Learn sustainable building techniques from seasoned Earthship Specialists.
Earthship Biotecture is committed to offering extensive educational and training opportunities globally incorporating off-grid design principles, construction methods, and philosophy.
NEXT ACADEMY SESSIONS :
In Person ~ 2022
Session 2: June 6th - July 1st ~ Full
Session 3: July 4th - 29th ~ Full
Session 4: September 5th - 30th
Session 5: October 3rd - 28th
Session 6: November 7th - December 2nd
Online Sessions 2022:
Winter Session: January - March
Spring Session: April - June
Summer Session: July - September
Autumn Session: October - December
*Please note you can start any session at any time
“Having completed an Academy session 2 years ago all I can say is, go do it...Incredible experience learning from Michael Reynolds and his team of Earthship experts (Warriors). You’ll meet like minded individuals and learn new skills which will give you the confidence and know how to build and promote these beautiful sustainable buildings.”
Who we are:
The Earthship Biotecture Academy offers extensive training in Earthship design principles, construction methods, and philosophy. Academy classes, labs, tours, and hands-on construction techniques are led by top Earthship builders, electricians, plumbers, and plant specialists. The Academy offers education for those who are excited to learn and live the Earthship philosophy and help expand it globally. The Earthship Academies happen several time a year in Taos, and sometimes also in different countries (International Academies) but the core of the program and the quality of the teaching is always the same.
Earthship Biotecture Academy partners with Western Colorado University’s two-year Master in Environmental Management graduate degree. Participants in the academy can also earn undergraduate credit to be applied to their bachelor’s degrees in universities across the world. In addition, AmeriCorps volunteers can apply their Segal Education Award to attending the Earthship Biotecture Academy.
Earthship Academy partners with Western Colorado University’s two-year Master in Environmental Management graduate degree. Participants in the Earthship Academy can also earn undergraduate credit to be applied to their bachelor’s degrees in universities across the world.
AmeriCorps volunteers can apply their Segal Education Award to attending the Earthship Biotecture Academy.
Who you are:
The Academy has trained over 3000 students from around the world. Students come from diverse backgrounds, many are trained architects, municipal planners, artists, teachers, industrial designers, professional builders, community and environmental activists. There are no prerequisites to attend our program, however applicants must be self-reliant and prepared to work in an intense group environment and take care of themselves physically, financially, and emotionally.
GRADUATION FROM THE ACADEMY
There is no time limit on completing the path to graduation. Some students pursue their degrees in Earthship Biotecture aggressively, others are content with the knowledge they gain during their Academy session and do not strive to graduate.
Here are the 3 steps towards the Graduation Requirements:
Step 1- ACADEMY SESSIONS:
Complete an Academy session in Taos or a Global session (95% attendance in the classroom and participation in hands-on work as well as a passing grade on the Final Exam are required). This Step 1 session will soon also be available online.
STEP 2- FIELD STUDY:
Students receive credit towards this requirement by participating in an official Earthship Biotecture Field Studies project. Field Study opportunities are intended to help further student's knowledge of hands-on building techniques by inviting them to work alongside the Earthship Biotecture crew on a ground up build. They are usually offered 2 to 3 times a year in the US and internationally. Projects range in duration from 2-8 weeks. There are two types of Field Studies offered: client builds, and humanitarian builds. For either type of Field Study, students are responsible for their own transportation, food and lodging.
STEP 3- INDEPENDENT STUDY:
The Independent Study may take place anywhere in the world and may be physical (launching a demonstration project in China, staging and facilitating a relief project in Haiti) or digital (designing a CAD model of an Earthship city in Turkey, mapping Pockets of Freedom in Australia). Students may propose their Independent Study after they complete the Academy Session and Field Studies requirements. Independent Studies must receive written approval from Academy Staff and are subject to review to qualify for credit.
ACADEMY SESSIONS (Step 1)
TUITION:
In Person- $2,500 USD (+New Mexico Tax apply) ~ 4 weeks long
Online- $1,200 USD
Specials:
10% off for pairs doing the academy together and students who have completed the internship
$500 usd off for all Western Colorado University (WCU) students
$1,000 usd off for all students registered in WCU’s Masters in Environmental Management
Only one discount applied at a time.
Please note, we have a “no refund” policy but may be used towards future sessions for up to 2 years. In the event of cancellation 2 weeks or less before the start of the session date, your deposit will be kept. In the event of cancellation more than 2 weeks prior to the session, we will withhold a 15% administrative fee from your credit.
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The curriculum for each session is identical and consists of classes, labs, hands-on construction, and tours of many Earthship and pre-Earthship buildings. You only need to attend one of the sessions.
Sessions are intensive and are six days a week for four weeks. Half of the time is spent in the classroom and half on learning hands-on techniques on the construction sites.
An initial $500 deposit is required to confirm your space at the Academy. The remaining tuition balance must be paid before the start of your session.
We recommend purchasing Earthship Volume 1 (We offer 50% discount to our students) and the Simple Survival Earthship APP from the App store, prior to arrival at the Academy Session
Earthship Academy Sessions in Taos:
2022
Session 2: June 6th - July 1st ~ full
Session 3: July 4th - 29th ~ full
Session 4: September 5th - 30th
Session 5: October 3rd - 28th
Session 6: November 7th - December 2nd
To register, you can fill the application form online or you can download it and email it to us at [email protected] or mail it to
Earthship Biotecture Academy
P.O. Box 3781.
