Open Learning Network – Engagement Positive
Welcome to the Open Learning Network at Faticalawi—a space where wild discovery meets shared insight and learning happens across campfires, trails, and time zones. Whether you’re new to outdoor exploration or steeped in the rhythms of remote terrain, this community grows stronger when we learn from each other. These guidelines lay the foundation for a respectful, thoughtful, and curiosity-driven network of adventurers, observers, and learners.
Faticalawi was founded by Korlan Kovalde as a place to explore frontier knowledge, practical prep, and the human connection to wilderness. From the wooded trails outside Chicago to the distant edges of unmarked paths, every lesson shared here matters. Our community believes that the best learning often happens under an open sky—and that the more generously we share it, the farther it can travel.
What This Space Is For
The Open Learning Network exists to help people unlock ideas that make outdoor life not only more navigable—but more meaningful. It’s where we unpack what gear really works when you’re up to your knees in unexpected mud, tweak techniques passed from one pathfinder to the next, and reflect on the quiet wisdom gained from moving through wild terrain.
You might post about mapping an unfamiliar ridge line, trade notes on layering strategies for variable shoulder seasons, or share photos of an unsung canyon that never makes the guidebooks. Here, all thoughtful contributions are welcome—from deep-dive essays to quick field hacks, from honest mishaps to hard-won success. Wherever you are on your outdoor or wilderness knowledge journey, your perspective helps fuel someone else’s learning.
Our Shared Values
Great learning communities share two things: generous listeners and generous contributors. At Faticalawi, we believe the best conversations grow from:
- Respect: Every experience—whether grounded in scientific research or personal trial—has the capacity to teach. Listen first, and rarely assume.
- Clarity: Wherever possible, explain your why, your method, your context. It helps others assess and adapt with care.
- Curiosity: Ask questions. Explore perspectives you haven’t yet considered. Wonder out loud—it keeps the trail open for others to walk beside you.
- Gratitude: Say thank you when something helps, and name the person behind the thread. Recognition helps strengthen connection.
- Integrity: When you reference a field guide, a blog, or another member’s insight, link or credit accordingly.
We’re not here to prove we’re right. We’re here to test what’s useful, reflect on what’s real, and reframe what we thought we knew. That’s the beauty of lifelong learning—as well as wilderness.
Types of Contributions We Value
In the spirit of exploration, this network welcomes a wide range of formats and experiences. Your contributions might look like:
- Step-by-step breakdowns of difficult camp setups or technical pack repairs
- Interpretations of botanical finds or animal tracks you came across on a low-traffic trail
- Comparative notes on gear performance across seasonal types
- Past expedition reflections that include both triumphs and real-time recalibrations
- Ask-me-anything threads for specialized knowledge (wilderness medicine, ultralight prep, etc.)
You don’t have to be “an expert” to share here—you just need to be honest in your process and responsive to questions when they come. Learning is collaborative, and clarity always trumps polish.
Respectful Participation
Faticalawi is built on humility and field-earned wisdom—not arrogance. Our moderators and community members practice a culture of curiosity and care. We do not allow or tolerate:
- Personal attacks or dismissive replies
- Harassment, discriminatory language, or content that prioritizes harm
- Spam, artificial promotion, or off-topic campaigns
- Unverified or unsafe advice posed as fact
You are welcome to disagree—gracefully. Debates over map styles, boot brands, and fire prep technique are part of what makes outdoor learning robust. But it only adds value when you lean into disagreement as a bridge, not a wedge. Write as if someone will be reading your words far from any signal, with nothing but your insight to go on. Make them count.
Moderation and Safety Measures
Our moderation standards are here to protect the conversation, not restrict it. Posts or replies that violate this community’s ethos may be edited or removed. Repeated disregard may result in a temporary pause or account moderation until we’re confident the space is respected again.
Content that includes potentially dangerous practices (e.g., unventilated stove use, controversial altitude protocols, or wild harvesting without context) must include clear warnings, context, and proper citations. We do not endorse strategies that put people at risk without education or consent.
If you encounter behavior or content that concerns you, please email us at [email protected]. Every report is reviewed with respect, privacy, and timeliness, because your trust matters.
Attribution and Source Clarity
We believe in the ethics of fieldnotes: if someone else mapped it first, say so. If you’re echoing a method from a guidebook, a meetup, or another contributor, give them credit. If your learning is a remix of multiple sources, name the trail that led you there. Whether it’s a passage from an alpine routebook, a method for purifying water, or a diagram of knotwork—link it, cite it, honor it.
This isn’t bureaucracy. It’s shared stewardship of knowledge—something close to sacred in a world shifting fast. Picture it as leaving cairns for the next traveler, each stone helping someone else trace the way forward.
Privacy and Boundary Awareness
Outdoor learning can sometimes feel deeply personal, especially when lessons come from solitude, mistakes, or confrontation with fear. Be thoughtful about what you share—as well as what you request from others. Never post another person’s story, face, or location without permission. Keep your own identifying details minimal unless they help serve the learning.
For more detail on how we protect your digital and personal privacy, visit our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, or Terms of Service on our website.
Collaborate Beyond Threads
Whether you’re a map editor, a micro-expedition organizer, or simply excited to help others access deep nature safely, your expertise can travel further. We regularly invite contributors for content pieces, technique explainers, seasonal reports, and hands-on guides. To stay connected or pitch a contribution, reach out to the team or keep an eye on our collaborative contributor calls.
About Our Founder
Korlan Kovalde created Faticalawi with a belief that learning outside should feel as expansive as the skies above it. A quiet trail-walker, expedition documentarian, and lifelong learner himself, Korlan encourages outdoor knowledge that is both practical and poetic. His vision lives in every shared tactic, every scuffed boot photo, every “I learned this the hard way so you don’t have to” post. Faticalawi isn’t a brand—it’s a movement of mindful wilderness learning, named after a path and powered by people like you.
Reach Out and Stay Connected
Questions about participation, contribution, or moderation? Want to alert us to an issue or propose a collaborative idea? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us anytime at [email protected] or call us directly at +1 312-985-5906. We’re happy to support your learning, connect dots across the community, or point you toward helpful resources.
Open Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM CST
Physical HQ: 2817 Nash Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605, United States
Final Thoughts
This is not just a resource space. It’s a living, breathing learning network—rooted in resilience, openness, and a shared respect for what the outdoors continues to teach us. Every time you contribute an idea, respond with care, or ask the kind of question that deepens someone else’s experience, you help make Faticalawi more than a name. You help make it a trailhead for something new.
Thank you for being here. For helping this space remain inclusive, honest, and adventurously human. The path ahead is always better shared.