Vilda FAMILY & Adult Programs

Vilda is not just for kids. Nature connection is great for all ages. The skills we teach are useful and fun. Knowing basic earth skills such as fire making, wild foods and shelter building creates a sense of belonging and confidence.

Our programs also build community and friendships with others who enjoy learning about our natural environment. Unlike more academic courses, our programs are active, hands on and place-based. Many of these programs are family friendly, just check the age limit for the one you are interested in. Come learn and play with us!

Available Family & Adult Programs

When: 10am-12:30pm, Sun, Dec 7, 2025
Location: Fairfax (Open space 10 minutes from downtown)
Who: Adults / Teenagers welcome with adult

Tuition: $50

Have you ever wondered if you could survive out in the wilderness if need be? Come learn the basic concepts and priorities of how to subsist in the wild. We will cover how to make a simple shelter, find water on the landscape and other survival basics.

*Please register each attendee

When: 10am-12:30pm, Sun, Jan 4, 2026
Location: Fairfax (Open space 10 minutes from downtown)
Who: All Ages / Children welcome with Adult (but this class is geared for adults)

Tuition: $35

Come learn about local mushrooms with us on a Sunday stroll. We will cover:

• Hazards of mushrooms

• What a mushroom is

• Identification of common types

• Local common edible mushrooms and where you might find them

• Bonus: amazing mushroom facts!

*Please register each attendee

When: 1pm-3pm, Sun, Jan 11, 2026
Location: Stafford Lake, Novato
Who: All Ages / Children under 13 with Adult

Tuition: $50

Come learn the basics of archery from safety to form in a fun, outdoor environment. Our certified instructors will help you develop your skills and confidence on the range. This basic class is appropriate for beginners as well as those who haven't picked up the bow in a while.

*Please register each attendee

When: 1pm-3pm, Sun, Feb 1, 2026
Location: Fairfax (Open space 10 minutes from downtown)
Who: All Ages / Children welcome with Adult (but this class is geared for adults)

Tuition: $35

Come learn how to see more animals by discovering their tracks and sign. We will learn to identify common tracks and how to find places where animals might be more active. This class is suitable for anyone who enjoys seeing local wildlife. Children are welcome with an adult but the class is mostly geared for adults. Please leave pets at home.

We will learn about:

• Common tracks and sign in the oak woodlands

• How to notice tracks and sign

• What questions to ask while tracking

• How to move in the forest in a way that allows us to see more

• Local wildlife

*Please register each attendee

When: 12pm-2pm, Sun, Feb 1, 2026
Location: Donner State Park
Who: All Ages / Children under 16 welcome with Adult

Tuition: $35

Come look for animals in the snow. This is a fun way to learn about the animals that live in Tahoe/Truckee in the winter. Snow is one of the easiest substrates to track in because you can see details so well. This easy hike/snowshoe is a great activity for the whole family but also suitable for adults without children. Please do leave your pets at home.

This naturalist-led class will include:

• Tips for finding animals in the forest

• Identifying common tracks

• Learning about some common animals of the region

*Please register each attendee

When: 1pm-3pm, Sat, Feb 7, 2026
Location: Donner State Park
Who: All Ages / Children under 16 with Adult

Tuition: $20

Do you know how to make a fire?

What about a fire outdoors in the snow?

Come learn how to use materials you can find rather than lighter fluid and enjoy an outdoor fire. This is a unique and fun class to do with your family or friends to enjoy the mountains.

This class includes:

• Tinder, kindling and firewood types

• Fire making technique

• Fire safety 

Marshmallows and hot cocoa included :)

*Please register each attendee

When: 1pm-4pm, Sun, Feb 15, 2026
Location: China Camp State Park
Who: Adults

Tuition: $50

Come light your (or someone else's) fire.

Find out how to build a fire with only materials from nature. No lighter fluid or even lighter required. An empowering, useful and even romantic skill. Hey, it really is true that if you rub two sticks together you can make a fire!

This class covers:

• What to use for tinder, kindling, and wood and what those things mean

• Basics of how to make a bow or hand drill fire

• What local woods to use to make your own kit

• How to tend and build fire safely and considerately

This could be a fun way to celebrate valentine's day weekend with someone special or come alone and meet others who are also interested in wilderness skills.

This time this class is for adults only. Children can learn these skills in our school break camps.

*Please register each attendee

When: 1pm-3pm, Sun, Feb 22, 2026
Location: Downtown Petaluma Park
Who: All Ages / Children under 13 with Adult

Tuition: $50

Come learn the basics of archery from safety to form in a fun, outdoor environment. Our certified instructors will help you develop your skills and confidence on the range. This basic class is appropriate for beginners as well as those who haven't picked up the bow in a while.

