General Program Description:

The 2011 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 learnabout the plants that grow around us, studying their healing properties upon different body systems, gathering and harvesting the local medicinal plants whichgrow on the property, anddeveloping 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.

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 2011 Botanical Medicine will be the 18th 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

Course Topics

• Spring Herb Identification
• Spring Herb Identification
• Herbal Terms and Resources
• Wild Food Gathering
• Herbs for the Digestive System
• Making Herbal Teas
• 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)
• 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 2011 Botanical Medicine Program meets for all of the following dates:

• Saturday, June 18 – Sunday June 19, 2011
• Saturday July 16 – Sunday July 17, 2011
• Saturday August 13 – Sunday August 14, 2011
• Saturday September 10 – Sunday Sept 11, 2011
• Saturday October 1 – Sunday October 2, 2011
• Saturday October 22 – Sunday October 23, 2011

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

Program Location

• Grand Gorge, NY
• Click HERE for Public Transportation from New York City
• Students who plan to commute from NYC for the Botanical Medicine Program - Be sure to read this.

Our Instructors

• Ursula Basch
• Susan Pell, Ph.D.
• Bob Beyfuss
• Travis Wolf

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 withbreakfast 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 somefood 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-upafter 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

How to Apply/Application Form:

Registration Instructions:

• Step 1: Choose a registration plan below.
• Step 2: You will be directed to the application form.
• Step 3: Fill out the application and press the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
• Step 4: After submitting, pay using the payment button on the Payment Page.
  

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.

Program Cost/Registration (payment options):

Class Closed

If you have questions about this program - please contact us.

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.

Work/Study Programs:

The Herbal Bear School will consider partial workstudy positions for up to two students. Students who applymust have specific skills and experience and be able to work at the Herbal Bear Catskill location on weekends that are in addition to the Botanical Medcine Program weekends. We will consider NYS licenced massage therapists or horticulturists/landscapers who can do garden maintanance. We do not have a need for office work, food preparation or web design. Qualified students may apply for workstudy up to maximum $600.00. Please contact us if you are interested in applying for workstudy.

Programs in NYS that have work/study programs:

• The NorthEast School of Botanical Medicine - Ithica NY
  The Director is 7Song and he is a wonderful herbalist.
• Herbal Apprenticeship with Susun Weed - Woodstock NY
  Susun is a bit of a character and some people may have difficulty with her way of teaching. I suggest you take a careful look at her article which she has posted on her website before you enroll. The article - "Why is Susun So Angry?" may be found on her own website HERE.

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