Frequently Asked Questions for the Academy and Internship Programs
The Earthship certificate is in 3 steps: The Academy is the first step, then you will need to complete a Field Study and an Independent Study.
The minimum age to participate is 21 years old. If you are under 21, please apply to the Online Academy. If you complete the Online Academy and are over 18 year old, you may still be able to complete your step 2 (Field Study) if you have a special waiver signed by your parents/legal guardians.
The Academy Level 1 is a 1-week long program that includes time spent both in the classroom and on the job site. The Academy Level 1 is $950+ taxes, plus the cost of accommodations if you wish to stay on campus. The Level 2 is also one week long and costs $ 1100 USD + taxes. The Academy is an in-depth program aiming to teach you how to build an Earthship with theory in the morning and hands-on in the afternoon.
The internship is a 3 weeks long program that is solely spent on the construction site where it is needed. The costs is $ 300 USD + taxes plus the cost of accommodation. There are no classes or theory.
Your application needs to be submitted by the 1st of the month prior to the Academy session you wish to attend. We are asking you to apply at least 3 weeks before the start of the session.
The recommendation letter is more of a character reference than professional references and are more for us to start to get to know who you are.
To complete the first step towards graduation, you need to complete BOTH level 1 and level 2. You cannot attend Level 2 if you haven’t attended Level 1 previously. THERE ARE NO TIME LIMIT TO COMPLETE LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2: You can come and attend Level 1 in April for example, and complete your Level 2 week in October. Level 2 is a much more in-depth program, with labs included.
AFTER ACCEPTANCE TO PROGRAM
Camping is not allowed on our property. This includes campers, RV’s, buses, tents, etc.
You can contact Carson National Forest: 575-758-6200; ask for a spot closest to the Gorge Bridge, or visit: https://www.blm.gov/
visit/rio-grande-wild-and- scenic-river If you decide to camp, you will need to have your own vehicle to get to and from our property.
Our power system is not made to handle these high wattage appliances. When you build your own Earthship, you’ll be able to put more batteries and solar panels in them in order to power your needs. You’ll learn more about this in your Electrical courses.
The plants are watered from the bathroom sink and shower (and occasionally the kitchen sink). You do not have to buy specific soap simply to come here. Be conscientious of how much soap you are using and putting down the drain, large amounts can be harmful to the plants. Do not pour bleach or photography chemicals down these drains.
The Greater World Community (Academy Campus) is about 20 minutes North of Taos. Taos is the nearest town where you will be able to buy groceries & do your laundry.
No. There are two laundromats in Taos. Spin & Sparkle and The Pinch Penny.
We have WiFi in all of our buildings. Our classroom also have high speed internet, but illegal downloads are strictly prohibited.
The majority of our beds are twin sized.
Tuition is expected to be paid in full before the first day of your Academy session.
Unfortunately, we have a no refund policy but you can use your credit for up to two years, on any program or product.
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate you before 10:00a.m. on the first day of your session. We recommend you contact the Abominable Snow Mansion at (575)776-8298 if you want to stay in Taos a few days before the session starts.
We are unable to allow students to stay after their session. However, we can sometimes make exceptions, you can discuss this with us once you are here.
Michael Reynolds does teach several classes during the Academy, and there are many other very skilled instructors that have been a part of the Earthship movement for numerous years. If you wish to have a special consultation with Michael please contact us at outreach@earthship.com. Students get 50% discount on Architectural consultations.
You are expected to be in the classroom or on the job site before 9:00a.m.
Classes and work start at 9:00 a.m.
We do allow voice recordings of the classes, video recording is prohibited.
The short answer is no you will not be able to build your own Earthship once you finish the Academy. However, this really depends on your skill level going into the Academy. There are many components that go into the construction of an Earthship including plumbing, electrical, carpentry, masonry, etc. You will learn the basics of all of these, but you will likely want to hire a professional for many aspects of the construction of your own Earthship.
We keep 25% if you leave the first day,
We keep 50% if you leave the first week.
We keep the entire amount if you leave half way through.
Once you pay your deposit to save your spot to our program, our policy, stated on your invoice, is that:
“Your payment is nonrefundable, but may be used towards future sessions for up to 2 years. In the event of cancellation or transfer 2 weeks or less before the start of the session date, your deposit will be kept. In the event of cancellation or transfer more than 2 weeks prior to the session, we will withhold 15% of the total cost of the program from your credit. This applies to every time you cancel or transfer sessions“
