The 2008 Botanical Medicine Program offers a 6-weekend program, June through October, for those who desire an in-depth herbal program. The program is held one weekend a month (twice in October). This course is very special. It offers students the opportunity to learn about herbs by placing the classroom right in the garden! The program is at the Herbal Bear, Grand Gorge, NY location - a beautiful private 30 acre property in the Northern Catskills - just 2 hours and 45 minutes from NYC.

Each weekend we learn about the plants that grow around us, studying their healing properties upon different body systems, gathering and harvesting the local medicinal plants which grow on the property, and developing a systematic approach to herbal formulations. By the end of the program you will be able to identify and know how to use well over 100 different herbs. Our classes are informal and relaxed - however we take pride in the fact that our instructors are among the top in their fields and include experienced herbalists, research scientists, and authors who have published in their field of botanical expertise.

Our small class size allows accessibility to our instructors both during lessons and after class. Our instructor's enthusiasm for their topics shows in their willingness to share both their time and knowledge with students - in class and one-on-one.

No one enjoys a boring classroom lecture - this is why we have designed this program to be an interactive and hands-on experience. Learning about herbal remedies takes on a whole new dimension when you have a chance to see, smell, touch and use the plants that grow right in the Northern Catskills.

The 2008 Botanical Medicine will be the 16th year our program has been running. Each year I have the pleasure to meet wonderful people who come to learn about plants and botanical medicine. The program is a unique experience, bringing together professional instruction in an informal setting which provides a relaxing environment in which to learn.

The Botanical Medicine program offers course material that is often offered in college level classes. An applicant should have a minimum of a high school diploma and be comfortable with scientific topics.

Ursula Basch
Director and Principal Instructor
The Herbal Bear School of Botanical Medicine

Over the course of the program, you will learn:

• Spring Herb Identification

  Making Flower Essences

• Herbal Terms and Resources
• Wild Food Gathering
• Herbs for the Digestive System
• Making Herbal Teas
• Making Flower Essences
• Plant Meditation
• Herbal Harvesting, Drying and Storage
• Herbal Vinegars
• Making Herbal Tinctures
• Medicinal Herbal Oils
• Herbs for the Nervous System
• Making a Herbal First Aid Kit
• Herbs for Women’s Health
• Herbs for The Circulatory System
• Making Herbal Salves
• Understanding Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Herbal Energetics and Diagnostic Techniques
• Developing Herbal Formulations
• Making Herbal Cosmetics, Body Creams and Herbal Bath Salts
• Herbal Case Studies
• Herbs for the Immune System
• Sacred Herbs and Ceremonial Uses
• Medicinal and Edible Mushrooms
• Field Identification of Mushrooms Mushroom Propagation Harvesting Autumn
• Roots and Barks Herbs for Colds and Flu
• Making Herbal Brandies and Elixirs and Syrups
• Exploring Healing Modalities (i.e. Reiki, Reflexology)
• Wildlife in the Catskills
• Planting a Herb Garden

As a participant you will learn the gentle cycles and rhythms of the plants as they develop and change through the seasons. Together with the plants, we will discover our own rhythms and connection to the Mother Earth. The Botanical Medicine Program meets at Herbal Bear Cabin in the Northern Catskills. Located on 30+ acres of woods and field, Herbal Bear Catskill location is a beautiful place to learn. The land is home to deer, bear, turkeys and an incredible assortment of wild edible and medicinal plants. We have a pond suitable for swimming, planted herb gardens, a water lily gardens and many paths to explore through the woods.

Program Dates

The 2008 Botanical Medicine Program meets for all of the following dates:

• Saturday, June 21st – Sunday June 22nd, 2008
• Saturday July 12th – Sunday July 13th, 2008
• Saturday August 2nd – Sunday August 3rd, 2008
• Saturday September 6th – Sunday Sept 7th, 2008
• Saturday Oct 4th – Sunday October 5th, 2008
• Saturday October 25th – Sunday October 26th, 2008

We strongly encourage you to arrange your schedule to be able to attend all the scheduled weekends.

Location

• Grand Gorge, NY
• Click HERE for Public Transportation from NYC

Our Instructors

• Ursula Basch
• Susan Pell, Ph.D.
• Bob Beyfuss
• John Boyle
• Kelly Martin

Meals are Included

Delicious vegetarian meals are included in the Program. We use organic produce and local products as much as possible.

We serve 5 meals per weekend - starting with breakfast on Saturday morning. Our meals are vegetarian and may include dairy and eggs. If you are strictly vegan or have religious limitation for your diet - you may have to bring some food to supplement what is served. We do not serve soy or rice milk. All meals are served buffet style. We ask that you assist in clean-up after each meal.

Daily Schedule

Saturday:
8:00am - 9:00am - Breakfast
9:30am - 12:30pm - Class
12:30pm - 1:45pm - Lunch
1:45pm - 4:30pm - Class
4:30pm - 4:45pm - Break
4:45pm - 6:30pm - Class
6:30pm - 7:30pm - Dinner

Sunday:
8:00am - 8:45am - Breakfast
9:00am - 12:15pm - Class
12:15pm - 1:00pm - Lunch
1:15pm - 2:45pm - Class

Program Cost:

• Early registration cost: $2250.00 (paid in 2 payments)
• Registration after March 31, 2008, cost: $2450.00 (required at once)
• See Registration area below.

Payment Summary:

• Upon registration you will make an initial payment of $1125.00 (half the early registration total of $2250.00) which includes a non-refundable deposit of $450.00. Full payment of $2250.00 must be received by March 31st 2008 in order to receive the early registration discount.
  
  Registrants who make their second payments made after March 31st will be charged for the balance of the full course price- $1325.00 ($2450 full course price minus the original deposit of $1250.00)

Refund Policies:

• We will make no refunds after March 31, 2008. We will not make refunds or offer make-up sessions for any classes missed by the student.

Registration:

• Upon registration you will make an initial payment of $1125.00 (half the early registration total of $2250.00) which includes a non-refundable deposit of $450.00. The remaining balance of $1125.00 must be made by March 31, 2008. Students who enroll after March 31, 2008 must make the full payment of $2450.00.
• Register Online

The Application Form :

The application is designed to give us information about who you are and why you are interested in the program. Please feel free to write as much as you wish. Each field is designed to accept several lines of text (many more than you could possibly write). If you wish to know more about how we use our application process, please click here.

Lodging:

The program costs do not include lodging. Each student is responsible for their own lodging arrangements. Please click click here for infomation about local motels and inns in the area - as well as lodging offered at the Herbal Bear. We are offering lodging information to assist you in finding accommodations. If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

Recommended Reading: