OWLS was originally established in 1991 as Hollowtop Outdoor Primitive School (HOPS) by Thomas J. Elpel. The school was rebranded as OWLS in 2013.
Thomas J. Elpel — Director
Thomas J. Elpel — Director
Thomas J. Elpel is an author, builder, conservationist and a pioneer in experiential education. He has authored six books and produced five videos on topics ranging from wilderness survival and botany to stone masonry, sustainable construction, and green economics.
As a child, Tom was mentored by his grandmother, Josie Jewett. Together they explored the hills and meadows near Virginia City, Montana, collecting herbs, looking for arrowheads and watching wildlife. Grandma Josie helped Tom to learn about native plants and their uses, igniting a passion for nature that has inspired him ever since. She also sparked his interest in survival skills.
Tom’s first serious exposure to wilderness survival skills began at the age of 16, when he went on a 26-day, 250-mile walkabout in the desert canyons of southern Utah with Boulder Outdoor Survival School. The following year he and Grandma Josie went together to Tom Brown’s Tracker School in New Jersey.
From there Tom spent thousands of hours practicing, developing, and teaching survival skills in his “backyard” in the Rocky Mountains. These experiences led to writing his book Participating in Nature: Wilderness Survival and Primitive Living Skills, which is currently in its sixth edition. Tom has also produced four DVDs in his Art of Nothing Wilderness Survival Video Series.
Tom started Hollowtop Outdoor Primitive School (HOPS) in 1991, working first with adults, and later with kids and schools. Tom is also the founder of Green University, which is dedicated to the education and assistance of adults in the world of green business as well as nature skills. Tom has an amazing ability to work with people, teach them skills and open their minds to the possibilities of our world.
Raye Schmalstig
Raye found her love of nature growing up in her father’s childhood home in rural Wisconsin, where she climbed trees planted by her grandfather. This early connection with nature and history grew deeper roots when she read My Side of the Mountain in fifth grade. Raye was inspired by the story of primitive skills and living off the land, and from then on, she knew it was her destiny to live feral and free.
Attending Green University as an immersion student propelled Raye into the world of primitive skills. She gained confidence living outdoors among her tribe and dove deep into the arts of hide tanning, animal processing, sustainability, simple living, and community connection.
Raye began to share her skills by working for wilderness therapy companies. As a Wilderness Therapy Guide, Raye took groups of at-risk youth into the desert wilderness for up to two weeks at a time. Nature connection and working with the hands are powerful healing tools for both student and teacher.
Raye loves the confidence and independence wilderness skills can instill in people, young and old alike. Raye hopes all students leave OWLs with lifelong memories of fun and a deeper connection to nature, friends, and self.
Kris Reed