About
4 Elements Earth Education was founded by Rick Berry who began attending Tracker School classes in 1986, at the age of 15. One of the cornerstone lessons that deeply impacted his life was the emphasis placed on seeking a vision or life's purpose that is guided by the heart, that is full of passion, intensity and centers around love and purpose.
This seed of self discovery, passed from Grandfather Stalking Wolf to Tom Brown Jr to Rick, grew through his training in awareness and earth skills. His path continued to be nourished by inspiring life experiences such as his time in the remote Klamath Range where Gary Morris shared with him Old Ways of the Pue-lik-lo', original Down River Peoples.
Through many years of living close to the Earth and Spiritual training, Rick found himself wanting to give back what he was given and started teaching youth. With a defined vision of guiding youth to the Old Ways of our ancestors and closer to Nature, Rick began teaching youth in 1991 and a decade later became Director of Children of the Earth Foundation (COTEF) in 2001. Years later, Rick would create 4EEE, with the support and encouragement of Juan Villarreal, who continues to be a contributing force within the organization.
In the creation of 4EEE 14 years ago, Rick became acquainted with Don Ryberg, Tribal Chairman of the Siakumne who would create a significant Partnership with 4EEE. This partnership has re-indigenized our education, as we have been sanctioned by the Tribe to teach aspects of their Ecological Knowledge. Our partnership has also afforded our Fox Walkers youth to experience a village setting in which the Tribe also holds a ceremonial cycle open to the community.
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Coyote Tracks started on the East Coast as a youth program under Tracker School. In 2001 Coyote Tracks led to the nonprofit “Children of the Earth Foundation” (COTEF), with a goal to provide affordable youth and family programs through the help of donations from the Tracker community and beyond. Rick Berry served as Director for 8 years before moving West.
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Rick Berry moved west and founded 4 Elements Earth Education Inc. (4E) on the same Vision as Coyote Tracks and with the help of Juan Villarreal and support from Tom Brown Jr.
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4EEE absorbed the Children of the Earth Foundation at Tom Brown Jr.’s request; and we now run Coyote Tracks on the East Coast and Fox Walkers on the West Coast, under our 501(c)(3) nonprofit, 4 Elements Earth Education.
4EEE Timeline
Our Evolution
- Clarification on our different names.
4 Elements Earth Education (4EEE) is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit that offers programs for youth, teens and families in 4 major locations: California, Philadelphia, New Jersey and South Texas.
In California, we run year round Youth day programs locally named Fox Walkers. We also run Teen, Family and Adult programs as 4EEE.
In Philadelphia, we run year round Youth day programs locally named Coyote Tracks. We also run Family and Adult programs as 4EEE.
The Programs offered in New Jersey at the Primitive Camp & surrounding areas, South Texas at Red Sun Ranch and any other locations are run under 4 Elements Earth Education.
Fox Walkers and Coyote Tracks are names of youth only programs and are not necessarily the names of a branch of our organization.
“All of us will continue to inspire, teach, and lead children back to the Earth as Grandfather had requested so long ago. His Vision now has expanded fully to both coasts, and we can give back to native children what Grandfather had given me.”
- Tom Brown Jr.
