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Trips & Classes

Welcome! Below you will find our current schedule of trips and classes.  Browse the descriptions below to find the right trip or workshop for you, then head on over to our Registration page to reserve your place.

We also invite you to join the Mountainsong Adventurers Facebook Group, a great place to meet kindred spirits and plan all sorts of adventures.  You can "like" our Facebook Page to see photo albums of past programs.

Click here to ask a question!

Welcome to Mountainsong Expeditions!
Offering programs in Archery, Survival Skills, The Sacred Hunt, and more!

Our in-person programs are suspended due to
COVID-19 precautions. 

​
Please join our mailing list (below) so you'll also be the first to hear when we re-open our regular classes. 

You can also check out our online program Way of the Weaver 
(Modules 1 & 2 have filled but Module 3 is open for enrollment).

We are now selling Leather Archery Quiver kits you can sew at home!

2020 Schedule

  • Street Medic Training (Feb 8-9, 2020 in East Montpelier, Vt.  All Genders, $95)
  • Archery, Intention, and Inspiration (Thursdays 5:30-7:00pm on Feb 13, 20, 27, March 5, 12, 26.  All Genders, sliding scale $120-240)
  • Traditional Ax Skills (Feb 23, 2020 in Worcester, Vt.  Marginalized Genders only*, $85)
  • Way of the Huntress: an 8-month hunting apprenticeship.  (Begins March 7, 2020 in Worcester, VT.  Marginalized Genders only*, $2,500)
  • Winter Tracking Class (March 8, 2020 in Worcester, VT.  All Genders, $85)
  • Running With Artemis: Archery and Trail Running for Mind, Body, and Spirit (Monday afternoons, Apr 20-Jun 8, 2020 in Worcester, VT.  Women & Trans Only.  $275 or pay with health insurance.)
  • Ireland:  Hiking the Burren Coast (May 9-15 in County Clare, Ireland.  Marginalized Genders only*.  $1850.)
  • Archery Intensive Weekend (May 23-24, 2020 in Western Massachusetts.  All Genders, $295.)
  • Mounted Archery Clinic (June 13-14, 2020 in East Calais, VT.  All Genders, $350.)
  • Maine Wilderness Canoe Trip (July 19-24, 2020 in Northern Maine.  Marginalized Genders only*, $1050)
  • Running With Artemis: Archery and Trail Running for Mind, Body, and Spirit (Monday afternoons, Sept 14-Oct 26, 2020 in Worcester, VT.  Women & Trans Only.  $275 or pay with health insurance.)
  • Evening Archery Lessons (Wednesdays 5:30-7pm, Sept 2-Oct 21, All Genders, $30 per lesson)
  • Wayfinder: Tools & Skills for Navigating the Forest (Sept 6, 2020 in Worcester, VT.  All Genders, $85)
  • The Huntress Intensive: Taking Aim in the Sacred Hunt (Sept 26-27, 2020, in Worcester, VT. Marginalized Genders only*, $295)
  • Hide Tanning Weekend (Oct 10-11, 2020 in Worcester, VT.  All Genders, $295.)
  • Mounted Archery Clinic (Oct 17-18, 2020 in East Calais, VT.  All Genders, $350.)
  • Huntress Intensive for All Genders (Oct 24-25, 2020, in Worcester, VT.  All Genders, $295.)
  • The Way of the Weaver 9-month spiritual skills training (Starts Oct 30, 2020 in Worcester, VT.  All Genders, sliding scale tuition.)
  • Huntress Expedition (Dec 6-12, 2020 guided hunt in Northern Virginia.  Marginalized Genders only*, $995.)
*Please Note:
  • About half our programs are open to all genders
  • About half our programs are for marginalized genders & sexual orientations:  women, non-binary people, trans folks, queer people, and those questioning their gender.
  • We are in the process of updating our gender categories from "women and trans" to the more inclusive "marginalized genders."  Apologies for the temporary inconsistency!

Trip & Class Descriptions:

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Street Medic Training
Feb 8-9, 2020, 9am-5pm, in East Montpelier, VT
Open to all genders, ages 16 & up (minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian)
Instructor: Murphy Robinson, Street Medic, Wilderness First Responder, and former Wilderness EMT.

