable copy here. (This
is a PDF file. Acrobat Reader is required.) Simply click on the "Print" icon
at the top left of the form, or on Save to save a copy to your computer for printing
at a later time.
Please mail your completed application to:
Intensive Skills Studies Program
Practical Primitive
14 Sussex Lane
Great Meadows, NJ 07838
(To apply online click here.)