Renee Jenkinson's work grows from a single root: that belonging to place, community,and the living world is both the condition for human flourishing and the work itself. For over twenty years she has taught wilderness medicine, built programs for young people, and offered therapeutic support across wild landscapes and deep learning communities.

Education, Certifications & Training

Current Work & Projects

The Web of Life is one of seven pathways in Ecstatic Mysticism , a radical and profound 3 year initiatory program that focuses on educating and preparing self-aware, mature, and skillful seekers and leaders who can be of service to their communities and to the world. The Web of Life The Web of Life pathway invites students into an experiential exploration of radical interconnectedness—between self, community, Earth, and cosmos. Grounded in systems thinking and deep ecology, this pathway examines how personal, cultural, and planetary systems interweave, and how ecological and social crises reflect deeper relational fractures. Students explore themes of human ecology, conflict, grief, and regeneration through a lens of belonging and responsibility.
Across the Web of Life pathway, students are introduced to forms of sacred activism. Through workshops on intercultural relations, service, and community engagement, participants explore how spiritual insight can inform real-world projects. The pathway supports students in aligning spiritual life, ecological awareness, and collective engagement into a coherent, embodied practice of service.
Earth + Sky is a ten-day backcountry pilgrimage and the experiential heart of the Web of Life pathway. Participants travel on foot through wilderness, unplugged from technology, living and learning directly on the land. The journey draws on wilderness medicine, somatic practice, deep ecology, and place-based pedagogy to explore themes of belonging, reconnection, and reciprocity. I co-create, organize, and co-lead the full experience — from curriculum design and logistics to teaching and facilitation in the field.
2024–Present I offer individual support for psychedelic preparation and integration through Radical Radicle . My work draws on over a decade of facilitation, somatic training, and three years of clinical psychedelic therapy education, and a MA in Integrative Psychedelic Therapy.
Mt. Hood, Oregon & Pacific NW | 2020–Present I founded and direct Pacific Wilds , offering NOLS Wilderness Medicine trainings on Mt. Hood, in Portland, and across the Pacific Northwest and Hawai'i. Courses can be brought to your school or organization.
US, Sweden, Mexico, India, Japan | 2004–Present For over twenty years I've taught wilderness medicine for NOLS — the global leader in the field with 175,000+ graduates — working with astronauts, Antarctic scientists, military personnel, aid workers, activists, and outdoor professionals worldwide.

MA in Integrative Psychedelic Therapy | Ubiquity University | 2026
Psychedelic Therapy Training | AWE | 2022-2025 | Psychedelic Therapy, Transpersonal Psychology, and Indigenous Wisdom (Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Gabon).
B.S. Public Health Education and Program Development | Portland State University | 2003
HAKOMI MINDFUL SOMATIC PSYCHOTHERAPY | 2021 | Online Workshop
SOMATIC EXPERIENCING | 2021 | Online Workshop
KE KUMU ‘ĀINA | 2019-2020 - Waimea HI | A year long environmental education program designed to Hawaii Department of Education standards and Nā Hopena A‘o (HĀ - breath) outcomes.
METEOROLOGY, CLIMATE, & KILO COHORT | 2019 - 2020 - Big Island HI | A year long cohort in an ʻāina-based educational program focused on weather, kilo, and climate science. Presented by the Kohala Center in partnership with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), National Weather Service, Nā Kālai Waʻa Makaliʻi Voyaging Ohana, and Mauna Loa Observatory.
RISK MANAGEMENT FOR ADMINISTRATORS TRAINING | 2017 - San Francisco CA | Training for program administrators to build an action plan to improve risk management practices, strengths and areas for growth. Facilitated and taught by NOLS Risk Management.
DESIGN WEEK PORTLAND | THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION PRESENTER | 2014 | Co-presented a workshop on the future of education called: Beyond Grades, Walls, and Online Learning: The Future of Education in a Freelance World with collaborator Meredith Goddard. Meredith and I also collaborated on creating the Gender Gap Year where we won Hatch Soup III.
COURAGE TO TEACH | 2007-2008 - Honolulu HI | Year long workshop presented by the Center for Courage and Renewal and based on the work of Parker Palmer exploring the connection between the inner life of educators and the renewal of public education.
NOLS LEADS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM | 2004 - Lander WY | Leadership training professional development program for Instructors at the National Outdoor Leadership School
NOLS WILDERNESS RISK MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE | 2012, 2015, 2019
Emergency Medical Technician since 2001
Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician since 2001
Healthcare Provider CPR since 2001
USGBC Green Classroom Professional
Martha Beck Trained Life Coach
Behavioral First Responder since 2019
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
ACE Certified Group Exercise Instructor
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
Level II Ropes Course Facilitator
14 passenger bus driver
Zumba Instructor

Past & Other Projects

Teaching

Waimea, Hawai'i | 2005–2008 I taught General Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Health at HPA on the Big Island of Hawai’i, while also coaching varsity cross country, serving as a girls' dorm parent, and supporting the environmental club.
Portland, Oregon | 2011–2017 & 2020–2021 I taught Outdoor Skills, Leadership, Creative Writing, and Health across 6th–12th grade, and delivered the 2021 Post Covid Senior Seminar address.

Wilderness Program Leadership

Waimea, Hawai'i | 2017–2020 I designed and built HPA's place-based outdoor program for grades 9–12 from the ground up — supporting faculty in experiential curriculum, leading backcountry trips, and helping bring to life a senior capstone in traditional Hawaiian voyaging.
Portland, Oregon | 2011–2016 I developed and led wilderness expeditions for grades 6–12, coached high school rock climbing, and managed the school's ropes courses for internal and public groups.
Big Island, Hawai'i | 2015–2019 I Ola Hawaii was a place based teen camp offering wilderness and service-based journeys in personal empowerment — rooted in the land, community, and the place that shaped me as a young person.
Portland, Oregon | 2017 A free coming-of-age wilderness week for 12–15 year old girls in Oregon with scholarship support raised through community events.

Life Coaching

Since 2009 I've offered one-on-one coaching and workshops focused on reclaiming attention and shifting perspective in an economy that profits from both. I trained with Martha Beck in 2008.

Program Administration & Support

Hawai'i Preparatory Academy | 2018–2020 I directed the school-wide development of HPA's Whole School Sustainability Plan — a year-long, metrics-driven collaboration with students, families, cultural practitioners, and industry experts. The resulting framework and published plan was adopted by the board in 2019 and is now in its fifth year of implementation.
EKONE RANCH | GOLDENDALE WASHINGTON | 2010-2013
Developed and led outdoor skill component of visiting Waldorf school fifth grade field trips. Provided medical staff training.
PORTLAND WALDORF | PORTLAND OREGON | 2011
Co-developed and co-led high school outdoor trips.
SIGNAL FIRE ARTS | OREGON | 2008
Co-developed and co-led the maiden backpacking trip for this incredible backcountry artist’s residency program.
ALPENGIRL INC | 2001-2006
Spent five summers developing programming and guiding teen girl adventures in Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, Washington, Hawai‘i, Sweden & Norway.
2020–Present I help steward this historic gathering place through work parties, emergency resilience programming, and community events.

Storytelling

I've performed on the Back Fence PDX main stage and in Russian Roulette shows. A selection of my stories is on this site.
I co-founded this Portland nonprofit with Portland high school students, which offered free storytelling workshops to youth and filled venues like the Mission Theater and Hollywood Theater with young people sharing stories on themes of risk, acceptance, and fear. Watch some of their stories here.
2024–Present I produce and host a monthly community storytelling night in the Upper Hood River Valley, where neighbors share place-based stories around a rotating theme.