Explore. Discover. Learn. Grow.

The Outside Institute was founded in 2017 in the Upper Lenape Valley to foster a greater connection to the Earth. By nurturing humanity's powers of observation and innate affinity for the wild, we hope to combat plant blindness and inspire an essential reciprocity between all beings.

Our year-round program includes guided nature walks, sustainable foraging education, wildcrafting workshops and botanical mixology. We are lucky to collaborate with local experts in botany, herbalism, plant dyes, natural cosmetics and more. In 2023, we opened our first outpost with classroom space and a small shop at 39 Lower Main Street in scenic Callicoon, NY.

Food is also an important component of The Outside Institute. Our gatherings typically include a celebration of Nature’s bounty through delicious, nutrient-rich ingredients that are native to place.

Laura Chávez Silverman, a writer and branding consultant, is the Founding Naturalist of The Outside Institute. A desire to share her deep love of Nature inspired this venture. Laura is available for private walks and land assessments, retreats and botanical mixology. She is a polished and compelling speaker on topics including the psychic and health benefits of engaging with Nature, sustainable foraging and how interconnected systems inspire better living. From 2010-17, Laura wrote Glutton for Life, a blog that explored Catskill living, including cooking with seasonal and foraged foods, gardening and communing with Nature.