Avsnitt
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The one question I get asked about most is about program design, curriculum and activities for older children, teens and young adults.
There are lots of good ideas and content out there that covers nature/science combos, or nature/language arts or nature/creative arts, and those are awesome.
In this episode, I share some of the things I've learned over the more than three decades of working with young people and how 'work projects' can have incredible and valuable life skills and long term outcomes that pay off in multiple ways.
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It was through Tom Brown Jr and his Tracker School that I came to meet John. It was 1984, on a farm in western New Jersey, and he was an instructor at the school, and spending seven days with him and the rest of the staff and Tom changed the direction of my life in a radical way.
John was pulled to New Mexico in 1986, where he founded The Tracking Project, and began running rites of passage camps for boys and girls, as well as adult trainings and retreats. I was incredibly fortunate to spend time in his Nurturing the Roots Mentoring Program, where he had gathered elders from Australia, Sweden, Hawaii, Mexico, Brazil, and across North America. Learning and connecting with those elders and John and his staff was a revelation that blew my mind, because they held a mentoring space that was unlike anything I had experienced before.
This experience changed the way I tracked animals, connected to nature, taught and led my camps, trainings and programs. It even affected my personal and community relationships
In this first of a series of conversations, we dive into what learning tracking does to us and for us as human beings, and John describes his apprenticeship with some of the best trackers in the world.
Please enjoy Episode #133.
Website: https://thetrackingproject.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetrackingproject/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTrackingProject/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thetrackingproject
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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It came out of nowhere, right as hundreds of Forest School Leaders were preparing for the Autumn semester: An opinion piece in The Guardian ominously titled "I'm All For the Concept of Forest School, Just Not the Kind I Pulled My Kids Out Of." by Emma Brockes.
It's just six paragraphs of cynical observations around schools, camps, forest schools and misunderstanding, but it packs a lot of criticism for nature education without a lot of detail, nuance or substance. It's the kind of piece that can and did get under the skin of a LOT of dedicated, passionate educators who did not take kindly to the views expressed.
Asa Hardy-Brownlie and I discuss this and nature education media narratives in detail and talk about the challenges we face as a profession to effectively respond to these kinds of pieces that can really skew the understanding of parents, teachers and schools. What sorts of ways do we want to communicate what we do and why it's important and valuable to children and families?
We talk about websites, social media and ideas and ways of shaping our messaging so it sticks and is effective, which are some of the gold nuggets we can glean from this experience.
Guardian Article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/16/forest-school-kids-children-wholesomeness?fbclid=IwY2xjawFGHjpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcPiqmTXxigdia-3hUHjNGD_dfrvCltmCkKI5uvVO3IU0-v5O--Fq5vabQ_aem_b_HsH0bqger7b-YmGOCfRg
Building a Story Brand Book by Donald Miller: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400201837/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=AX2JROIIWRZYD&psc=1
The Forest School Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-forest-school-podcast/id1389962726
The Forest School Assistance & Support Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/forestschoolas/posts/1921709608278764/?comment_id=1921860808263644&reply_comment_id=1922381681544890¬if_id=1725393778098826¬if_t=group_comment_mention
Portugal Forest School Reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/548887540806850
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The task of communicating the value and benefits of what we do as nature based educators is vital to the long and short term success of our mission/vision, so 'marketing' is one of the hats we wear as part of our leadership roles. But often, we are SO reluctant and hesitant to promote ourselves, and talk about it, and I've seen a LOT of people get really uncomfortable taking the leap into even thinking about it!
Enter my guest for this episode: Elizabeth Clyde. She's been doing 'holistic marketing' for over 17 years with a variety of different businesses and companies, and she shares her view on how the field of marketing has changed over the past few years and where it seems to be heading in the short term future.
If you are one of those people whose website or Instagram or other social media network could use some fresh ideas, this episode is for you.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethclyde1/
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This episode explores the phenomenon that often occurs when we work with people in nature, where there is a moment of touching the divine, or the light. We also tackle the flip side, where someone in our care goes down, to the rich, warm darkness, where things get raw and primal.
I share about why I find the duality principle both lazy and inadequate as a metaphor, and how its oversimplification can be limiting or even traumatizing for some students. Using the 'ecosystem' as a new model, I share examples of approaches I've found helpful when either polarity shows up in our work as educators, often unexpectedly.