*Please register each attendee

When: 6pm-7:30pm, Thurs, Feb 26, 2025
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Who: Adults (anyone ages 18 and up)

Tuition: $20

• Is there a child in your life who challenges you?

• Are you tired of being the "bad cop"?

• Do you want to have more joy and ease as a parent or educator?

• The Nurtured Heart Approach™ (NHA) can help.

Join Vilda executive director and certified Nurtured Heart Approach trainer, Mia Andler, as she introduces the approach that Vilda uses for group management and building kids confidence. Since we have started using this technique we have found we can meet more of a variety of kids needs and see great results in our programs. 

The Nurtured Heart Approach is more than just a parenting or educator behavior management strategy. It is a philosophy for creating healthy relationships with the people in your life. Originally created by Howard Glasser in 1992, NHA is being successfully implemented through families, classrooms, foster care, health care professionals, social workers and criminal justice organizations that are seeking successful, early intervention techniques.

The Nurtured Heart Approach consists of a set of strategies that assists children in further developing their self-regulation and has been found effective with children of all ages. It focuses on transforming the way children perceive themselves, their caregivers and the world around them. Children learn to understand that they will receive endless amounts of praise, energy, recognition and reward through the positive behavior they display and this supports children to build a positive portfolio of themselves.

*Please register each attendee

When: 1pm-4pm, Sun, Mar 1, 2026
Location: China Camp State Park
Who: All Ages / Children under 13 with Adult

Tuition: $50

Back in the day almost everyone had to know how to carve. Now almost everyone needs to know how to type instead. Some wilderness skills are not so common anymore but that doesn't mean we should forget them. We have noticed that many adults could use our knife classes as well.

This class is for both children and adults. We will learn how to use a knife safely to carve wood. This unique class allows parents to learn carving technique with their children. You can then either use these skills to help your child carve at home or carve with your child. If you already know how to carve, learning some techniques and projects to carve with children can still be very helpful.

This class will include:

• Safe knife use guidelines

• Beginner technique

• Project ideas

Children can use this class to start becoming knife certified in our programs and earn that badge. Appropriate knives will be for sale at the class for an affordable price.

*Please register each attendee

When: 10am-12pm, Sun, Mar 1, 2026
Location: Marinwood
Who: All Ages / Children under 13 with Adult

Tuition: $30

Join Vilda's Executive Director and author of "The Bay Area Forager" and "The Sierra Forager" for a spring wild edibles class. This two hour leisurely walk will point out edible plants that are in season and cover safety and concepts of foraging. The walk is suitable for all ages, but geared for adults. Please leave pets at home.

*Please register each attendee

When: 9am-12pm, Sun, Mar 8, 2025
Location: Helen Putnam Park, Petaluma
Who: Who: Adults & Teens 13+

Tuition: $50

Did you know birds are the news network of the forest? There is much more to noticing birds than just identifying their species. Join us for an introduction to bird communication and behavior! Deepen your relationship with birds and find new enjoyment in your nature walks. Be in tune with the subtle communication of the birds and be able to know so much more about what is happening in the forest around you. Practicing this type of outwardly nature meditation has been proven to have mental and physical health benefits and is great stress relief in the hustle bustle of the world. 

This class will include:

• 5 voices of the birds

• Explanation of common alarm patterns

• A bird sit practice

• Deeper knowledge of 5 common song birds

This class is most appropriate for adults and ages 13 and up. Younger children who are particularly interested in birds or like spending time quietly in nature may be given an exception. It is also very appropriate for older adults.

*Please register each attendee

When: 10am-12pm, Sun, Mar 15, 2026
Location: Fairfax (Open space 10 minutes from downtown)
Who: All Ages / Children under 16 with Adult

Tuition: $5

Join like-minded people in looking for animal tracks and sign on a beautiful weekend hike. This is a club not a class. We will look for animals together and follow whatever trail catches our interest. We recommend that you have taken our tracking class or have some introduction to tracking before joining. This is a family friendly club and all levels are welcome, though please do leave any pets at home.

*Please register each attendee

When: 10am-12pm, Sun, Mar 15, 2026
Location: Donner State Park
Who: All Ages / Children under 16 welcome with Adult

Tuition: $10

Family friendly!

Come join us for a fun adventure to look for animals and get to know the forest around us. Join naturalist and teacher Mia Andler on a beautiful winter day. Whether visiting or local to the area, you will get to know this mountain landscape better. This leisurely walk filled with wonder and games is appropriate for all ages. 

