Anake Outdoor School
2009-10 Student Biographies

Here are the biographies of many of our incoming students. We hope you enjoy getting to know the new Anake students!

Judy Osman - CALIFORNIA

I grew up in the coastal desert that is southern California. My exposure to nature awareness was very surface as a child as my parents were not very "nature aware." In the last few years I have been to Nature Skills, Art of Mentoring, and worked on Kamana...and that is the extent of my experience with this... until now. I am excited to be part of the community that will soon be created in this program. The natural world (or wilderness if you will) is my newest passion second to birth (which is of course all part of nature in itself). I am a doula and perinatal educator and hope that the awareness I gain from Anake will not only help me be a great steward of this earth but also of the families I work with in creating harmony, peace, and joy.

Brian Mertins - NOVA SCOTIA

I’m looking forward to discovering what will happen in the coming year. After reading many books, and listening to tapes and spending time practicing the nature routines I really feel there’s something important to learn here. My learning background includes studying how linguistics and sensory awareness work to shape human perceptions, beliefs and quality of life. So I’m very curious to explore the unique world view of a ‘native mind’ and how the words used, the stories told, and the questions applied to teaching this stuff invisibly bring a person into that ‘native space.’ I can’t imagine anything I’d rather be doing for the next year than joining the Wilderness Awareness community.

Liz Crain - VERMONT

As a child, I spent many a happy afternoon playing in the red clay earth around my home in Oklahoma. I caught horned toads, leopard frogs, catfish, and many other critters with my curious hands. In the summers, I wandered the creek behind my grandparent's home until a loud whistle called me in for the night. Being outside has always fed something within my spirit. In college, I lived in a community of under 300 people in the woods of southern Vermont. There I spent a lot of time leading outdoor orientation trips and after graduating, began teaching for the Vermont Wilderness School. Sharing my passion for the natural wold with others builds awareness and strong community which I thrive in happily. After attending The Art Of Mentoring with Jon Young in October, 2008, I knew The Wilderness Awareness School would be the next stop in my journey as a humanist/naturalist.

Bob Holzman - NEW YORK

Ever since I can remember, I have had a strong connection to the Native American way of life, both physical and spiritual. At times I felt like I was a Native American who had lost his home and the ways of his people. Throughout my childhood, I was an enthusiastic student of outdoor skills as a dedicated Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Explorer. I was fortunate to have parents who brought me into mountains and woods to hike, backpack, fish, horseback ride, and ski. I started rock climbing at 18 and hunting at 33. Through my early twenties I shared my passion for climbing and nature with others as a professional climbing guide for three years.

Carrie Steensrud - GEORGIA

I have always wanted to find a fulfilling way of living, and have been primarily exposed to city life, corporate environments, busy toiling and rushing to and fro, and yet all the while always feeling like my soul was starving. I've always wanted something different for my life's path. A way of life that made sense to me and felt like I was actually LIVING versus just noticing time flying by without a sense of inner richness to show for it.

I love photography, all types of art, sketching, cloud watching, rushing water, epiphanies, enlightening concepts, games of all kinds, brain boosters, all animals and creatures, a peaceful, relaxed life. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, and worked in the rushing city world for quite a few years not feeling fulfilled by it, and am on a passionate mission to become self-reliant, resourceful, contributing, make amazing connections with new friends at school, learn a ton, join in a grounded culture, and live to just have fun and grow. I plan to move into a field of work that branches from this schooling-camp instructor/mentor, helping animals, preservation, horticulture/permaculture and plan for my own garden, and who knows what else! :)

I have all these aspirations and cannot wait to begin this journey, yet I am also really new at all of this. Have not camped since I was a kid and that was all about the S'Mores rather than skills training. :) Basically, I'm starting at ground zero. With great passion though. We all start there at some point right? I just know I'm on the right path and look forward to the challenges and joys ahead.

Paul Bernhard - VIRGINIA

My family is very important in my life. I started fishing at a young age. My father, sister and I would go together. My father would catch some, Tiffany would catch a LOT and I would be lucky to even get a bite. I read stories those summers, My Side of the Mountain, books that told me I could change so the fish wouldn't be scared off by me. The technique was hard to figure. Alternately swimming in the lake or playing in the woods the summers were a feast for my senses, though there was always more out there to figure, some way to understand more. The winters were X-country skiing 3k, 5k, 10k or just flowing along trails until it was time to go. We lived in Hau'den'o'saunee country then, but I never saw any indians.

We moved south when I was eleven to a place west of Independence Hall, close to a place called Lenape, where our country was formed by the signing of the Constitution. I played lacrosse the Iroquois game all thru high school. There were people of much more widely varied backgrounds around Philadelphia, the world was getting bigger. I joined the Navy later and saw the Pacific ocean for the first time, sailed the south China sea and the Indian ocean. I've been in Richmond, Virginia in more recent times. I have been a writing and physical arts enthusiast most of my life. My work most recently in trade has been as a cook or life guard (i'm a good swimmer). I came to this road by a meandering way with streams trickling throughout, what I like leads me to where I walk, really though it is beyond my understanding. Thanks for using your eyes to walk with me a few steps.

Annie Thoe - WASHINGTON

I love the natural world. Anything outdoors is fun for me- just lying on the grass, looking at the trees, clouds, tracking, hiking, swimming in alpine lakes or any water, feeling the wind on my skin, listening to the birds. Everything I am and know comes from this source and I'm so excited to be immersing myself in this program with other lovers of nature. In this year ahead, I hope to become more comfortable and balanced in uncomfortable situations, more grounded, keener in my observations, wiser, stronger, lighter, and apply my creativity and talents to their fullest.