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The world of medicine and academia seems to run on a different timeline than the modern world. Changes take time to process, evaluate, become revised and eventually, approved for integration into the working model for treatment or training. There are good reasons for this process, because acting too quickly can create a lot of confusion, waste of money and time and generally degrade the public opinion of these institutions, but to an outsider, it can be maddening to watch and wait in real time.
The origins of 'eco-psychology' as a branch of mental health treatment and approach began on the personal experiences of therapists and counsellors, and hundreds of studies are confirming its efficacy over the past twenty years. My guest in this episode is Linda Buzzell, MA, LMFT, who is an adjunct faculty at Pacifica Graduate Institute, author of Ecopsychology: Healing with Nature in Mind and an ecopsychologist. She shares why nature is important in the healing process for humans for both physical and mental health, and how it can benefit us as educators to understand what is happening when we take children or adults outside.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-buzzell-ma-lmft-2949ab13/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Ecotherapy-Healing-Nature-Linda-Buzzell/dp/1578051614/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aAMoldtOyUOD9zSZw0MQx22aqKO-MsSYM5jdfT4ltxHGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.4laEq4b-6Uu9e2U3_hslfnQ8jv4wmV-th0Rgv0Iq99E&dib_tag=se&qid=1724950917&refinements=p_27%3ALinda+Buzzell&s=books&sr=1-1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Linda-Buzzell-100063776733917/
Pacifica Graduate Institute: https://www.pacifica.edu/pacifica-news/nature-connection-practices-that-heal-an-interview-with-linda-buzzell-lmft/
Written Articles: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Linda-Buzzell
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This episode is for nature educators AND Parents, Grandparents, Teachers, Schools and Organizations, as it dives into the reasons why professional Nature Education Programs are priced the way they are.
I present some ideas and details that can promote understanding moving forward, and share some ways that schools, parents, grandparents and organizations can save $ in some cases.
This is a great episode to share with your staff, your student parents, or for schools that you work with, if you feel that they sometimes have trouble 'getting the bigger picture' in the process of setting up or selecting nature programs for students or children. It can help facilitate a more meaningful discussion that includes factors that most people don't understand about nature educators, or take into consideration, so it's meant to support and promote the value of your work.
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Reuben Piet joins the Forest Educator from Cape Town as a singer, songwriter, musician and transformational nature leader. He draws upon his ancestral roots to create powerful experiences for people of all ages, awakening an ancient remembering of who we are, and why we are here. South Africa, like most of Africa, is a melting pot of diversity, cultures, languages and perspectives, and Reuben shares how he finds common ground and calls for a new consciousness and way of living that goes beyond our current cultural norms into something new that can heal our world.
Reuben has worked in Youth and Community Development for over 20 years, and this foundation has led to his current focus in Wilderness/Mountain Guiding and Rites of Passage, where he works as a Freelance Guide and Facilitator across various regions of South Africa depending on the project and partner organization's needs.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reuben-reubicon-piet-216493149/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/JE3jrz3YCfs?si=LZ7Gk1mrgDw7TvPj
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I don't think it's a stretch to say that Tom Brown Jr leaves quite a 'wake' in his passing. He's taught thousands of students, both through his books and Tracker School, and he's been a 'force of nature' in these past five decades. He's been a mentor, a guide, a father figure to many whose fathers were absent, and he won't ever fully know the depth of his presence or impact had on those who leaned in to his teaching.
He was complicated, and a little wild. Untamed, I guess I'd call it. Kinda like the ocean, where you never turn your back on him if you could help it! Not dangerous, but man, that piercing gaze that was like X-ray vision, peering into your soul.
It didn't happen often, but when he'd mention something he'd seen in my tracks, about my life or work, it would always be spot on. Every time.
I took a lot of classes back in the 80's and 90's, and was an assistant instructor on many classes too, and he always had something new to teach, that I had never heard or seen before, so I knew he was just scratching the surface of his skills and abilities, even in the 'advanced classes'.
He didn't tolerate mind games, or time wasters or fools, and I learned a lot about boundaries, and inner strength and conviction from observing his teaching style over the years. On the flip side, he was funny. REALLY FUNNY, and he had that type of humor that was 'old school' but also not aimed at putting someone down in a mean, or harsh way. When there were students who were more serious or sensitive, his gentle side would come out as well. It was always a joy to see.
