Our Mission
The Uncivilized Living Foundation runs outdoor programs and fieldcraft experiences designed to bring the health and well-being benefits of time in nature to underserved groups. It focuses on serving children and adults with special needs, people with PTSD, and economically disadvantaged youth by organizing day camps, guided overnight fieldcraft events, and chapter-based activities; programming is supported by membership fees, events, program sales, and donations.
Donate Now
Our Impact
Countries We Serve
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The organization supporting this mission is the Uncivilized Nations, a series of independent chapters that meet regularly to study and practice Uncivilized Vitality, a program of health and happiness optimization developed by Dr. Jon Morey. This program is based on certain aspects of pre-civilized hunter gatherer lifestyles from around the world. Aspects of their daily life that keep humans happy and healthy for hundreds of thousands of years. A commonly believed statement is that life before civilization was "nasty, poor, brutish, and short." This is a common misconception. Time in nature can be very healthy for and even healing. Populations that we seek to serve: children and adults with special needs, children and adults who are differently abled, children from economically disadvantage situations, and children and adults suffering from PTSD. An outdoor event or campaign experience can be arranged for any group through a simple donation/fee structure, but the populations mentioned above have the events organized and conducted free of any cost to the participants. Your donations help us cover the cost of gear and staffing on the special events. Details will vary with each event, but fully vetted ULF staffers will handle all the camp and fieldcraft needs and generally are placed in a one ratio with each participant. "I founded the ULF as a way to increase the number of people I could help with the ideas of the Uncivilized Vitality program. As someone on the spectrum myself, I know firsthand how rejuvenating and healing a weekend camping trip and nature can be. The Japanese recognize and regularly use forest bathing as an important piece of daily self-care. The regular trips into nature go hand-in-hand with the health and well-being portion of my Uncivilized Vitality program; advice in the areas of movement, nourishment, restoration, hygiene, and community. I have been leading campaigns and forest adventures for small groups in the wilds of Northern Michigan since the early 1990s and hope to continue doing so for another 50 years!" -Dr. Jon D. Morey