*Please register each attendee

When: 1pm-3pm, Sun, Mar 22 2026
Location: San Anselmo
Who: All Ages / Children under 13 with Adult

Tuition: $50

Come learn the basics of archery from safety to form in a fun, outdoor environment. Our certified instructors will help you develop your skills and confidence on the range. This basic class is appropriate for beginners as well as those who haven't picked up the bow in a while.

*Please register each attendee

When: 11am - 2pm, Sun, Mar 29, 2026
Location: Fairfax (Open space 10 minutes from downtown)
Who: Adults / Kids 9 and Up with Adult (but this class is geared for adults)

Tuition: $60

Come learn to extract the colors and tannins from leaves, flowers, and barks to make botanical prints from plants on paper and silk. Participants will get to create and take home their own beautiful silk eco-printed scarf. Because the scarves will need to steam for at least an hour, we will have a lunch break from 12:30-1pm. Please bring lunch.

*Please register each attendee

When: 12pm-2pm, Sat, Apr 11 2026
Location: Truckee
Who: All Ages / Children under 13 with Adult

Tuition: $50

Come learn the basics of archery from safety to form in a fun, outdoor environment. Our certified instructors will help you develop your skills and confidence on the range. This basic class is appropriate for beginners as well as those who haven't picked up the bow in a while.

*Please register each attendee

When: 10am-12pm, Sun, Apr 12, 2026
Location: Fairfax (Open space 10 minutes from downtown)
Who: All Ages / Children under 16 with Adult

Tuition: $5

Join like-minded people in looking for animal tracks and sign on a beautiful weekend hike. This is a club not a class. We will look for animals together and follow whatever trail catches our interest. We recommend that you have taken our tracking class or have some introduction to tracking before joining. This is a family friendly club and all levels are welcome, though please do leave any pets at home.

*Please register each attendee

When: 1pm-3pm, Sun, Apr 19, 2026
Location: Stafford Lake, Novato
Who: All Ages / Children under 13 with Adult

Tuition: $50

Come learn the basics of archery from safety to form in a fun, outdoor environment. Our certified instructors will help you develop your skills and confidence on the range. This basic class is appropriate for beginners as well as those who haven't picked up the bow in a while.

*Please register each attendee

When: 10am-1pm, Sun, Apr 19, 2025
Location: Donner State Park
Who: Adults & Teens 13+

Tuition: $50

Did you know birds are the news network of the forest? There is much more to noticing birds than just identifying their species. Join us for an introduction to bird communication and behavior! Deepen your relationship with birds and find new enjoyment in your nature walks. Be in tune with the subtle communication of the birds and be able to know so much more about what is happening in the forest around you. Practicing this type of outwardly nature meditation has been proven to have mental and physical health benefits and is great stress relief in the hustle bustle of the world. 

This class will include:

• 5 voices of the birds

• Explanation of common alarm patterns

• A bird sit practice

• Deeper knowledge of 5 common song birds

This class is most appropriate for adults and ages 13 and up. Younger children who are particularly interested in birds or like spending time quietly in nature may be given an exception. It is also very appropriate for older adults.

*Please register each attendee

When: 10am-12pm, Sun, May 17, 2026
Location: Fairfax (Open space 10 minutes from downtown)
Who: All Ages / Children under 16 with Adult

Tuition: $5

Join like-minded people in looking for animal tracks and sign on a beautiful weekend hike. This is a club not a class. We will look for animals together and follow whatever trail catches our interest. We recommend that you have taken our tracking class or have some introduction to tracking before joining. All levels are welcome. This is a family friendly club and all levels are welcome, though please do leave any pets at home.

*Please register each attendee

When: 11am-1pm, Sun, May 30, 2026
Location: Legacy Trail, Truckee
Who: All Ages / Children under 16 with Adult

Tuition: $30

Join Vilda's Executive Director and author of "The Bay Area Forager" and "The Sierra Forager" for a spring wild edibles class. This two hour leisurely walk will point out edible plants that are in season and cover safety and concepts of foraging. The walk is suitable for all ages, but geared for adults. Please leave pets at home.

*Please register each attendee

Fall Bounty: Edible Acorns, Bay Nuts and More

When: TBA
Location: Marinwood
Who: All Ages / Children under 13 with Adult

Tuition: $35

Fall is the time to gather Acorns, bay nuts, madrone berries and more. We will look for these treasures on a hike and learn to identify them and the trees that bear them. 

This class will include:

• Learning to identify trees and nuts

• When, where and how to gather each?

• Processing acorns 

• Cooking with acorns and bay nuts

• Children are welcome to come to this class with their parents, but it will not be geared for children.

*Please register each attendee