Do you feel capable, knowledgeable, and empowered to medically care for your family & friends in times of need?  Do you have the skills to respond to civil unrest, police violence, and natural disasters?  In this comprehensive 16-hour Street Medic training we will learn to confidently assess and address injuries and illnesses from minor cuts & scrapes to major accidents and acute symptoms. We will learn to make a splint from improvised materials, prevent infection in an open wound, recognize when to seek advanced medical care, and build a first aid kit you can use to address common conditions.  We will also learn about supporting civil protest as part of a Street Medic team, addressing injuries from tear gas, rubber bullets, and tasers.  This training is based on the Street Medic values of radical consent culture, equal access to care, and grassroots community empowerment.
               Please bring a paper and pencil to take notes, and a bag lunch & snacks for each day.  This is an intensive class with lots of material to cover, so try to arrive well rested.  Instruction will include lots of hands-on scenarios and role-plays (the best way to learn!), some of which may take place outside, so bring warm clothes.  The cost of the class is $95 (a huge discount from our normal weekend class price, because we really want everyone to learn these skills!  If this cost is still out of reach for you, please get in touch with us directly.).  Register Here.

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Archery, Intention, and Inspiration
Thursdays 5:30-7:00pm on Feb 13, 20, 27, March 5, 12, 26
Held indoors at The Everything Space in Montpelier, VT
Instructor: Murphy Robinson

Shake off the stagnation of late winter by joining us for this indoor archery class! We'll use the spacious studio at The Everything Space to learn the form and technique of the archer, shooting padded arrows with easy-to-draw recurve bows. Archery is a perfect practice to bring quiet to focus to the mind, while maintaining an atmosphere of play and delight. We are going to have fun! Once we've mastered the basic form, we'll add in new challenges and partner exercises to continue out body's learning journey. No archery experience is necessary and all equipment is provided.

We'll open each class with a chance to check in about our physical and emotional state, laying down the burdens of the day so we are open to transformation. We'll also learn from myths about ancient archery deities such as the Greek Artemis and the Norse Skadhi. Throughout the course we will focus on what archery has to teach us about setting intentions and following through.

This six-class series is most powerful taken as a whole, but you can also join us in these classes on a drop-in basis. The full six-class series costs $120-240 (sliding scale), and drop-in students pay $30 per class.  Register Here.

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Traditional Ax Skills
February 23, 2020, in Worcester, VT
Taught by Murphy Robinson
              Get your "Lumber Jill" on at this skill-building class, where you will learn traditional ax skills with other adventurous souls.  This program is for Marginalized Genders only (women, trans folks, non-binary people, queer people, and those questioning their gender).  Murphy will teach the use and care of a traditional felling ax.  We will learn to:
  • Split firewood
  • Clear blow-down trees
  • Basic principles of felling small trees with an ax
  • How to de-limb a log and cut it to length
  • How to sharpen your ax with a file and stone
  • How to store your ax
  • How to re-handle a broken ax

Using an ax is all about ergonomics, and we'll teach you how to use this tool so it works with your body, not against it!  The cost of this workshop is $85, which includes a simple lunch.  You can bring your own ax or use one of ours.  Register Here.

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The Way of the Huntress
Eight weekend trainings, culminating in a guided deer hunt
Begins March 7, 2020 in Worcester, VT
Taught by Murphy Robinson

Are you ready to learn to hunt in a supportive community?  To learn the technical skills of the hunt while exploring your own spiritual connection to the land?  This program is for Marginalized Genders only (women, trans folks, non-binary people, queer people, and those questioning their gender).  Explore this 8-month program HERE.


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Wildlife Tracking Class
March 8, 2020, 10am-5pm in Worcester, VT
Taught by Gary Johnson

Tracking is one of the most ancient arts of humankind and one which challenges us to weave together both our skills of perception and imagination to read the every-changing story of our place and time.  When we track, we become explorers, detectives, and storytellers, following the thread of a mystery through fields and forests on a quest for its source.  Together, we will learn:
- Names and behaviors of common VT mammals we are likely to track
- Track identification (foot morphology and substrate reading)
- Gaits and animal movement patterns (with mimicry exercises)
- Track aging (time and weather effects)
- Trailing (following a set of tracks for as long as possible)
- Mental aides for tracking (3 perspectives, 5 questions)
The class includes a hot lunch.  Tuition is $85 per person and the class is open to all genders.  Register Here.

