“To the people you serve, it may seem like nothing but running through woods, playing games, and listening to stories. An underlying intention they never realise lies beneath this surface evidence. By subtly and invisibly using Child Passions to get people to practice Core Routines and so read the Book of Nature, you engage them in learning without them ever knowing it. You are running an ‘Invisible School’.” Jon Young
This quote from Jon Young from the 8 Shields Foundation, whom we have trained with at Art of Mentoring, inspires and guides the way we work with children in Nature Connection Mentoring experiences. Within our school holiday and after school programs we use the philosophy and methodology of the Art of Mentoring and Nature Connection to support children to learn about nature, but more importantly form connection with nature.
Wilderness Awareness Games play a key element in all of our programs, ‘invisible school’ techniques to help children connect in fun, high energy, full body and mind ways that inspire and help them (and the adults) come alive with an inbuilt sense of awe and excitement.
In episode 6 of Campfire Conversations, Trudi Bennett chats to Andrew Haskell Salazar (one of Educated by Nature’s Nature Educators and Nature Connection Mentors) about his experience working with a group of children in a local bushland space to develop nature awareness and the skill of tracking.
You can find out more information about the Art of Mentoring here and book into one of our family programs here.
This episode of Campfire Conversations is now available as a podcast! Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.