Nature Awareness School

About the Staff

INSTRUCTOR, Del Hall

Classes are taught by Del Hall who lives with his wife Lynne, at the school, in the mountains of Virginia. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and has a Master of Science Degree. Del was a Navy Fighter Pilot and Jet Flight Instructor. After leaving the Navy, he was an aerospace training consultant to large aircraft manufacturing and training companies.

Although Del has a technical background, his love is in helping students increase their confidence and awareness using nature as a vehicle. For over thirty years Del has eaten and studied wild edible plants. For years he has practiced primitive living skills and has attended most of the county's best outdoor schools. Del has learned from Native Americans and people like Tom Brown, Jr., the nationally-known wilderness instructor, tracker, and author of a number of outdoor living guides. Del graduated from ten of Tom's courses and was often a guest instructor at Tom's wilderness school.

Del has been trained in living close to nature, from the deserts to the woodlands, and also in sea survival. He led the "Hall Yukon Expedition" in 1972 that was sponsored by the recreation division of the Bureau of Land Management. He traveled down the Yukon River by canoe from Eagle, Alaska to Fort Yukon. Del wrote a research paper and took 300 photographs for the Bureau of Land Management. His outdoor activities have also included scuba diving, rock climbing, parachuting, surfing, and backpacking. Del has written a number of articles for magazines on wild edible plants. In 1991, Del also published a book entitled "Tanning the Native American Way."

Del has for years facilitated both the experiencing and understanding of the "softer side" of life. To those who are interested and ready, he shows them how to have their own spiritual experiences while fully conscious. He then gently helps with understanding and integrating these experiences into daily life. While some wilderness skills can be learned quickly, gaining spiritual wisdom and maturity is a life-long journey. (Notice the many years and levels of spiritual retreats offered.)

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, Lynne Hall

Lynne Hall is the "mom" of the Nature Awareness School. From the moment that you arrive in the parking area, she will make sure that your stay is pleasant. Lynne often aids Del in teaching the edible plant classes.