Taos, NM 87571
or
Due to the current situation, you will also have to wear a mask and get your temperature taken.
Share your COVID test result with us here, OR give us a call at the office at: +1 575-613-4888
PLEASE NOTE: We also recommend that you purchase travel insurance prior to your session, especially if you are flying to our Academies.
In person Academies in Taos, NM, USA
Students typically work on at least two different Earthship construction projects, usually a Global Model Earthship and a Simple Survival Earthship and/or an experimental project like E.V.E. (Earthship Village Ecologies). Instructors divide the class into smaller groups and work on a variety of aspects like such as pounding tires, can and bottle wall construction, adobe mud pack-out and plaster, carpentry, roofing, glazing and independent power and water systems.
Classroom
Classes are typically an hour and a half long.
Partial list of Academy classes:
History and Evolution of the Earthship Concept
Thermal/Solar Heating and Cooling
Building with Natural and Recycled Materials
Water Harvesting, Storage and Filtration
Contained Sewage Treatment
Food Production in Earthships
Sustainable Retrofit for Conventional Homes
Building permit process for Earthships
Staging an Earthship build
and more!
Labs
The Labs give students a chance to go in-depth with technical aspects of the Earthship systems. With guidance from our Plumbing Specialist, students build a Water Organizing Module and learn about all filters, pumps and valves. Students also do hands-on basic electrical wiring for lights and switches. During the Earthship Maintenance Lab students learn all aspects of caring for an Earthship building from servicing the batteries for the solar system to cleaning out the grease and particle unit of the gray water system.
Tours
Students participate in guided tours of at least 15 different Earthships and pre-Earthship experimental buildings. These tours showcase a variety of Earthship types: Packaged, Modular, Custom, Global, and Simple Survival. On many of the visits, the residents of the Earthship are present to answer questions about their homes including modifications they have made and how they have made their lifestyle fit their building.
Campus
The Earthship Academy is based at the Greater World Earthship Community which is the world's largest sustainable, approved subdivision and home to the world's first Sustainable Development Testing Site. Classes are held at the Academy Classroom which is housed in a modular Earthship at the entrance to the community. Hands-on building takes place within the community, on the the Test Site and at other locations in the Taos area.
Optional Housing
Housing through the Earthship Academy is entirely optional. However, for those interested in an immersive Earthship experience, we offer very basic, dormitory-style housing to Academy students for an additional fee. The accommodations include pre-Earthship designs, Earthship-inspired buildings, and our latest Simple Survival models.
Some of the water and power systems of these buildings are designed for minimal use only, not for ideal modern creature comfort. These spaces are rustic and you must be prepared for camping-like conditions.
Mattresses are provided, but you will need to bring bedding and a pillow. You will need to be prepared for keeping your food in a cooler (provided). There is free wifi available in most locations.
These spaces are limited and are offered on a first come, first served basis.
Dog-friendly housing is limited and requires an additional $100 dog fee. For a second dog, the dog fee is $75. 2 dogs max.
Cleaning Deposit / Check Out Policy
A $100 cleaning deposit is collected upon arrival to the Academy and is collected during the orientation on the first day of the session. The deposit must be either cash or check.
All Academy housing must be vacated by 3:00 pm the day the session ends.
Your cleaning deposit will be returned to you via mail or PayPal after your session ends if your housing passes the cleaning inspection.
Please note: we are unable to accommodate you before or after your session date because of the short turn-around time between our next session.
Should you choose to camp or find your own housing, we can provide a list of recommendations. Please note camping is not available on the campus itself.
Also, if you are planning on finding your own housing outside of what we offer we strongly advise having a car, as Taos is quite spread out and there is no public transportation.
Email [email protected] or call +1 575 613 4888 if you have any questions concerning housing
EARTHSHIP ACADEMY SCHOLARSHIP
Are you an active community member interested in attending the academy in Taos?
Do you see Earthships influencing your immediate “greater world”?
For 2022, in an effort to create more opportunities for academy participants we are offering a ½ tuition ($1,250usd) and housing ($250usd) scholarship for folks who are active community members, eager to learn Earthship building principles.
Scholarship Candidates: Who should apply?
These half scholarships are intended to empower low-income communities located in rural regions of the US. We are looking for candidates in the following categories:
Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) are especially encouraged to apply
Individuals and/or appointed members of organizations who contribute to their communities in rural/low-income/marginalized areas and/or native American reservations
Individuals studying housing issues and/or low-income housing alternatives
Housing activists and environmental activists
Experienced construction workers passionate about building off-grid communities
"Once all application materials are submitted, applicants receive an email confirming submission. Scholarship recipients are contacted 2 months prior to the session for which they have applied."
ONLINE ACADEMY
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
“It took me 4 years from my first introduction to earthships to the time I conjured up the courage to knock on their door. I stepped in and it was that little bit of madness that creates the magic we all want but refuse to believe in. The people, the ideas, the support; it’s all there. Go for it ... you won’t regret it!”