Full Circle Adventures has been connecting people to nature for over 18 years. Our wild, edible plant walks, and wild food cooking workshops, offer you a window into the intelligence of nature. We have learned from Hank Snow of the Nakoda Sioux, Tim Patterson of the Interior Salish, Alvin Manychiefs of the Blackfoot and Canadian authors, such as Linda Kershaw and Terry Willard, as well as our own outdoor guiding and foraging experiences, with local, edible plants.
We bring a depth of caring and years of experience to our edible wild plant cooking programs. We hope to inspire your journey of connection with the natural world, where we live.
I invite you to re-wild yourself, to reunite with Nature's wisdom, on one of our Edible Plant outings and begin your journey of rediscovering your sacred nature!
Full Circle Adventures is insured to guide people outdoors and to cook with wild foods.
@julieplantwalker
https://www.youtube.com/@fullcircleadventuresJulie
"I see the edible plants of the forest floor as an expression of the intelligence of the creator. Through seeing and understanding this intelligence, we can restore our awe and appreciation for the creator's brilliance, The intact native landscapes for me, are the purest canvas of the beauty and intelligence of creation.
Ethical foraging is my joy, which plays out in my gardening, foraging and in encouraging people to re-wild your garden with native plants. My own garden is a great example of that. I could feed 4 people from April to June, with native plants!” – Julie Walker
Julie Walker is the owner and program director for Full Circle Adventures. She has a Bachelor degree in Physical Education (BPE), with a major in Outdoor Pursuits, from the University of Calgary.
Since 1989, Julie has guided extensively in Kananaskis Country, the Whaleback (Bob Creek Heritage rangeland), the Sheep and Highwood river valleys and Banff National Park.
Her focus is to build a deeper connection with our world, through wild food foraging. The plant and animal communities can teach us so much about living in community.
Julie's vision; to engage and educate landowners, gardeners, foragers and the outdoor recreation community, about the value of preserving intact wildlands and growing native foods.
In the Winter, Julie teaches entry level cross country skiing. She has maintained her CANSI teaching status and loves to introduce people to the joy of XC skiing!
Member of:
- Interpretive Guides Association (IGA) 21 years
- Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors (CANSI) 26 years
Certifications:
- Wilderness First Aid (80 hr)
- IGA Professional Guide (4 season)
- CANSI Instructor - Level 1
- U of C Degree BPE - major in Outdoor Pursuits
Tim Patterson has been an outdoor professional for over 12 years, and has hiked and explored both the western parts of Canada and the United States. Originally from the Lower Nicola Indian Band that belongs to the Scw̓éxmx (“People of the Creeks”) a branch of the Nlaka’pamux (Thompson) Nation of the Interior Salish peoples of British Columbia Canada. Tim spent his youth camping, hiking and backpacking in the West Kootenay’s.
Tim holds a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Lethbridge, where he did research on Indigenous identity and ways of knowing.
He is a recognized Indigenous Interpretive Guide and Educator teaching Indigenous ways of knowing and practices in mountainous environments with: the Interpretive Guides Association (IGA), ACMG and is a special guest instructor with Full Circle Adventures.
Certifications:
- ACMG Apprentice Hiking Guide
- IGA Professional Interpreter
- Wilderness Guides Association
- BSA
- LNT Master Educator.
Tim's website: https://www.zucminguiding.com/
Julie,
I had the pleasure of joining you for your March 26th, Sunday Edible Plant Walk. I was most impressed! You have an obvious passion for plants, speaking about them with obvious fondness and awe, and a deep respect for First Nations culture. As well, you convey information about trees, shrubs, and flowers in an engaging way. Thank you for using your time and energy on behalf of the natural world.
– Janice Rider
Your class will become immersed in a local landscape to discover the knowledge of First Nations and the early Europeans. Our inter-disciplinary approach teaches:
- The human history of the land and early uses of plants.
- Inquiry-based learning about plant identification and uses.
- Exploratory learning about the relationships between trees, plants, sunlight and the animal interactions within the eco-systems.
- The human impact on the landscape over time. How different world views create very different outcomes for a landscape.
Honoring the teachers and knowledge keepers
We honor and recognize the importance and generosity of the teachings of the First Nations and Metis people who have and continue to, live in the southern Alberta area. We are very grateful for the exchange of knowledge that has been shared between our cultures.
The Elders of the Woodland and Plains Cree, the Blackfoot Nation, the Nakoda Sioux, Interior Salish and the Multi-cultured Metis people have shared with many authors over the decades, Nancy Turner, Robert Rogers and Terry Willard, to name our contemporaries.
We have been blessed with opportunities of sharing stories of the land with individuals from the Nations of the Nakoda Sioux, (the Wesley, Bearspaw and Goodstoney bands), the Kainai, Pikani, and Siksika tribes of the Blackfoot Nation, as well as the Interior Salish, who have historic trade routes here.
We are grateful that this land is still somewhat intact and that this wisdom is still with the people. They have been generous in their sharing and no one would know as much as we all do about the plant wisdom and Indigenous ways of knowing, if members of these Nations had not willing to share over the years.
It is with much gratitude and respect that we continue to share in the plant knowledge and build relationships with the people and the plant kingdom. Many Blessings. All my relations.