The Salmon Outdoor School

The School of Discovery

Cultural Heritage, Environmental Education, Self Reliance, Cooperative Skills & Creative Experience

Welcome to the School of Discovery!

Step back in time into a 19th century primitive village and relive the Corps of Discovery experience in this valley circa 1805. Learn about plants for healing, soften a deer hide for clothing, and prepare sinew for thread. Turn stones and bones into useful tools; fashion baskets out of natural materials. Reestablish a timeless connection to your own ancestral self and discover the thrill it brings!

Our Mission

The School of Discovery presents skills and techniques that are culturally generic and universal in practice and application, which were common to frontier America.  The School is dedicated to preserving these skills and techniques through experientially-based classes and programs for all ages.

Come Discover

Come... EXPERIENCE Idaho History first hand, LEARN the self reliance skills of early Americans in Idaho, and GAIN an appreciation for our many natural resources and an understanding of the importance of their preservation for future generations.

Celebrating 10 Years of offering education in primitive living skills...

October 30, 2006

Dear Joe and Denyce:

Salmon's commitment to its youth is incredible... We participated in a number of events that showcased what a wonderful place Salmon is to live... The opportunity to watch you working with young students from the Tendoy school, and to learn ourselves, the skill of making "elk jerky" was a treat we had not anticipated.

Your service to the community and to those people who visit Lemhi County and have the opportunity to enjoy the learning skills of your Outdoor School are well recognized... We came away from Salmon energized, invigorated and hopeful for the future... You make all of Idaho proud. Thanks again for a memorable day.

Very Truly Yours,

James E. Risch

Governor

Instructor Bios

Joe Bigley has been involved with primitive outdoor skills since age seven, when his father began teaching him the basics. He began teaching primitive skills during off-duty hours in 1982 through a community program at Northwest River Park, Chesapeake, VA. He went on to teach several courses, Echoes in Time in Salem, Oregon, among them. He is the author of several guides on primitive skills and self-reliance and is staff editor for Backwoodsman Magazine. He founded the Salmon Outdoor School in 1998.

Denyce Bigley has been a student of the outdoors for over 30 years. Together with Joe, Denyce has taught outdoor skills for various community programs, schools, private groups, and state and local parks all over the United States. Specializing in children's programs, Denyce received an award in 1999 from Larry Dean Olsen, the founder of the Outdoor Education Program at BYU University in Provo, Utah.

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2008 Class Schedule

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2008 Class Schedule