Image 1 of 1
How to Befriend a Mountain (Full Program Registration - Nov thru Jun)
How to Befriend a Mountain is an eco-arts portal of sacred kinship and reciprocity with Hook Mountain.
From November through June, participants will gather for monthly sessions at the base of Hook mountain, communing with the land and our more-than-human kin through art channeling, listening, and ecological study.
Guided by Filipinx interdisciplinary sound artist, nature recordist, and medium Zaneta Sykes, participants will learn to sense the deeper layers of interconnectedness with our home ecology and explore our interwoven nature through interdisciplinary art practice, nature journaling, birding, listening, field recording, sounding, writing, and ritual. Forming a deep relationship with this sacred land and ecology through multi-modal exploration, community insights, and interspecies collaboration.
The series will culminate in an eco-ritual for the mountain, where we gather our art created over the 8 months and offer it to the mountain in reciprocity, care, and celebration.
Registration
Registration is for the entire program series, 8 monthly sessions in total, running Nov 2026 through June 2027.
The first 3 sessions are confirmed: Nov 29, Dec 13, and Jan 10, 9:00am-11:30am. Feb-Jun dates are TBD but will be confirmed at least a month prior and guaranteed to take place on a weekend morning.
By registering for the entire series you are reserving your spot for all monthly sessions.
Registration Benefits
Discounted session rates. $40/session vs $55/drop-in session rate. Total program $320 vs $440.
15% discount on specialized workshops, with topics such as plant-dying, foraging, and herbalism with invasive species, animal communication, elemental stewardship and sustainability, and other specific ecological, creative, and spiritual workshops centered around Hook Mountain.
Membership to the How to Befriend a Mountain Substack Community Chat, where you can share nature observations, plant/animal ID questions, art channelings, dreams, and insights, and connect more with fellow mountain friends.
Access to the How to Befriend a Mountain Substack Page and Newsletter where Zaneta will share monthly nature observations and channelings from Hook Mountain, and compile community resources, research, photos, audio and video recordings, and prompts for creative practice and eco-spiritual exploration.
Help support BIPOC scholarship spots for folks in need of financial assistance.
Sustain the behind the scenes, mycelial work that makes a multi-faceted program like this possible. Everything from rituals of reciprocity with the land to activism to research to community relationship-building, logistics and more.
Cancelation/Refund Policies
Registration is non-transferrable.
Refunds are available up to 1 week prior to the first scheduled session on Sunday Nov 29, afterwards are no refunds.
There are no make ups or credits for missed sessions.
Inclement Weather + Rescheduling
Sessions will run rain or shine, even with a little bit of snow or colder temps. We are fortunate to have indoor spaces with heating, and can hold our sessions indoors with the mountain close by.
In the case of serious storms, we will likely reschedule the session to another weekend date. However, if we're unable to find a suitable rain date, the session credit will be refunded.
Accessibility
This session includes a hybrid of outdoor and indoor activities. The grounds are relatively flat with mostly grass. Occasionally we will venture into the trail head into the mountain, which has some rockier and steeper inclines. While the buildings are wheelchair accessible, the grounds are better for walkers. Bathrooms and heating are available.
Parking
Marydell Faith and Life Center is located at 640 North Midland Ave, Nyack, NY 10960. Please pull into Gate 3 on Larchdale Ave (not the main gate) and park in this area.
Meeting Location
We will meet in one of two buildings, either the Katari Lodge (red barn closest to the mountain) or the Dining Hall next to the parking area. An email will go out the day before confirming which building we're meeting in. You can also reach Zaneta soundartmagic@gmail.com
Things to Bring
Water Bottle
Nature Journal/Pen (highly recommend a dedicated journal thats good for sketching or watercolor use)
Art-making supplies (All mediums and modalities welcome, but keep in mind this is a quiet shared creative space)
Offering for the Altar of Kinship (art, flower, poem, fruit, an item of beauty etc)
Sturdy outdoor shoes
Layers for warmth
Tick prevention (treating clothes with Permthin, ZapWare, Tick Spray etc)
Optional: Hiking poles, a foldable chair or sit pad for outdoor use
How to Befriend a Mountain is an eco-arts portal of sacred kinship and reciprocity with Hook Mountain.
