Herbal First Aid Kit – Guided Educational Program

Herbal First Aid Kit – Guided Educational Program

Hike Overview Continued

Instructor: Heather Nack-Culbreth

August 27, 2023: Many of us enjoy spending time in the wild lands, be it day hikes, backpacking adventures, or simple picnics in the great outdoors. Despite our best preparations and efforts at safety, bumps, cuts, scrapes, irritating plants and insects and little bouts of tummy trouble come unannounced. Plants in and around Glacier National Park offer assistance in treating these common ailments. In this Glacier Institute class, learn to identify, harvest, dry, store and create herbal preparations for a variety of first aid situations. Students will make herbal teas; external applications of herbs including poultices and salves and learn how to make liquid extracts like tinctures. Plants will be harvested outside of Glacier National Park. Be sure to sign up for Plant Allies: Local Herbal Medicinal Plants, to learn more about native.

Meeting Place: Glacier Institute Field Camp

Itinerary: (subject to change due to trail closures and weather)
Class will begin at Glacier Institute Field Camp at 7 a.m., with an introduction to the class and to each other. We will then briefly discuss medicine making, wild crafting and plant identification before taking the Glacier Institute vehicle outside of the park to identify wild craft plants. You will need to bring some of your harvesting equipment with you, so have it accessible in a backpack or bucket with a handle. After lunch in the field, we will return to Glacier Institute Field Camp and prepare our medicines. The herbal preparations we create will depend on which healthy plants are available for harvest. The course will conclude by 4 p.m.

Food: Please bring a trail lunch, plenty of water and snacks for the day.

Park Entrance Fees: Participants are responsible for purchasing their park entry passes prior to the course. These can be purchased online at: https://www.recreation.gov/sitepass/74280

Equipment: You will receive a Glacier Institute Field Camp gear list once you register. Most importantly, bring comfortable hiking shoes, at least 1–2-liter water bottle, backpack, rain gear, hat, and sunscreen. Weather can be varied so please be prepared with appropriate clothing, and warm layers. If you have favorite field guides or herbals, please bring them to share during the course. In addition, you need to bring the following: Notepad and pencil for notes and camera for photographing plants if you wish. Favorite field guides or herbals if you have them. Six small (4-6 oz.) glass jars (baby food or ? pint canning jars work well) for making and storing the various oils, salves and tinctures. A sharp knife for cutting stems. A cutting board. Masking tape for labeling jars. Plastic and paper grocery sacks (3-4 each) for collecting herbs. Garden shovel and shears.

Physical Requirements: Easy to moderate difficulty. Hikes up to 3 miles and/or 500 ft. elevation change, with frequent discussion and learning breaks.