About Wildkind Academy
Wildkind Academy creates safe and inclusive spaces for young people to grow into capable, grounded, and inspired leaders, stewards of a more connected and sustainable future.
Aliveness
We envision a world where nature is not a destination, but a meaningful relationship where our young people are equipped with the skills, confidence, and community support to navigate our modern world with resilience and purpose.
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Wildkind Academy empowers the next generation to live with greater ALIVENESS and connection to the natural world while cultivating compassionate leadership. We are investing in the changemakers of our future who will inspire regenerative change to build resilient communities.
Our Vision
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Why It Matters
Connection
Today’s teens are interacting with a modern world of technology and information that can be overwhelming and stressful.They face a convergence of modern crises from war, social unrest, major climate disruption events, social media culture, nature deficiency… all this leading to rising levels of anxiety and depression.
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We live in a digital culture that too often replaces real-world experiences with distraction and false reality. Many young people feel lost, pressured, or isolated within systems that don’t nurture their full humanity or reflect their innate connection to the natural world.
Wildkind Academy is meeting the complexities of our modern world and its impact on our next generation by guiding youth and teens into a living relationship with nature, community, and themselves.
Through mentorship, experiential education, and rewilding practices, we nurture confidence, belonging, and a deep sense of stewardship for the Earth.
Jess Caldwell is the founder, lead instructor and Executive Director of Wildkind Academy.
Rooted in Earth skills and lit by the element of fire, Jess inspires resilience in a modern world. She is a survival instructor and certified Wilderness First Responder. Jess teaches ALIVENESS and empowered self-reliance. The personal rewilding journey offers a vital compass for fearlessly navigating these unprecedented times. She is dedicated to supporting our next generation of changemakers.
Jess completed a 50-Day advanced immersion in the mountains of Colorado while living in a primitive shelter that she built from natural materials. She foraged for wild food, honed in her skills of firecraft, harvested water and found profound joy mastering the hard skills that anchor us to our primal roots. After the successful completion of her seven-day solo with only a knife, a ferro rod and the clothes on her back, Jess experienced what she describes as embodied ALIVENESS. She has a fierce inner fire that is fueled by her passion to support teens on their rewilding journey.
"I have discovered that getting offline and immersed in the wonders of nature have been crucial for navigating modern stressors with more resiliency. As a parent of two young men, I am well-versed in the many challenges that we all are facing as we consider the next generation and how our modern lifestyles can be detrimental to our mind, body, spirit and planet. In this unique and challenging time of uncertainty, there is freedom and expansiveness through the inward journey of self-discovery and our personal engagement with the elements and natural world."
Jess Caldwell
Wildkind Academy is committed to equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
We believe every young person deserves the opportunity to connect with nature, awaken their senses, and experience belonging within a supportive community. Our programs are intentionally designed to honor diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and abilities ~ creating spaces where all voices are heard and all learners can thrive.
By removing barriers to participation through scholarships, outreach, and partnerships, we ensure that the transformative power of rewilding education reaches every child who feels the call of the wild.