The FAR OUT School is an inspirational tool for encouraging growth, not an institutional mold of set methods. It is an opportunity for people to meet, share ideas, work together and have fun.

Join the FAR OUT tribe

Look at photos of a FAR OUT day in Roblito and a dream come true on the Mountain of Death.

Mexico's Central Pacific Coast

Head-quarters: Palmillas, Sinaloa. This friendly slow-paced village at the base of the Sierra Madre mountain range has a population of approximately 2000 inhabitants--- who sustain a living from mango orchards, cattle herds and fishing the pristine Agua Grande estuary-- the winter destination of many waterfowl that live in Canada during warmer months.

Dominating the skyline above the village, Cerro Del Muerto, "The Mountain of Death," is named for the shape of it’s outline--similar to a man on his back-- which is how I found myself contemplating death by dehydration several hours after reaching the summit and discovering a hole in my water bag. The mountain’s steep terrain and labyrinth of thorn bushes has had few challengers. The FAR OUT School’s first project is to create a safe path ascending the mountain, then to lead groups of locals to the summit as a symbol of over-coming great obstacles. Other projects will include community clean-ups and workshops encouraging composting, recycling and water conservation.

The village is split by a highway continuously noisy with the sound of traffic which makes teaching and learning difficult in near-by elementary, junior high and high schools. In peaceful solitude half way up Cerro Del Muerto, we'll create a cargo-net-hammock camp high in the tree tops, offering a safe and comfortable wilderness experience. Learning is fun outside... where life is.

While in the village a man asked if we could see the moon in Canada. Two other men were interested to learn that the sun doesn’t go around the Earth, but the opposite is true. We each have something to teach.

Local Coordinators: Elfego Hernandez, pictured below with his family, owns the largest house in Palmillas and welcomes FAR OUT guests. His father in-law, also in the photo, owns land near-by where FAR OUT folk can camp and grow crops. Elfego is a professional soccer referee and speaks good English.

Julio lives with his wife Claudia and two daughters in Tecuala(between Palmillas and Roblito). He teaches english, makes silk screen t-shirts for his shop, El Negrito, and will teach FAR OUT surf lessons on Playa Novillero. View a detailed topographical map to see these FAR OUT locations.

Field camp: Robilito, Nayarit(south-west of Palmillas, ten miles through Agua Grande). Far from the hustle and bustle of business, greedy dreams of politics and the noise of motor vehicles, a settlement of 120 people, like one large family, live in harmony on a secluded peninsula. They live close to the earth, in dirt floor huts, sharing their space with chickens and pigs, carving wooden paddles, weaving fish nets, and eating beans with tortillas every meal. Their economy is based on fishing, chilli farming, and selling sacks of oyster shells from massive piles formed by ancient ancestors, where artifacts are often found. When in season, shrimp and a variety of fruit trees make life delicious.

Paddling a dug-out canoe to a favorite fishing spot at sunrise, sucking on cold Coronas over billiards in mid-afternoon, and barefoot soccer games without score keepers are part of the daily routine. "Tranquilo" is the word-- a relaxing shift down from the high-tech, fast-paced world of life in the city. From the perspective of North American modern popular culture, the people of Robilito are "poor" and live in "impoverished conditions." On the contrary, I was inspired by their community-- their common sharing nature. They have hearts of gold, rich with self respect. These people prove it is possible to live happily with little money.

Roblito Accommodations: Gabe and Vicky have me live with them like family. They have a large plot of land in the center of Roblito where additional housing structures and a community center can be built. Vicky's father, Bernardo, has provided a football field size plot in a secluded area 4km north of the village where the FAR OUT field camp will be located.

Destinations / activities:

Tepic, Nayarit--------Huichol arts and crafts
San Blas, Nayarit-----Jungle boat tour guided by environmental activist, Jonny Bananas.
Creel, Chihuahua------Hiking & hot springs in Copper Canyon
Mexcaltitan, Nayarit--"The Venice of Mexico"
Teacapan, Sinaloa-----Deep sea shark fishing.
Mazatlan, Sinaloa-----Urban life, beach bumming, surfing and brick oven pizza making.

Optional activities:

Jewelry making
Photography
Web site creation
Rock climbing
Agua Grande Canoe trip --a bird watcher’s wet dream.
Paint ball war with slingshots on the "Mountain of Death."
Acoustic music
Sunrise yoga
Abstract sculpture
Sweat lodge
Horseback riding
Drama and dance