Not just for our children - but also for ourselves, as adults or parents in support of children on a nature connection journey?

 

After helping communities for over 30 years around the world to create nature connection opportunities for youth, we have seen time and again how essential it is for both parents and other supportive community members to go on the nature connection journey themselves, too.

This helps bridge the nature experience for youth back into the home setting, and positively reinforces the experiences they are having at their local nature program.

When we launched the first edition of Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature, we also released a special video series with Jon Young, founder of 8 Shields, in support of the book, called Mentoring, Community & Resilience.

In the series, Jon gives an overview map of the mind of the mentor, and how modern brain research supports the nature connection core routines in Coyote's Guide.

We recently dug into our "media vault" and re-discovered these inspiring materials.

It's been well over five years since these were first released. This week, we are re-releasing these videos for a short time through Monday, August 1st.

Granted, the 8 Shields mentoring model has continued to evolve and grow since these videos were released, so there are a few terms and ideas that appear here in "seed form," and the video has a classic look to it, but we invite you to take a trip back in time with us in this series.

With the need for more mentoring and connection in the world, we feel the need to get this material back out there for those who want the inspiration and expertise to lift up mentoring and nature connection in their neighborhoods. Read on to learn more.

 

In the series, Jon introduces the foundational concepts of nature connection and Coyote Mentoring, and how to create more dynamic, resilient & nature connected communities.

 

Is This For Me?

If you are a parent wanting to support more nature connection for your family, are interested in Coyote Mentoring and how it works, or you just aren't sure where to get started with Coyote's Guide or need some inspiration for the journey, this series is designed to open the doorway towards greater connection in nature and community.

 

What's Included in the Series:

• Mentoring, Community & Resilience is a 4 part online video series with Jon Young, 8 Shields founder and co-author of Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature.
• Audio MP3s and PDF transcripts of each video are also provided for those who prefer to listen or read the material.

This series stands alone, though you will hear occasional references to the first edition of Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature. If you do have Coyote's Guide, this series will light an inspirational fire that will motivate you to go deeper into the skills of mentoring, while also providing a helpful overview of nature connection-based mentoring principles for those getting started.

Leading experts recognize the importance of adults getting involved in the nature connection process in order to role model and pass this essential relationship witht the outdoors forward:

“It's a good thing to learn more about nature in order to share this knowledge with children; it's even better if the adult and child learn about nature together. And it's a lot more fun.”

- Richard Louv,

from his award winning book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

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The Modules:

Part 1 - Mentoring Nature Connection 101

What is nature connection? Why is connecting people to nature important?

The stories and research shared here will inspire you to explore the power of nature connection for yourself and your family.

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  The story of how simple routines of nature connection helped a “failing student” embody the attributes of natural leadership
• How mentoring helps students go beyond “learning to pass the test”
• Discover how the core routines from Coyote’s Guide match modern brain research
• Why sharing your story is a key to deeper learning
• The Sensory Wheel of the 8 directions

 

 

Part 2 - Mentoring Edges & Curiosity

Explore the power of encouraging curiosity and leading your children to their learning edges (this also applies for us as adults, too!).

Topics Include:

• What methods generate and support highly motivated learners?
• Meeting learners where they are at
• Edge mentoring: supporting curiosity & engagement
• Children’s Universal Passions that awaken curiosity & exploration out doors
• How Tom Brown used the errand principle to mentor Jon into connection with his senses and nature in his bioregion
• Why Community is key to deep nature connection mentoring journey
• Mentoring with The 50/50 principle

 

Part 3 - Mentoring in the Context of Community

It is essential to build a supportive community around people who are being mentored in nature connection.

A positive community both accelerates learning and provides essential support throughout the connection process.

Topics Include:

• The "invisible strings" that build strength in a community
• Why nature connection isn't just for kids (why parents need it too!)
• Why you’re always right when you track alone; community as the antidote to a one-sided perspective
• What is community resilience? What is the essence of it?
• How gratitude supports a resilient mindset
• Rebuilding resilient, connected community

 

Part 4 - Creating the Continuum of Curiosity, Creativity & Vision

Beyond creativity, there is a powerful source of energy called Vision.

Where does that come from? How does it emerge?

Explore how nature connection supports robust creativity, curiosity and vision in life, and how mentoring can help a person to access the creativity that lies within.

Topics Include:

• Engaging with the Ecological Unconscious
• How Nature Connection Mentoring improves the whole spectrum of your life
• The Quiet Mind as a foundation for well being
• Being Heard: supportive deep listening builds curiosity & awareness
• Pattern recognition - the awareness of the tracker, applied to modern life
• The 3 levels of questions in Coyote Mentoring

 

 

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How Will This Series Help Me?

Jon distills a lifetime of connective mentoring knowledge in these recordings and interviews.

Get a roadmap overview for mentoring deep connection in nature. If you know where you are going and why, you can get there faster and easier.

If you are curious about why and how mentoring and nature connection can benefit your family, community or yourself, this evocative series is a powerful introduction and call to action.

 

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Bonus Interviews - Connective Mentoring in Action

Jon Young explores the potential of connection-based learning practices, finding the power of hope and healing that can shine into our daily lives as he interviews experts from a variety of fields including:

• The founder of a nature-based preschool who is skillfully connecting children with nature;
• a place-based education expert leading initiatives to bring the classroom out onto the larder landscape;
• a cultural anthropologist helping to preserve ancient place-based traditions;
• an award winning filmmaker who has explored how nature and community supports well-being in traditional cultures;
• and a world renowned musician who weaves together the arts of music and nature.

These interviews show hopeful examples of how nature, mentoring and community can bring healing in our lives.

 

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Get Started Today!

Get started immediately by clicking the registration button on this page and filling out the course registration form.

You'll receive immediate access to the course after using our secure payment platform - you''ll receive an email with your unique course login information after purchase.

 

Digital Format - Convenient & Easy to Access

All course materials are digital, including videos, MP3 audio, and PDF transcripts.

• Simply download the materials right to your home computer or watch the videos in the online course portal.
• Decent speed internet and modern internet browser are required.
• Course materials can be viewed right on your computer, tablet or smart phone.

 

 

We Need Nature Connection...

A constant stream of new research is pointing to the importance of giving our families and ourselves quality time in nature, on a regular basis.

When we add basic mentoring skills to this time spent in nature, we amplify this positive effect and bring out even more benefits.

What's more, having a "mentoring mindset" encourages longer term thinking about the journey of nature connection and how to bring it into our families and communities.

We invite you to join us for this engaging video series with Jon Young.  Click the registration link to get started today. The series is available through this Monday, August 1st.