Native Plants and Food Institute: Cultural Ecosystems: Camas Prairies & Food Forests

May 8, 2026 9:30am-4:00pm

Wolf Haven International 3111 Offut Lake Rd SE Tenino, WA

Learn about ecosystems that Pacific Northwest regional tribes have cultivated since time immemorial with a focus on camas prairies and food forests. Many children grow up thinking that humans are harmful to the land. Through learning about cultural ecosystems, youth see how people can promote biodiversity and well-being through conscientious stewardship. We will explore the concept of cultural ecosystems and how to create micro-ecosystems in school and community gardens and explore a local camas prairie. Participants will receive a curriculum that fits best with grades 6–12 learning levels but can be adapted for younger children to adults.

This training will take place at Wolf Haven International, a wolf sanctuary located on a beautiful camas prairie. We will utilize their indoor classroom and spend most of our time outside; please dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes. We will provide coffee, tea, snacks - please bring your own lunch. This training is facilitated by Mariana Harvey (Yakama), Elise Krohn and Elizabeth Campbell (Spokane/Kalispel).

We have a number of scholarships available with a priority on Indigenous educators. Please fill out this form to inquire about scholarships. For any questions about this workshop, accessibility needs or scholarships, connect with Mariana Harvey at mariana@theoldgrowth.co

For those needing lodging, note that we do not have a room block. We recommend Squaxin Island Tribe’s Little Creek Casino Hotel, they offer discounts to tribal members. We also recommend the Hilton Garden Inn in Olympia. 

Tend, Gather, and Grow (Tend) is a K-12 curriculum that focuses on native and naturalized plants of the Pacific Northwest region. Through hands-on activities, students explore themes in wild food traditions, herbal medicine, plant technologies, cultural ecosystems, and tree communities. Northwest Native American plant knowledge and stories are woven throughout the curriculum. Learn more about this toolkit and others at https://www.nativeplantsandfoods.org/