Connecting Children to Nature through Indigenous Teachings
4 x 1 hour online classes: Mondays, June 29 – July 20
This four-part workshop series will combine the core teachings of the books Heartbeat of the Earth and Whispers of the Earth. The knowledge will integrate the teachings into everyday life whether in the classroom, play school or comfort of your backyard. The focus of the sessions will include the power of ceremony, mindfulness, gratitude, All My Relations and Indigenous games.
- Class #1 (June 29): Spring: Heartbeat of the Earth – Nature is a place to both play and learn. The physical self is moving and active, the mental self is thinking and questioning, the emotional self is feeling and experiencing, while the spiritual self is connecting and thankful. This class will explore the 4 parts of self as they relate to land based learning. The activities instill traditional teachings of respect, honour, resourcefulness, and humility through Indigenous Ways of Knowing.
- Class #2 (July 6): Summer: The Crescendo – Life Blossoming – The wisdom of our ancestors surrounds us. These are precious teachings passed down through generations. In this class participants will explore the language of the animals, the teachings of the plants and the wisdom of the land. The focus will be on integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into your outdoor practice.
- Class #3 (July 13): Autumn: Changing Rhythms – Getting Ready For Change – This class will investigate strategies to build relationships with Knowledge Keepers/Elders and to include them respectfully in the outdoor classroom. Topics include protocols for greeting and gifting, engagement, and gratitude.
- Class #4 (July 20): Winter: Stillness and Hidden Worlds – This class will explore mindfulness as it relates to Indigenous Ways of Knowing. It incorporates the teachings of both Heartbeat of the Earth and Whispers of the Earth as they correspond to mindfulness. Attendees can expect to participate in various sensory based activities as they correlate to land connection.
This course includes:
- 4 x 60 Minute Sessions at 4pm Pacific / 7pm Eastern time on June 29, July 6, 13, 20
- These will all be recorded, with the recordings made available to registrants the day after the live session for those who can’t attend live.
- All registrants will receive a Certificate of Completion
Facilitators:
Launa Payne is a member of Xa’xtsa First Nation. She is an Indigenous Educator with a focus on outdoor education. Launa teaches yoga and mindfulness in addition to Indigenous outdoor camps. Launa is the proud mother of two adult children. She has published 2 books on Indigenous teachings and connection to the land, including Heartbeat of the Earth and Whispers of the Earth.
Sherrelle Anderson is a member of the Saddle Lake First Nation. She is a Social Worker with a focus on Indigenous wellness. Sherrelle is an Indigenous outreach Worker who also teaches a number of Indigenous programs throughout BC. Sherrelle is the proud mother of three school aged daughters.
Your contribution:
- Early Bird Registration: $120 ($30/session) until May 31 – please select this option if you are able to
- 50% Discounted Registration: $60 ($15/session) – please select this option if price is a barrier
- 25% Additional Discount: For groups of 5 or more using this code at checkout: N945QEAF
- For groups of 10 or more, we can offer larger group discounts. Please check out the group rates here, and email programs@outdoorlearning.com for more info and to register.
Your course fee goes towards supporting our charity in covering the course costs, including ensuring that we compensate the course instructors adequately, and that we can continue to offer learning opportunities like these.
