30 Dec Alyssa Oddi
In past gatherings, I’ve shared fiber art skills as well as a creativity workshop, which have been extensions of my artistic and spiritual practices—I have trained in macrame, weaving, crochet, pottery, and natural dyeing techniques like indigo resist and cyanotype prints. This year, I am excited to share the wilderness skills and experiences I’ve gained after years of professionally guiding throughout the Pacific Northwest.
My wilderness mentorship began in the Idaho Panhandle, Montana Rockies, and the Cascades in Washington. After gaining backpacking skills and my Wilderness First Responder certification, I spent a season guiding sea kayaking expeditions in the San Juan Islands where I learned open water charting. I then worked for over a year in the Oregon Badlands as a wilderness instructor for a program that focused on skills like bow drill fires, and hiked exclusively off-trail using a map and compass.
I’ve felt overwhelming joy being in wild spaces since childhood. As an outdoor educator, I made it my first intention to connect my students and mentors with the land as best as I could—sometimes reading myths from people who tended the places we were navigating, or sharing my love of plant relations, ceremony, and skill-building. I feel honored for the ways I have been able to mentor others in outdoor spaces, and hope to empower our community.
Alyssa Oddi and Beth Capra-Smith will be sharing Wilderness Navigation, Shelters, and First Aid.