This episode is about the impact he had on my life. I trust he's tracking in the canyons of the Other Side, following Grandfather or one of his older instructors through the sage. Journey well and good medicine to you, my friend.
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When I first started learning wilderness skills and discovering wild foods, my mentors taught and also modeled a deep sense of gratitude to these living beings that we used every day. I didn't know how to do it the 'right way', but I made every attempt to show my appreciation, b0th out loud and in my head. What I wasn't prepared for was the feeling that I had from THEM, which was both intuitive and at other times, clear and concise with detailed information that held up!
There is no question that all wild foods leaders, herbalists and foragers are essential Forest Educators who hold a powerful role in our circle, so it was really meaningful to have this conversation with author and educator Liz Neves. Her wild plant walks in Brooklyn and other parts of the NYC area have been a wonderful learning opportunity for urban dwellers looking for more nature. We explored her work, her book Northeast Medicinal Plants and some of our favorite plants, too!
Connect with Liz:
Website: GatheringGround.NYC
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpKabVlM2jgbQkwFJP0QTEg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatheringground/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gatheringnyc
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/liz_neves/
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If you want to add depth and meaning to your relationship to the natural world, a little research, study and discovery of our natural history, geography, cultural history and flora & fauna that surrounds us! It's all about understanding different unique aspects of our small corner of the world, and how it's special, just like our students and ourselves.
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If you could learn or study anything, what would you choose? If you had ample time, space and a little support, could you learn and grow as a person? Can you develop your own style of creativity, or relationship to the discovery process?
These are the questions that the Walden Project explores, with a small group of teens who take a school year away from 'regular' school, get college credit, get out in nature and have a unique educational experience.
As a lead educator and program designer, Andy Webster is fully immersed in this wonderful process that is at times chaotic, at times very inspiring and always innovative. He shares his unique perspective on what happens to students when they are not forced to learn neatly boxed 'learning bits' throughout the day, and how this can help shape and inform their lives.
Connect with The Walden Project:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewaldenprojectny/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/waldenprojectny
Website: https://rmsc.org/cumming-nature-center/the-walden-project/
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If you haven't been in a situation where something happens that is unexpected, then congratulations! You probably have an amazing overworked program director who is really NAILING IT as far as logistics, details, staff training, student screening and daily monitoring of everything in your program! Enjoy it while it lasts. Live the dream!
If, on the other hand, you know what it's like when things go sideways, or headfirst into the ditch, metaphorically speaking, then this episode is for you!
There are a lot of moving parts, details, logistics, planning, equipment, staffing and so much more in pretty much every nature program, and because we work in 'human development', it's very difficult to get it all right, all of the time.
In this episode, we will break down the four main categories of 'issues' that can happen, and how to keep them from derailing your program, camp or adventure even when things don't go as planned.
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To many (most?) people in our current culture, nature is a literal 'wall of green' that contains plants, trees, vines, bushes and shrubs, all interwoven in a way that is virtually indistinguishable from each other. It can seem impenetrable, and overwhelming, even, to begin to make sense of it.
If you are thinking of actually eating some of these wild foods, or using them medicinally, the stress factor can jump into the red zone almost instantly.
My guest this episode has spent years around wild plants, trees and shrubs, learning and sampling both the medicinal and edible varieties and also exploring their 'survival' uses as well. Zak Baker has lived in the Midwest and in the Western states, and he's spent an amazing amount of time unraveling how these important resources were part of the very cultural identity and connection to the native peoples who used them daily.
We talk about his early years in Ohio, and his professional adventures and his wonderful Bushlore Press, too. We dig into his pocket field guides and bush cards, how he created them to be a resource for anyone wanting to learn on the trail and into the wild.
Bushlore Press LLC Website: BushlorePress.com
In the Old Way Website: InTheOldWay.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bushlorepress/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bushlorepress
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zak-baker-59a05745/
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I'm pretty sure we could all benefit from reducing the frenetic pace that seems to go hand in hand with our modern culture. It's a great topic, but it's not what I'm describing in this episode! Instead, I've spent most of my time on two of the most important tools in my 'nature awareness' toolkit that I know. They are based in mindfulness practices that have helped me immensely in multiple ways in my life, and in my nature education programs and trainings.
They focus on very subtle body awareness techniques that can be used to enhance our energy, focus, inner 'alignment' and decision making. They slow down time, and give us choices when we are under pressure. They also help us access some very powerful states of awareness that have saved me in more than a few situations both in the woods and in our modern cultural settings.