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Running With Artemis: Archery & Trail Running for Mind, Body, and Spirit
Spring Session:  Apr 20-Jun 8, 2020
Fall Session: Sept 14-Oct 26, 2020

Every Monday, 3:30-6pm, in Worcester, VT

Taught by Murphy Robinson and Colleen Kutin
              Read all the details HERE.

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Ireland on Foot: Megaliths, Wildflowers, and Traditional Craft on the Burren Coast
May 9-15 in County Clare, Ireland.  Marginalized Genders only.
Led by Murphy Robinson of Mountainsong Expeditions, Angie Nash of Panash Adventures, and Mollie McElroy
              
The Burren Coast in Ireland is home to one of the most diverse and prolific communities of wildflowers in the world.  This May we will hike this haunting landscape, visiting the ancient barrows, fairy forts, and sacred wells that speak of Ireland's ancient past.  We'll spend our evenings in a cozy cottage by a river, right on the Burren Way network of hiking trails.  Each day we'll explore a different part of this breathtaking region.  Angie Nash, a nature educator from Cornwall, will teach us about the wild and medicinal plants of the Irish landscape.  Let the magic of peak wildflower season in the Burren soak into your bones as you trace the ancient paths with your feet and sit by the ancient stones, letting the ancestral wisdom in this land speak to your heart.  Group size is limited to 8 people. Learn More Here.

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Archery Intensive Weekend
May 23-24, 2020 in Worcester, VT 
Taught by Murphy Robinson
              
Immerse yourself in the way of the bow: spend a weekend exploring the powerful and focused state that archery creates in the human mind.  Whether you want to learn archery for personal enjoyment, as a spiritual practice, or to work towards becoming a bow hunter, this two-day course will introduce you to the foundational skills of instinctive archery: Form, Range, and Focus.  Read more here.


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Mounted Archery Weekend
Spring Clinic: June 13-14, 2020 in East Calais, VT
Fall Clinic:  October 17-18, 2020 in East Calais, VT
Taught by Marcy Baer and Murphy Robinson
              This weekend is organized by Marcy Baer at Briar Hill Farm.  Marcy is an expert horse trainer and a breeder of Norwegian Fjiord Ponies and English Dale Ponies.  These strong and steady horses are hardy, intelligent, willing to please, and hard workers.  For this clinic, you can bring your own horse or ride one of Marcy's ponies.  Marcy's gentle, grounded teaching style and well-trained mounts will help you sink into a deep relationship with your horse, while Murphy's teachings on instinctive archery will let you come into alignment with your bow.  By the end of the weekend we will put the two together and you will be shooting from horseback just like an Amazon.
              This class is open to all genders, and registration is handled by Marcy at Briar Hill Farm.  Register on the New England Mounted Archery webpage.

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Maine Wilderness Canoe Trip
July 19-24, 2020 in Northern Maine
Led by Murphy Robinson and Jackie Stratton
Open to Marginalized Genders only (women, trans folks, non-binary people, queer people, and those questioning their gender). 
              Join us for six days of canoeing on the upper West Branch of Maine's famous Penobscot River and Chesuncook Lake.  This beautiful paddling trip in the heart of Maine's finest wilderness offers an excellent opportunity to learn or hone your canoeing skills for flatwater or gentle downstream river travel.  All paddling gear is provided and no experience is necessary.

More information coming soon!  Drop us a note using the Contact Form if you want to be the first to hear more.

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Evening Archery Lessons
Every Wednesday from 5:30-7pm, Sept 2-Oct 21, 2020 (no class Oct 7) in Worcester, VT
Taught by Murphy Robinson
              More Information Here.

