Lost Valley Educational Center & Ecovillage is a non-profit educational center and ecovillage established in 1988. It offers immersive learning experiences and a variety of courses, including a Permaculture Design Course and a Social Forestry Camp, that teach the practical application of sustainable living skills and holistic sustainability. The education is excellent, both practically and emotionally, providing a different lens to create connection with nature. Participants describe formative, refreshing, and enlivening experiences that are filled with intentionality, structure, playfulness, and ceremony. The learning is deep, covering social, environmental, spiritual, and conceptual topics through direct experience. Many learn more than they expected, gaining skills in how to be more embodied, how to listen, how to quiet the mind, and how to intentionally connect with nature, oneself, and others. The experience fosters a deep integral remembrance of what it means to be human. The community itself is described as unique, with an incredible organization and structure. The people are smart, passionate, funny, welcoming, and some of the most emotionally mature and patient people encountered. Their commitment to living sustainably together is inspiring and beautiful. The setting allows one to experience living directly in a community of this nature, which feels safe and welcoming even to short-term interns. Many leave carrying the lessons for life, equipped with new lenses for viewing the world, and express a deep desire to return.
There is such an abundance of love, knowledge, and joy in this community. It was such a gift to learn and grow here by being and doing - just one weekend is leaving my heart so full.
September 2024
I had an amazing experience at Lost Valley taking a 1 month course and visiting at other times. Folks have been great to connect with and many are committed to deep community relationship and care for the earth.
January 2024
Excellent education, both practically and emotionally. Learning a different lens to create connection with nature and sustainable living skills.