My name is Isaac Streckenbach.
I will be your lead guide throughout your experience. I was raised in the countryside of Wisconsin and began my journey of learning about nature, survival and inner work from an early age. My father, a First Special Forces Green Beret (MACV- SOG) who became a Minister, along with my mother, who both survived several traumatic events throughout their lives, became my first mentors and teachers as they committed their lives to missionary work to help others. As they led me through the wilderness of life, I began to realize my potential and gained a deep appreciation for healing and surviving in nature.
At the age of 13, I suffered a traumatic ski accident that nearly took my life and welcomed me to a world of seeing life through a different set of lenses. Diving deep to understand life in this new reality became a mission I could not escape. After years of inner work, again, I discovered a peace within nature that began to heal my mind, body and spirit. Soon, I found myself connecting to others along their healing journey in a way that had a deep impact. I now see this traumatic event as one of the greatest gifts of my life.
As I grew into a young adult, my desire to grow in the power of nature’s healing expanded. I found myself deepening my understanding of primitive survival skills by studying the teachings of Stalking Wolf and Tom Brown Jr. This led me to a life changing decision to move to Oregon where I was able to spread my wings in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. After a few years, my heart called me to explore more of what I hadn’t experienced in nature which led me to live along the shoreline of Florida where manatees roamed the beautiful crystal-clear waters. After a few hurricanes, several deep ocean dives and being blessed to work with marine life, an opportunity presented itself which led me to the mountains and canyon lands of AZ. The high desert and painted landscape of Arizona was breathtaking and humbling to me. This is where I would meet the love of my life. Soon, I found out I was going to be a dad which led me to Austin, TX where I began to roam the wonders of the Hill Country of Central Texas. After working with a wonderful organization that promotes the preservation and support of indigenous tribes throughout the United States and Mexico (Great Promise for American Indians), I found myself in a position of teaching primitive skills throughout the community. This is what originally connected me to my true passion of working with individuals in nature. My family and I ventured to Galveston Island to be closer to family. Soon, I found myself in a career that allowed me to provide a stable way of living with a comfortable income, yet my heart’s desire was still in working in the power of nature’s healing qualities. After I felt I had hit a wall and was physically, mentally and spiritually broken, I began an exploration of transformation. This led me to tapping back into my skill set of wilderness survival and guiding others through nature throughout the years. I started to study wherever I could to grow in a direction that felt pure and that would allow me to blossom into the person I always wanted to be. I knew I wanted to guide and help others who needed support.
The time had come to make the work I was doing official. Nurture Nature Within (NNW) was born. The name Nurture Nature Within had come to me during deep prayer and meditation. We are interconnected as one with nature. There is no separation. When we are able to slow down and absorb the nature around us, we are able to connect to the nature within us. This is when we begin to see ourselves as one and can heal on a deeper level.
I began my transformation wondering about the jungles of Central America which had a deep impact on grounding me, resetting my perspective and opening the door to the possibilities of a new lease on life. Soon after, I returned to the United States and continued my work within the Sacred Sons program which led me on a journey with my dear friend, mentor and brother Bear Heart of La Forza Sagrada. I finally felt at home in what I was setting out to do. I went to study with Micah Mortali at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health which sits on Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Territory. Here, I received my certificate as a Mindful Outdoor Guide through their Outdoor Leadership Program. I went on to study at Chacruna Institute where I received my certificate for Shamanism and the Ritual and Traditional uses of Sacred Plants. I then studied Alchemy at The Jung Center. I began supporting the beautiful work of Above and Beyond Cancer Foundation by raising awareness around the healing journey of fighting and surviving cancer and then overcoming the challenges by climbing mountains such as Mt. Kilimanjaro. I have had the wonderful opportunity to work in the Wilderness Therapy industry as a guide, mentor and survival instructor. While working with Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, I was blessed to take groups of up to ten students into the back country of the breathtaking mountains throughout Colorado and deep into the canyons of Utah.
The journey and growth continue… Nurture Nature Within is now co collaborating with the Planetary Health Lab and TiniHabitat, a green-blue prescribing platform at The University of Edinburgh in Scotland, who offer a wonderful network of doctors, researchers, therapists and individuals dedicated to educating the world of the importance in our oneness with nature and the fact that our health, mentally, physically and spiritually is connected to the health of our living earth and vice versa. Join me virtually or around the fire where we can explore a deeper meaning, purpose and connection to our true nature.