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Wayfinder: Tools & Skills for Navigating the Forest
Sept 6, 2020 in Worcester, VT
Taught by Murphy Robinson
              Do you hesitate to explore the forest because of fear you'll get lost?  Come learn essential tips and tricks of navigating off-trail through the forest and mountains of New England.  We'll cover landforms, songlines, ways of finding North without a compass, map and compass navigation, and briefly discuss affordable GPS apps for your smartphone.  These are essential skills for any hiker, wildcrafter, hunter, and lover of the landscape.  This class is open to all genders, costs $85 per person, and includes a yummy lunch.  Register Here.

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The Huntress Intensive: Taking Aim In The Sacred Hunt
Marginalized Genders class: ​Sept 26-27, 2020 in Worcester, VT
All Genders Class: Oct 24-25, 2020 in Worcester, VT
​Taught by Murphy Robinson
              Do you hear the call of the Sacred Hunt?  Whether you want to get healthy wild food for your family, understand the woodland landscape at a new level, or connect with the power of the ancient Huntress archetype, this weekend intensive will teach you what you need to know to become a safe, ethical deer hunter.  Many of us weren’t lucky enough to grow up in a family that could teach us these ancestral skills, so this is your opportunity to come learn in a safe, positive, supportive environment.  It will be a busy weekend!  On Saturday we will review gun safety and practice shooting, learn about the gear you should take with you, and study the woodland landscape for deer sign.  Saturday night we will hold a ceremony to honor our deer brothers and sisters, discuss and demonstrate the ritual connection with the deer spirit, and learn about the respect, offerings, and prayers of the Sacred Hunt.  On Sunday we will get up early and embark on a mock-hunt.  In the afternoon, we will butcher a goat together, learning how to take an animal apart cleanly and dispose of the entrails.  You will leave this workshop with new skills, confidence, and connection to the deer spirit.  Learn More Here.

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Hide Tanning Workshop
Oct 10-11, 2020 in Worcester, VT
              Learn the ancient art of turning fresh animal hides into soft leather.  This alchemical process teaches us deep gratitude for our animal allies and the skilled craftspeople who are our ancestors.  We will take time throughout the day to give thanks to the animals who have surrendered their skins for our workshop (all wild or lovingly raised).  Maggie Ranen is an expert tanner and skilled instructor who will make our learning collaborative and fun.  This two-day workshop will give you the knowledge and skills to tan your own hides at home for years to come.  

For more info, Click Here.

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The Way of the Weaver
9-month program starts Oct 30, 2020
​Held in Worcester, VT
Taught by Murphy Robinson and Jamie Waggoner
              The Way of the Weaver is a unique, nine-month journey of magical study and community building.  Our circle embraces adults of all backgrounds and genders who are ready to learn a powerful skill set for spiritual transformation and growth.  This training is rooted in the values of service, inclusive community, critical analysis of the oppressions that bewitch our society (capitalism, colonialism, racism, etc.), and deep respect for ancestral spiritual traditions from around the world.  We believe that you are your own spiritual authority, and that by learning ritual skills and sacred technologies together in a space with clear boundaries and ethics, we can tap into our collective power for change.  The Way of the Weaver dismisses secrecy, exclusion, and hierarchy.  This is not a distinct magical tradition, but rather an open-source skill set with which to develop and/or deepen your own practice based on your background, callings, and ancestry.  Learn More.

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Huntress Expedition
December 6-12, 2020
​Held on an Organic Farm in Northern Virginia
Guided by Murphy Robinson and Friends
              This is a guided week of the Sacred Hunt at an organic farm in Northern Virginia.  All hunting tools are provided (tree stands, rifle, ammunition, butchering supplies, etc), as well as food and lodging for the week.  The Northern Virginia deer herd is badly overpopulated, so you'll have a good chance of shooting a deer (bucks, does, and young deer are all legal quarry there).  This program is for Marginalized Genders only (women, trans folks, non-binary people, queer people, and those questioning their gender). ​  Learn more here.

*Please Note:
  • About half our programs are open to all genders
  • About half our programs are for marginalized genders & sexual orientations:  women, non-binary people, trans folks, queer people, and those questioning their gender.
  • We are in the process of updating our gender categories from "women and trans" to the more inclusive "marginalized genders."  Apologies for the temporary inconsistency!
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