MEET OUR STAFF

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Hilary Petterson is the founder, director and “Wild Way Ring Leader” of Earth Keepers. She has dedicated her life thus far to being an Earth Keeper herself and a carrier of the ancestral skills we all share as humans. 

From a child, walking barefoot down forest paths, trying to teach herself how to weave baskets and collect wild food, Hilary has continued to pursue a life track that weaves together nature connection, art, music and people. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities and Sociology from Northern Arizona University and has studied primitive living and wilderness survival skills from nationally acclaimed instructors. She has traveled all over the country teaching traditional living skills and operating her own nature-connection programs for children. She also holds a certification in Wild Foraging from the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. 

In Earth Keepers, she plays the role of lead instructor, imagineer, wilderness connector, wild crafter, space-setter, activities instigator, open-minded organizer, gratitude advocate, songstress and parent wrangler. 

Jimmie and Christina Davis are the parents of Hilary and Chloey who raised their four kids steeped in a life of nature connection, music and folk arts in Prescott, Arizona. Jimmie was a designer for an aviation company but also worked at a folk lore music center and played traditional string instruments as a hobby. Christina ran a nature- based preschool out of their home for 30 years where Hilary and Chloey were the first kids and, later, youth counselors for her summer nature camps and year-long programs. 

Jimmie and Christina were at the ground level of starting Skyview Charter School where their children went before they became homeschooled. They are passionate about connecting families to nature which is why they are overjoyed to be able to host the Earth Keepers school on their land and help hold the container for the programs. 

We call them the “Elderberries” and they play the role of elders, keepers of wisdom, music makers, tenders of children, space supporters, grandparent guides and magic helpers. 

Pippi Weerheim is an Earth Keeper and 5th generation Sandpoint native. She is a confident, resilient and talented wildcrafter and wilderness enthusiast who has been a student of earth skills for most of her life and has been training with Ms. Hilary and Earth Keepers school for the past 6 years. 

She is an encouraging and enthusiastic presence at Earth Keepers with a range of nature related passions like forestry, weaving and working with horses.

In Earth Keepers she is the assistant teacher as well as the play coordinator, wilderness challenger, basket weaver, music collaborator and wildling wrangler.

Chloey Davis is an instigator of creativity and play at Earth Keepers. With a diverse background in the arts she inspires children and adults alike with the magical way she moves through the world. 

Chloey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bluegrass, Old Time and Country Music studies with a minor in Fine Art from East Tennessee State University. She has been a nature camp counselor for almost two decades and has run her own art classes for children as well as working at The Home School Academy as an art, storytelling and American folk music teacher. She also gives private music lessons on the five string banjo. 

Previously a lead instructor for three year in Earth Keepers, she now steps in periodically to help with art, storytelling, amazing puppet shows, music and forest play.