What is Salvation Mountain?
Over the last decades I've become discontented with the way society is going. In later years, I've needed a free place to live. Imagine this: NOT having to PAY to live on this Earth! Yet, our society expects it, no, demands that we pay to live on this earth. Tell that to our ancient ancestors who helped us survive to this point in time!
Anyhoo, on January 8, 2024, I left a relationship and "ran away" to Slab City, California in my campervan, EverGreen Queen, may she run forever. In July 2024, I got a job in Slab City, which I didn't expect to get, at an outdoor art monument called Salvation Mountain Inc. 501(c)(3). I began working as a docent, or greeter/tour guide for the exhibit.
What is Salvation Mountain?
Here is Salvation Mountain located in Slab City, California.
Salvation Mountain is a giant technicolor mountain in Slab City, California created by outsider (self-taught) artist, Leonard C. Knight (1931 - 2014). Leonard worked on the Mountain from 1986 - 2011. He reinforced the mountain with adobe. The adobe was made with clay dug out from the mountain ridge, mixed with water and straw. Leonard then painted over the adobe with multiple layers of household paint that was donated to him over the years. It's a world famous exhibit. We get visitors from all over the world daily. Leonard was known as "the most visited man on earth!"
Want the FREE Salvation Mountain Unit Study Kids Activity Book & Educator's Guide?
What Does Salvation Mountain Look Like While Walking It?
Have a watch of the video below showing one of my favorite dogs, Mushy the Salvation Mountain resident bulldog, climbing up the Mountain's famous Yellow Brick Road!
Mushy belongs to our full-time caretaker, Chucky. This is one of my most popularly watched Shorts of Salvation Mountain. After all, who can resist such a cutie pie climbing up such a miracle of a Mountain?
Right away at the job, I found a way to make a positive impact at the "Mountain", as we lovingly call it. Instead of greeting people seated, I stood up and put on my fluorescent jersey vest to standout. I walked around and interacted with the people. I let them know what was available for the free tour. Evidently, this was monumental and it changed how the docents interacted with the visitors.
Long story short, I got two raises while working at Salvation Mountain. Some of the board members wanted to make me the head docent and train the docents. I didn't want the title, but, I willingly train new docents that apply for the job.
My philosophy as a docent trainer is that we all learn from each other. There is no competition. The only person we're in competition with is ourselves! Simple.
Back in September 2024, I met a friend from Canada named Jenna. She said to me, "Why don't you create a unit study for Salvation Mountain?"
As an educator, that was an idea I should have thought of myself, but, I didn't. After starting my work at Salvation Mountain, I had been gladly taking a break from all things K - 12 academic after 25+ years of being both a classroom and independent online homeschool educator. However, I ran with the idea of creating the unit study.
In January 2025, I began writing the Salvation Mountain Unit Study which we now call the Salvation Mountain Kids Activity Book & Educator's Guide.
I've spent months writing the guide for ages 8 and up. I do have some activities in the guide good for younger kiddos too. It will be released very soon. I have a few more tweaks I'm making to it. I'll let you know as soon as its available.
It's my way of saying thank you for following along with me whether you're newly introduced to my work or have been with me for years.
Over the next few posts, I'll give you a backstory about Salvation Mountain, why it's so special to me and millions of other folks.
Here are some of the posts you can read next:
Here's another fun Salvation Mountain video introducing you to the Mountain. The dog in the video is Otis, a beautiful brindle Frenchie! Otis came to the Mountain with his daddy and mommy in spring 2025. It was a very hot day in the low hundreds, so, Otis had to stay cooler under the Mountain's visitor center with me, where I had the privilege of giving him water. He was absolutely a joy to have come visit Salvation Mountain, as you'll see in the video!
Enjoy!
Talk Soon,
NatureGlo