These two practices are called 'breath to heart' and 'quarter-time', which I learned over years of study with Tom Brown, Jr in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. I don't know of the exact origins of each, but they were part of a concerted effort by Tom and his instructors to give us layers of exercises that have delivered powerful outcomes when I have needed them most.
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Life in the Great White North can be cold and hard at times, but that makes the warmer seasons all the sweeter, from Maple Syrup Season to Sumac Gathering and so much more. The power of nature is reflected in daily life, and living close helps us see the metaphors and parallels that we echo in our own human cultural patterns.
Join Chris Gilmour and I as we explore forest educator training, youth adventure, stories of beaver ponds and much more in this episode. Chris shares powerful lessons that draw from over twenty years as an outdoor professional, leading groups, apprenticeships and foraging programs, with his experience in wilderness survival, bushcraft, nature awareness and earth living skills too.
It was really interesting to hear his perspective on the value of the 'Soft Skills' that are often misunderstood or underutilized in many traditional wilderness programs, and how they are shaping his training and students in powerful, beneficial ways.
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Connect with Chris:
Website: https://www.chrisoutdoors.ca/
Wild Muskoka Botanicals Website: https://wildmuskoka.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisoutdoorson/
Wild Muskoka Botanicals Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildmuskoka/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChangingWorldProjectChrisOutdoors
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoutdoors/?trk=public_profile_recommendations&originalSubdomain=ca
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisoutdoorsmentoring
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisoutdoorson?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0zB5lj6iB9vK8Eg5n4X2Yesa0zvz2pHJC4IhqVpe3Hd_MmBSrEiyRK2qQ_aem_R2l6Dd2Vh8liJszokrSGsA
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It was early August, in Harlemville New York. It was a six week immersion into the natural world, in one of my first 'wilderness skills learning intensives', with just a few tools, a blanket and a desire to see the world from a different perspective.
This episode is a recounting of some of my adventures with wildlife, and why I still can't stand roasted apples.
Thank you to the listeners who have been asking for more stories. These are for you!
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In the olden days, before the internet, when you ran a workshop or a skills class or wild foods program, you could usually skip the student evaluation forms and questionnaires. Participants just 'got the experience' and that was the deal. There wasn't any trolling, or review bombing, because there were no online reviews. You might get a letter, if people felt a certain way about your offering, but often times it was something positive rather than negative.
In 2024, however, outcomes and evaluations matter. We have a lot more opportunities to connect with our students, and understand the class from their perspective, and it's a whole new world.
Quite frankly, it's a much better world.
The simple truth is this: The more we ask, the more we know, and the faster we can get better at what we do.
This episode is a quick dive into understanding the importance of understanding our metrics, gathering data, self evaluations vs outside assessment, setting our own goals and best of all, how they can help make us better educators.
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It's one thing to have a 'vision' or idea that is inspiring and exciting and full of hope and promise. It's also a WHOLE other thing to actually bring it into the real world, grounded and fully expressed and achieving outcomes.
When we take that leap into the unknown, it's scary, risky, stressful and even wonderful; a lot of intense emotions all rolled into a kaleidoscope blender that most of the time, we are not fully prepared to handle.
Sometimes, we even have unexpected 'inner barriers' that show up, with hesitation, procrastination, tangible fear in sharing something from the heart, rejection sensitivity and anxiety. These inner challenges are no joke, and they can stop our visionary work in its tracks if we don't figure out how to navigate and work around them.
In this episode, we explore these issues and more, with an emphasis on solutions and strategies that can help us keep going.
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There are literally piles of research about the benefits of contact with nature for human beings, and most of the time, we think of 'forest experiences' primarily for children. Monica Eastway shares her work with people who are in their 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's, and why nature is vital for this segment of our community. She shares stories of how nature experiences improve the quality of life for those in managed or skilled care facilities, and her quest to facilitate change
as a true paradigm shift for ALL of us.
We discuss some of the work that's being done in the Netherlands, Finland and Esalen, CA, and the impact that nature can have for families and people of all ages. Her vision includes helping our American fear of 'growing old' and seeing the aging process with grace, self acceptance and even joy.
Monica's website: https://www.monicaeastway.com/
Monica's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-eastway/
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Connect with Ricardo:
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