This orientation document for new students at the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine introduces the school and provides information about registration, classes, schedules, payments, and contact details. It summarizes the school's core values of using Texas medicinal plants, connecting to plant spirits, and making herbalism accessible to the community. It outlines the 300-hour Community Herbalist program and 525-hour Complete Clinical track, including class topics, schedules, locations, and payment plans. Students are instructed to bring signed forms and payments to an orientation meet and greet.

1. Orientation
with Nicole Telkes
Director of
the Wildflower School
of Botanical
Medicine
2015
For New
Students in
the
Community
and Clinical
Programs

2. Welcome to Texas Herbalism

3. Goals of Orientation
• Introduce you to the School
• Guide you through registration
• Introduce you to the teachers
• What to expect in classes
• Schedule
• Where classes are located and how to get
there
• Payments and Payment Plans
• Supplies and Recommended Reading

4. About the Wildflower School
Core Values
 Learning and using bioregional Texas medicinal
plants since
 Weedcrafting and Wildcrafting for the future
 Deepening our connection to Plant Spirits
 Making Herbalists and Herbal Medicine accessible
to all parts of our community
 Honoring oral tradition
 Teaching our families and community responsible
and safe use of herbal medicineaCrossroads:
Medical Model or Folk Followings?

5. About the Wildflower School
Community driven herbal education programs since
2003 in and around Austin Texas. Founded by
Practicing Herbalist, Nicole Telkes who has
been teaching in
Central Texas since
2000. Community
program began in
2005 & Clinical in 2013
Here is one of
The first groups
of students 2005

6. Registration Procedure
http://wildflowerherbschool.com/registration.html
1 Fill out your application on the website link above or go to.
It includes a non refundable application fee of $50
https://spreadsheets.google.com/embeddedform?formke
y=dFk5bEROQms0SmczVjdkWEVtMlpPRnc6MA
Your appointment will be scheduled to address any questions
or concerns and see if you are a fit for the school. Upon
acceptance
2 Make your registration payment of either $350 or $600—we
accept cash, check, charge, paypal or dwolla. Payment
means your space is held.
3 Attend an orientation.
Your spot is held after payment is received but you must
attend an orientation and fill out the application prior to
classes!

7. The Teachers and Staff
Nicole Telkes www.nicoletelkes.com
Founder and Director of the School

8. Teachers and Staff
Carla Vargas-Frank
Practicing Herbalist and
Artist of La Botanica and
the Nomadica Apothecary,
Visits from Arizona now
Stephanie Berry Licensed
Midwife and Practicing
Herbalist, One of Primary
Clinicians in Clinical Program

9. Regular Teachers and Staff
Esther Schroeder: Biochemist, Herbalist,
Alchemist,and Yoga Teacher
Karen Keaton: Homesteader, Botanist, and
Clinical Herbalist
Brennan Paige Courtney: Apothecary Assistant,
Advanced Apprentice, Market Coordinator, TA
Emily Bradford: Apothecary Assistant,
Advanced Apprentice, TA

10. Teachers and Staff
Will Morris President of the
Academy of Oriental
Medicine of Austin, One of Clinical
Teachers
Danielle Handler
Administrator of
Student Affairs, Herbalist
and Arvigo Mayan
Abdominal Therapy Practitioner

11. General Class Information
300 hours Community Herbalist Program offered Fall and
Spring
• Foundational weekend
• Philosophy of Healing from different Models-Ayurveda, Greek,
Physiomedicalist, and TCM
• Hands On Herbal Preparations
• Materia Medica of Local Medicinal Plants and common Western
Herbs
• At home General A&P with Take Home Tests we grade
• Application of Herbs to Western Body Systems and Body Reading
Skills
• Intro to Clinical Skills and First Aid
• Outdoor Skills and Fieldwork, Plant ID, Botany, Plant Walks,
Wildcrafting Ethics
• Personal Project/research
• Managed Apothecary/gardening/community work
• Homework, Journaling and other assignments

12. General Class Information
525 Hour Complete Clinical track consists Community Herbalist
Path (300hrs) + an additional 200 hrs in
 Completion of the 300 hour Community Course
 Focused Clinical Theaters and Case Studies on various
Imbalances/Seasonal Issues
 Specialized Classes in Women’s Health and Healing
 Materia Medica Classes focused around Clinical Theaters
 Specialized Classes in Traditional and Folk Healing from
around the globe
 Specialized Preparation Classes
 6, 30 hour intensives around various clinical themes. May be
taken individually if there is room.
 Pharmacy Project
 Clinical only Advanced portion June-Dec follows community

13. General Class Information
 Program classes close at 20 people
 Outdoor Field Classes, Plant walks and Clinical
theaters are Limited to 13 participants, and
outside of regular schedule
 Special Guest Presenter classes may be larger
 No cell phone use in the classroom
 We break for lunches for 1 hour
 If the class is held outside of town we try to
facilitate carpooling
 Sign your General Class Information Form and
payment plans prior to 1st day of class

14. Schedule
 Community Program Spring, beginning mid
January-May Bimonthly on weekends 3-7PM
Fridays, and 10-5Pm Sat and Sunday 2X a month
 Community Program Fall begins mid September-
May Weekly in the evenings 5-9PM- broken into 2
parts
 Clinical Program runs June-Dec Sat-Thursday 30
hour intensives 1 week a month(2 sections on
weekdays for working folks) centered around
various themes
 Go to our public calendar at for detailed info and
see our handouts
http://wildflowerherbschool.com/calendar.html

15. Location of Classes
 Currently, Classes are held at American
Botanical Council (ABC). ABC is located in
East Austin about 4 mi. from downtown.
 Weekend Classes are held at the Cedar
Creek Property
 Field Classes are held at locations announced
on Texas Herbalism
 Apothecary and Gardening Work centers
around Cedar creek and satellite locations

16. Payments and Payment Plans
 We accept Cash, Check, Charge. We can
send you a paypal link, or swipe your card.
Students paying in cash and through Dwolla
receive $10 off on payments over $500
 Payment Plans are broken into up to 5
payments for the community program and 8
for the clinical. Finance Charges are added
for payment plans. If you are late there are
additional late charges. Autodraft
recommended
 Signed Payment Plan agreements are due
the 1st day of classes-see handouts

17. Recommended
Reading/Supplies
 Handouts will be shared digitally in a shared
google doc file folder
 You will need to create a gmail account for
the school we will be sending weekly or
bimonthly updates
 Recommended Reading is shared in a doc as
well as all books. We will be sharing a shared
google doc with classmates for group orders
 You will be put onto a google listserve with
your classmates to share info.

18. See you Soon!!!
Please bring all signed forms to the meet
and greet: General Class Information,
Payment Plan Agreement, and your first
payment. Danielle will be there to help you
Meet and greet 7-9PM ABC
First Day of Classes are listed on our
calendarhttp://wildflowerherbschool.com/
calendar.html

19. Contact Information
Nicole Telkes: emergency only use her cell
512-426-3113
Danielle Handler/Wildflower School
Voicemail 512-943-2511 –checked a few
times a week
danielle@wildflowerherbschool.com
Private Student Web Page and Site
Email is best way to reach us

20. Thanks and Goodnight