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INNERPATHWORKS
Student Testimonials
What some of the former students have to share about their InnerPathWorks experience,
plus what they are doing now (2011).
My name is Ivan Rivera, and I am 22 years old. I am Randy’s student, and did an intensive training with him for 10 months in the year of ’08. He taught me how to feel, how to see the world, how to track and how to live. He taught me, through mother nature, who I was.
Currently I am studying at Reed College with hopes to finish a Linguistics and Philosophy double major, and plans to do a Master’s degree in Cognitive Psychology and a PhD in Cognitive Science. I have led several backpacking trips for the school, and I was a mentor for the semester-long seminar given to incoming students during the fall of ’10.
 I was taught by Randy that the epitome of skill was the so-called scout, a person who exemplifies three abilities: awareness, empathy and dexterity. This is what I practiced those 10 months. We need awareness to perceive that is around us, empathy to care about it, and dexterity, whether it be physical or mental, to do something about it. But awareness is the most important of the three. Without it, empathy is left in a vacuum and dexterity remains idle. This practice has left me with a deeper understanding of all interactions, allowing me to move through life with greater wisdom and foreknowledge. I can only aspire as far as I see, and thanks to this training I can see further.
Ivan Rivera
"InnerPathWorks has transformed my life,
my business, and my relationships.
I am stronger, more aware,
and a more intuitive person now.
I highly recommend this training!"
Elizabeth Manthei
Executive Chef and Owner of Peppercorn Chiefs
Caterer for the Master's Golf Tournament
"It seemed to me that when I was in wilderness therapy, the typical protocol was for the therapist to recommend some sort of aftercare program to the participant. This was certainly my case, and the aftercare I ended up at was INNERPATHWORKS. For me, the true beauty of the program was the nearly seamless transition from wilderness to IPW. The reason aftercare is so often recommended is it helps transition a person from the simplicity of the wilderness setting to the real world as it were. However, most people lose the calming and healing aspects of the natural world when they go to an aftercare program. Granted, it does still help them transition to the real world, but they retain almost nothing from their healing journey in wilderness. I suppose the point here is that through INNERPATHWORKS, the setting is such that the client will hold onto the lessons the wilderness taught them and actually build upon them.
"INNERPATHWORKS is focused on learning more and more from nature. Every morning is started with a circle fire, and a morning prayer in which everything in creation is thanked, from the waters to the four-legged animals to the four winds. The prayer may seem off putting to some, but it is non denominational, and stems more from a place of gratitude for nature then it does from a devotion to a God or religion. In that way, it is possible for anyone, of any amount of faith, to reap the benefits of this ritual.
"The other daily activity is a sit spot, where the participant finds a nearby place in the woods and sits there for about an hour, to quiet the mind and deeply observe the natural world around them. These core activities are just a part of the overall program. When I was there I did so many different things of great interest: hikes in the woods, camouflage training, gathering and cooking wild edibles, studying tracking and stalking, attending different workshops on sustainable agriculture and primitive house making, honing cooking skills, kayaking, swimming, camping, rock climbing, yoga, sweat lodges, prayer lodges, and a host of other activities.
"I suppose the point of this whole reflection on the program is to sum up what its purpose is. INNERPATHWORKS, rather then helping transition a person into the real world, helps them transition out of wilderness. It allowed me to hold onto and increase the lessons I learned at Open Sky, and then take those lessons with me back to the real world, The spiritual healing of Randy’s program, facilitated by the best mentors I have ever had in my life, have helped me be more comfortable in my own skin, make amazing strides against my depression, and help me find clarity and purpose in all aspects of my life. I cannot recommend this program highly enough. It truly was the best experience of my life."
Patrick Lucke
Studying Political Science at the University of Minnesota.
"Wilderness therapy is coming home, InnerPathWorks is learning to take that home wherever you go. I would recommend this course to students who connect deeply with the wilderness therapy experience; to those who have an interest in Native American ways of being; and to those open to spirituality as well as nature awareness. Basically a student who wants to go deeper into what they experienced in wilderness therapy in their everyday life. And if this is not being shown to someone in wilderness therapy, to anyone ready to delve into who they truly are and let go of their preconceived notions and judgments to find that truth: To find your gifts and joy in life, connect with the earth and spirit, and find true freedom.
"It has been pretty fantastic. I am living My life, as I want it. I have developed a strong sense of service and community that extends beyond just humans, and began to discover how I can best serve it. By being myself, as fully as possible, removing the blocks to doing so. I am finding my gifts to the world; the ones that give me pleasure to give. Randy (InnerPathWorks) has helped me find freedom and given me the tools to continue to live it."
James De Boer
Presently attending Prescott College and loving it!
When I came to train with Randy Russell at InnerPathWorks, I was taking the first steps of a new journey. I had unsuccessfully gone through 5 years of college. Being too stoned to be bothered to go to classes, I kept coasting by until I ran out of student loan money to keep going. I decided I needed help, not only to get out from under the mountain of debt I had buried myself under, but also for substance problems that kept me from doing anything about it. After talking to my parents and various counselors, we decided that the wilderness therapy program, Passages to Recovery (PTR), sounded like the best bet to help me clean up my act while we put my financial obligations on hold.
It was amazing. Thanks to the wilderness guides and therapists at PTR, I not only got the time and lessons I needed to get clean, but I also learned a lot about and gained a great respect for the outdoors. After 6 weeks of hiking, building fires, cooking, camping, beautiful views and life changing dialogues, my stay at Passages was over and it was time to choose the next step on my journey, but where to go? While I felt great about my choice to get clean, I was afraid that I would relapse when faced with the challenge of making a living for myself and paying off my student loans. This is where Randy came in.
I wanted a training that supported my efforts to stay drug-free, while also giving me the opportunity to prepare for living in our modern world. With InnerPathWorks approach of helping people find Vision through awakening creativity and wilderness appreciation, I was able to work on those issues and more. Under Randy Russell’s guidance, I gained the self-awareness I needed to manage my feelings and emotions; To be aware of the choices I make and their effects not only on myself and others, but on the world. I developed the self-confidence I needed to trust in myself and to follow through on, what were before, seemingly impossible tasks. I learned to appreciate the gifts that I had always had, as well as to recognize and acknowledge my weaknesses. The training was structured enough so that I was always doing some activity or learning something, but was open enough that Randy helped me to get a job in the community so that I could start getting a handle on my student loans.
Randy’s training helped me to find my dreams, gave me the confidence to follow those dreams and taught me that true joy, fulfillment and success doesn't’t come just from achieving those dreams, but in the simple act of pursuing them.
Since my time with Randy at InnerPathWorks, I’ve been living on my own, successfully paying my own way. I’ve been active in community theatre, pursuing my passion for performance and storytelling. While it hasn’t always been easy, and there is still a lot that I would like to accomplish, I am no longer discouraged by the challenges of life, but rather enjoy living every day and can find learning and opportunity in any situation.
Zach Sabo
Presently living in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Call or Email Us for More Information
and for an application
509 671-1598
INNERPATHWORKS
110 Main, Suite 207, Sandpoint, Idaho 83864
info@innerpathworks.com
509 671-1598
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