About us

Where the city meets the woods

City of Woods teaches essential wilderness skills right here in the city — so anyone can build confidence, creativity and a deeper connection to nature.

Welcome to City of Woods Primitive Skills Classes! Here, you will learn essential wilderness survival techniques such as fire-making, shelter-building, and crafting tools from nature. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature while acquiring skills that have been passed down for generations.

Our classes meet in parks across New York City — Forest Park, Central Park, McGolrick Park and Prospect Park — and we also lead group trips and corporate camping in the woods. Between classes, we carve the wooden jewelry, spoons, wands and utensils you'll find in our shop.

Our teachers

Meet Quest & Emberling

Quest

Survivalist · Teacher · Craftsperson

Quest is a seasoned survivalist with extensive experience in wilderness education. Trained by Nancye Good and through 4E Tracker School and Roots VT School, Quest specializes in fire-making, foraging, and shelter-building with natural materials. Homeschooled in New England, Quest has worked off-grid for years and is trained in life-saving CPR. Besides survival skills, Quest creates hand-crafted goods, emphasizing practical, hands-on learning. Quest is also involved in community gardening, promoting sustainability and self-reliance.

Emberling

Wilderness guide · Artist · Forager

Emberling is an expert wilderness guide and survivalist with a focus on art and horticulture. Like Quest, Emberling was trained by Nancye Good and through 4E Tracker School and Roots VT School. Specializing in primitive navigation and plant foraging, Emberling is also trained in CPR. Emberling combines artistic expression with natural materials and sells artwork online. With over a decade of experience, Emberling provides engaging classes that challenge participants. Emberling is also active in community gardening, promoting environmental sustainability.

Learn with us

Join a class, or get in touch about private and group sessions.

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