From November through June, participants will gather for monthly sessions at the base of Hook mountain, communing with the land and our more-than-human kin through art channeling, listening, and ecological study.
Guided by Filipinx interdisciplinary sound artist, nature recordist, and medium Zaneta Sykes, participants will learn to sense the deeper layers of interconnectedness with our home ecology and explore our interwoven nature through interdisciplinary art practice, nature journaling, birding, listening, field recording, sounding, writing, and ritual. Forming a deep relationship with this sacred land and ecology through multi-modal exploration, community insights, and interspecies collaboration.
The series will culminate in an eco-ritual for the mountain, where we gather our art created over the 8 months and offer it to the mountain in reciprocity, care, and celebration.
Registration
Registration is for the entire program series, 8 monthly sessions in total, running Nov 2026 through June 2027.
The first 3 sessions are confirmed: Nov 29, Dec 13, and Jan 10, 9:00am-11:30am. Feb-Jun dates are TBD but will be confirmed at least a month prior and guaranteed to take place on a weekend morning.
By registering for the entire series you are reserving your spot for all monthly sessions.
Registration Benefits
Discounted session rates. $40/session vs $55/drop-in session rate. Total program $320 vs $440.
15% discount on specialized workshops, with topics such as plant-dying, foraging, and herbalism with invasive species, animal communication, elemental stewardship and sustainability, and other specific ecological, creative, and spiritual workshops centered around Hook Mountain.
Membership to the How to Befriend a Mountain Substack Community Chat, where you can share nature observations, plant/animal ID questions, art channelings, dreams, and insights, and connect more with fellow mountain friends.
Access to the How to Befriend a Mountain Substack Page and Newsletter where Zaneta will share monthly nature observations and channelings from Hook Mountain, and compile community resources, research, photos, audio and video recordings, and prompts for creative practice and eco-spiritual exploration.
Help support BIPOC scholarship spots for folks in need of financial assistance.
Sustain the behind the scenes, mycelial work that makes a multi-faceted program like this possible. Everything from rituals of reciprocity with the land to activism to research to community relationship-building, logistics and more.
Cancelation/Refund Policies
Registration is non-transferrable.
Refunds are available up to 1 week prior to the first scheduled session on Sunday Nov 29, afterwards are no refunds.
There are no make ups or credits for missed sessions.
Inclement Weather + Rescheduling
Sessions will run rain or shine, even with a little bit of snow or colder temps. We are fortunate to have indoor spaces with heating, and can hold our sessions indoors with the mountain close by.
In the case of serious storms, we will likely reschedule the session to another weekend date. However, if we're unable to find a suitable rain date, the session credit will be refunded.
Accessibility
This session includes a hybrid of outdoor and indoor activities. The grounds are relatively flat with mostly grass. Occasionally we will venture into the trail head into the mountain, which has some rockier and steeper inclines. While the buildings are wheelchair accessible, the grounds are better for walkers. Bathrooms and heating are available.
Parking
Marydell Faith and Life Center is located at 640 North Midland Ave, Nyack, NY 10960. Please pull into Gate 3 on Larchdale Ave (not the main gate) and park in this area.
Meeting Location
We will meet in one of two buildings, either the Katari Lodge (red barn closest to the mountain) or the Dining Hall next to the parking area. An email will go out the day before confirming which building we're meeting in. You can also reach Zaneta soundartmagic@gmail.com
Things to Bring
Water Bottle
Nature Journal/Pen (highly recommend a dedicated journal thats good for sketching or watercolor use)
Art-making supplies (All mediums and modalities welcome, but keep in mind this is a quiet shared creative space)
Offering for the Altar of Kinship (art, flower, poem, fruit, an item of beauty etc)
Sturdy outdoor shoes
Layers for warmth
Tick prevention (treating clothes with Permthin, ZapWare, Tick Spray etc)
Optional: Hiking poles, a foldable chair or sit pad for outdoor use