Little House in the Winter Valley

The Rinella family around the tableMore winter break camps >

10 kid limit for this camp Our policy for small class sizes.

Homesteading for Kids

Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic series of books have inspired children and adults for generations. The world is changing and local arts and crafts can inspire new and old way of home life.

Our Homesteading School lets children explore their passion for art, craft and nature connection. From cooking pies and winter foods to making their own clothing from recycled fabrics, they find pride in play and work while bringing gifts back to the family to share.

The Camps

In both programs we explore the wildlife refuge and woods around us. Older kids learn about the small stretch Oregon Trail and the old time history of town of Marmot that was once up at the Trackers Homestead.

Holiday Cooking Dec 21, 2009 Ages 6-10 journey to the Trackers Homestead, our cabin in Sandy. Ages 4-5 base out of the Trackers Campus. This day we make all kinds of pioneer cookies, cakes and fun wholesome deserts. We use stone ground flour, organic honey and healthy ingredients.

Winter Clothing Dec 28, 2009 Ages 6-10 journey to the Trackers Homestead, our cabin in Sandy. Ages 4-5 base out of the Trackers Campus. This day we sew our simple clothes projects from repurposed fabrics. We learn to knit and also tie knots. Throw in the basics of design and patterning with hand needle and thread and kids can begin to craft their design into something awesome they wear.

Locations

The Trackers Cabin is located in one of the most epic landscapes on Earth. Adjacent to a 400 acre wildlife refuge on the south end of the Bull Run campers have a chance explore and play in a private forest seemingly untouched by time.

The Trackers Campus is the ultimate clubhouse for kids. Located in Sellwood, right next door to the 140 acre Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge where we find birds, deer, bike paths and much more!

Registering for aftercare? Read our aftercare offerings or register below.

Please read every word on this page together with your child. Especially "A Good Fit?"

Please note Coupon discounts cannot be combined with early registration discount. They can only be applied to regular pricing.

Register for Little House in the Winter Valley

Add to cart
Ages 4-5 $40
Holiday Cooking December 21, 2009 Morning 8:30am-12:30pm
5040 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland, Oregon Map It
Program Full
Join wait list
Ages 6-8 $75
Holiday Cooking December 21, 2009 8:30am-4:30pm
5040 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland, Oregon Map It
Add to cart
Ages 8-10 $75
Holiday Cooking December 21, 2009 8:30pm-4:30pm
5040 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland, Oregon Map It
Add to cart
Ages 6-10 $12
Aftercare Holiday Cooking December 21, 2009 4:30pm-5:30pm
5040 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland, Oregon Map It
Add to cart
Ages 4-5 $40
Winter Clothing December 28, 2009 Morning 8:30am-12:30pm
5040 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland, Oregon Map It
Program Full
Join wait list
Ages 6-8 $75
Winter Clothing December 28, 2009 8:30am-4:30pm
5040 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland, Oregon Map It
Add to cart
Ages 8-10 $75
Winter Clothing December 28, 2009 8:30am-4:30pm
5040 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland, Oregon Map It
Add to cart
Ages 6-10 $12
Aftercare Winter Clothing December 28, 2009 4:30pm-5:30pm
5040 SE Milwaukie Avenue, Portland, Oregon Map It

A Good Fit?

Before you register PLEASE READ the critical information below to help you decide if your program is the right match for you or you child. TrackersNW invests in families and students dedicated to maturity and accountability as a team. The experience of your child is heightened as these filters insure a safe, supportive and competent collaboration with both our instructors and all other team members (including students).

This program is a good fit for the child and parent who...

• trust one another
• are interested in and empathetic to the natural world
• crave a different way of experiencing and seeing both natural and modern world
• want to have fun
• possess a sense of adventure
• make intelligent choices
• display competent autonomy when needed
• can make and keep clear agreements concerning safety
• can help insure the safety of their peers and collaborators
• works diligently toward adult accountability, consequences and responsibility
• will come dressed appropriately to stay warm, dry and healthy
• is okay with being muddy, cold and wet at times
• can be a real kid
• shares well with others

This program is NOT a good fit for children who...

• are not interested in nature & scout awareness
• are not empathetic for the natural world
• are being forced to come to camp
• cannot display competent autonomy when needed
• cannot make and keep clear agreements and choices concerning safety
• is kept inside all the time so may be uncomfortable
• will not dress appropriately to stay warm, dry and healthy
• is not okay with being muddy, cold and wet at times
• has trouble working with others and respecting the needs of other participants

Please note that if your child is positively working on behavior, we are willing to work with them and you with clear agreements

Updates from articles & classes

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Our Philosophy for Learning & Living

A Smile

We help children to feel like that group of kids wandering country backyards 50 years ago: independent, tired, muddy, wet and happy from the woods and wild. We are acutely aware of full and real hazards of the out of doors after years of working in environmental education. We try to move away from the highly structured and limiting tolerances of conventional environmental education while keeping kids truly safe but not encapsulated from, or phobic of nature. We are deep patriots to the value of offering guided yet very free and transparent experiences for kids. We believe it is okay to be thirsty at times, cold at times, and wet at times. It builds empathy and care for the gifts of life. It fosters adventure and sincere accomplishment. We also believe it is critical to feel supported and cared for as they truly explore their passion and responsibility. And through a healthy life immersed in nature, they test the limits and great potential of the often untapped physical and emotional resiliency they possess.