My connections come from a few places- Oakland, Waco, Connecticut, Iowa, and Minnesota and have been in the Seattle area since 1983. I've taken some courses with Tom Brown in the 90's and started here with Kamana about 7 years ago. I've been a bodyworker and teacher of bodywork for a long time in Seattle. I've also been active on the Wilderness Awareness School Board of Directors for the past 4 years. I look forward to connecting with everyone. A Ho!

Randall Westfall - ILLINOIS

Every so often, life presents moments where you are suddenly aware of the pseudo-life that you have been living and you long to unearth what's been lost... I had such a moment two years ago when I found myself in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey at Tracker School. A year prior to that, I walked away from what I thought was going to be my life's vocation: Pastoral Ministry in the church. But after 5 years of being a minister, it became so empty to me. It was during that time that I began to long for what made me come alive, a reconnection to my childhood nature experiences. My best memories growing up in Ohio were of me and my friends outside; where we did everything: hide & seek, building forts, catching fish, frogs and snakes and so much more! While at Tracker School I reclaimed what I'd lost... the boy I was 20 years ago.

Since then I have reawakened my passion for living as a "native." I've taught wilderness survival classes, led outdoor education programs at a local nature preserve and directed wilderness camps at church camp. Happily married for 4 years to my college sweetheart Brenda (who is staying back in Illinois while I'm at Anake), my hobbies and interests are: playing guitar/mandolin/djembe drums, tracking, songwriting, rites of passage/initiation, canoeing, woodworking and folklore.

I'm ready to start the next journey and go deeper at Anake now that I've had affirmation that I'm pursuing my true vocational path: to lead people back into the wild to reconnect to the Earth, our souls, each other and the Creator.

Frankie Allen - WASHINGTON

The Northwest has been my home since I took my first tentative steps. Although I have lived and worked in Hawaii and Alaska (as a naturalist), Washington always calls me home. My love of travel has taken me to over a dozen countries on four continents. My love of learning has earned me a BA in Communications and a Master in Teaching. Currently I teach in traditional classroom settings.

I am excited that for the next nine months I will immerse myself in nature with others who equally value the natural world. Following this program, I hope to combine my love of education and the outdoors to educate and inspire others. Until then, I will continue to enjoy a plethora of sports (sea kayaking, surfing, backpacking, running, cross-country skiing, archery, yoga, rock climbing) with spending time with my two wonderful children and Canadian boyfriend. I expect it will be a busy yet immensely rewarding year.

Geoffrey Timblin - COLORADO

I grew up the great Northwest. At an early age my dad got me very interested about nature. Camping and fishing was the catalyst for my enjoyment with nature. As life kept flowing by I stopped paying much attention for the natural world and focused instead on finishing school and finding a job. Midway through my second year of college I hit a wall. Finding a career that would provide me with enjoyment as well as an adequate paycheck, felt impossible. After putting college on hold I moved to Colorado and decided to learn more about nature and myself. I ended up finding the woman of my dreams as well as my passion to learn more about nature and wanting to teach others as well. I am incredibly blessed that I get to experience more about the world and the people in it, and I strive to make even the hardest of times positive in some way.

Matt McKinney- ILLINOIS

My name is Matthew McKinney from the suburbs of Chicago. I've been a songwriter and artist for years. I get obsessive with concepts. I took the last year and a half to become enamoured of post-modernism, hyper-reality, and mythology. My life often feels like a comic book. When I didn't finish art school, living in a city notorious for its decadence and corruption, I began having doubts that I could learn or live as a proficient human being in a world that increasingly thirsts for cultural soldiers to pick up the slack. I've been living in a basement in Chicago called Dr. Who's Werehouse of Ideas where we do concerts and poetry workshops.

At a time in my life of grave confusion, I stumbled upon Anake Wilderness Awareness. My parents do not enjoy nature; in fact, my father thinks I'm putting myself into some kind of prison. This sort of training I'm sure is just what I need to heighten my focus, ambition, and strength to become a progressive part of the new world order. I've never been camping, but I grew up from a lineage heavily steeped in both athletics and the arts. I've practiced yoga for the past year and a half. I'm very excited to become a naturalist and to practice the art of tracking.

Eric Himelfarb - OREGON

I have sensed the light of the world change drastically at least twice that I am aware. After the first time, I was raised in a small town in Maryland just over the Washington, D.C. border surrounded by caring parents and sports obsessed friends. The second shift happened several years ago at the end of my last year of college in Ohio. A book by Tom Brown Jr. guided me to connect to nature in a way that felt transformative and permanent. The connection was a gift that led me to Portland, Oregon where my desire to connect to the source, especially with anyone who shows interest, has deepened and grown. I am excited that the opportunity to learn and connect with the Anake community for ten months will allow in a lot more light.

Eric Lipseir - MASSACHUSETTS

I am from Massachusetts, and was recently living in Humboldt county CA for 6 months or so. While I was in California, I discovered the great outdoors (I have the redwoods to thank for that, along with Orick). I was in boyscouts as a kid, but it never really interested me. I wanted to go out and explore the woods, climb mountains, explore caves, learn to be a hermit...even though i didn't realize it at the time, I wanted to learn how to wander. I really think this program will help me to learn a lot about, well, a lot. I'm not big on the whole technological age; I'd rather be outside enjoying a peaceful afternoon or a dreary rainy night than worrying about which stocks to follow or where the money is these days.

Once I figured out I could learn the skills of the native and use it towards a career, well there was little stopping me from starting down that road of education. I enjoy folklore, conversation, nightime, daytime, wet dogs, anything that people can share and rejoice in (expect maybe the wet dogs). I'm almost giddy with anticipation to start the program. I'm anxiously looking forward to meeting my classmates and teachers, as well as the people of Duvall.