Introduction to Wild Plant First Aid for Hikers and Backpackers: Spring Edition
Our ancestral roots in the dirt and the plants growing around us are ancient beyond record. Erosion, erasure, epistemicide, modern life, and concrete jungles combine to sever those bonds. The result: our feeling disconnected from the lands and waters that hold us.
If you wanna shake up sleepy ancestral curiosity and feel more oneness with nature, sign up.
We’ll share snacks and knowledge about the abundant plants, trees, and lichens across the Pacific Northwest that you can ethically harvest for health and healing, and share book resources that can help you continue discovering, learning, and sharing.
During this humble path towards reconnection, we’ll meander through the park exploring leaves, smell sap, and discover ways the forest provides, organically growing a closer relationship with nature and the natural world.
We’ll talk about the basics of identifying healing plants, spotting toxic look-alikes, harvesting with deep respect for the ecosystem, and reciprocity. It’s fun learning about natural remedies for the typical bumps, scrapes, and ailments that occur while hiking and backpacking.
Topics to look forward to:
- Poultices for infections, sprains, and bruises
- Antibacterial wound washes
- Herbal sprain remedies
- Finding plants that naturally keep insects away
- Soothing sunburns and dry skin with plant medicine
- Antifungal soaks straight from the forest
- Using plants for pain and inflammation 101
- Practicing safe knife handling
Brings & materials:
- A small day pack to carry your lunch, drink, and items
- Comfortable outdoor shoes for moving around the park
- Pen and paper (or your phone) for taking notes
- Make sure you’re bringing plenty of water to drink, plus a little extra to use during the workshop
- Everyone’s receiving a 100% cotton bandana from us
- If you don’t already own a good, sharp, safe knife that holsters in a sheath, you’ve got the option to add a Morakniv Companion SRT (S) during registration. It’s a nice Swedish knife, and we’ll hand it to you at the workshop
Details:
- Date: April 25, 2026
- Time: 11am to 4pm
- Location: Tolt-MacDonald Park (parking and meeting logistics provided by email)
- Contribution: $20 per person
- Age: 15+ (youth must come accompanied by an adult who’s 21+)
- Intimate Group Size: 15 people
- Register by: April 15
- Leadership team: Lindsay Huettman and Denice Rochelle
If you can’t participate, but still want to support us, you can always donate to The Bronze Chapter.