The Path of the Hand Drill

An ancestral practice
that connects us all.

Eight chapters in eight months…

Over 8 months, you and your cohort will develop your skills in these ancestral techniques:

  • The hand drill
    Traditional pyrotechnology and the hominid craft of friction fire that shaped human evolution and society.

  • Bird Language
    The differentiation and identification of alarms, calls, and songs produced by birds in order to expand and understand your perceived surroundings.

  • Storytelling
    Utilizing the unique human ability of storytelling to share your experiences and understandings as a potent learning method.

  • Wildlife tracking

    Theorized to be hominids earliest practice of science, wildlife tracking allows you to bypass the barrier of time and better understand an ecological community.

Nature is the teacher,
we are the interpreters.

It begins with a Mentor…

From the thousands of native species in the Sonoran Desert, a diverse group will guide your ecological learning.

Beginning with a plant mentor, you will learn from their bird, insect, reptile, amphibian, and mammalian community as a representative from each group will be your mentor.

Return to natural rhythms…

Learn outdoors surrounded by Nature and experience the benefits of a phenological education.

Through rain and shine, steep trails and deep canyons, cold winds and hot days - you will adventure into wild places and root into familiar spaces.

Become an Ethical Naturalist…

Learn respectful methods and compassionate practices that will cultivate your curiosity, capability, and comfort in Nature.

Utilizing a kaleidoscopic approach, you will develop an inclusive understanding of the intersectionality of Nature.

Course Details - 2024 - 2025

Nourish your roots,
grow your canopy.

Who…

  • - You.

  • - The Path of the Hand Drill is for anyone who desires to deepen their connection to Nature.

  • - Teachers, students, beginners, masters, inside people, outside people.

  • - Those who are seeking a positive, one of a kind, transformative experience.

  • - Anyone who desires to develop ancestral connections.

Where…

  • Based out of Tucson Arizona, field days explore the desert, canyon, mountain, and riparian environments that embody the Sonoran Desert.

  • From your computer, join your cohort to utilize digital learning methods, welcome distant guest speakers, and integrate your learning into your day-to-day life.

When…

  • Sundays, October 5th, 2024 - May 24th, 2025

  • Field days and virtual meetings alternate each week.

  • Field days are 8 hours long, from 8am - 3pm

  • Virtual events are 3 hours long, from 2pm - 5pm

How…

  • - Send your application letter via email to
    trevenhooker@mindfulsoles.com.

  • - Scholarships are available.

  • - Receive a detailed syllabus complete with dates and info.

  • - Gather your supplies, and begin on the path.