Educated By Nature

In this episode, Trudi Bennett discovers blackberries along the waterfront in Seattle. A passing cyclist thought Trudi and Daniel were collecting pokemon which led to a discussion on digital tourism and the similarities to foraging, including the buzz from finding the unexpected.

In this episode, Trudi Bennett and Daniel Burton have arrived in the USA for their study tour of nature connection programs. They introduce the reasons for embarking upon this expedition of nature pedagogy and the opportunities they are looking forward to experiencing and bringing back to Australia.

In this episode, Trudi Bennett introduces her nature connection mentor, Anna Killgrew from Koora Retreat Centre, in the Western Woodlands east of Perth. Anna discusses how true identity and connection can be formed in the wilderness by removing the facades we wear in the city.

In this episode, Trudi chats to Andrew Haskell Salazar (one of Educated by Nature’s new Nature Educators and Nature Connection Mentors) about their experience working with a group of children in a local bushland space to develop nature awareness and the skill of tracking.

Trudi and Daniel chat to their mentor Gillian McAuliffe, founder of Bold Park Community School, about the need for both adults and children to have times of stillness. While they use Zentangle to do a mind reset themselves, they discuss how stillness in nature supports learning in a fast-paced world.

Daniel and Trudi spend a ‘whittle’ bit of time exploring the reasons why a simple potato peeler is such a common tool at every Educated by Nature program.

Trudi and Daniel have covered themselves in clay on International Mud Day to discuss the sensory risk taking aspects of playing with clay and the benefits of good old fun in nature!

How often to you play in the rain? playing in the rain is not something adults usually do and often we call children out of the rain to prevent them from 'catching a cold'. In this episode of Campfire Conversations, Daniel Burton and Trudi Bennett discuss the concept of Sensory Risk Taking and describe the moments of joy that playing in the rain can bring - the key element required it seems - permission!

Join Daniel and Trudi around the campfire for their first episode of 'Campfire Conversations' as they delve into the world of Nature Connection.

Today, more than ever, our children need to be developing the skills to support resilience development. So, we feel very strongly that children build ‘Resilience through Connection’. As such we develop all of our programs, especially for KIN Village, with resilience in the forefront of our minds.

Bush Inventors' Club provides a space where children feel empowered. A space where children have time and freedom, balanced by boundaries and guidelines to push against to feel secure. A space where we come prepared with tools, equipment, resources and knowledge for ‘just-in-case’ opportunities. We come with the mind of a mentor – the sharp eyes, keen ears and sixth sense to anticipate the support a child may need by observing their behaviours, actions, words and all the other languages with which they communicate.

The interactions between self, environment and community are core to Educated by Nature. Developing each of these areas is beneficial, even necessary, for creating resilient and engaged citizens. What better way to encourage this development in children (and adults) than through play? Play happens in many different forms and in different circumstances and it continues to be the best way that children have to make sense of the world and their place in it.

Wilderness Awareness Games tap into the very essence of childhood – PLAY – and provide rich, authentic and engaging opportunities to learn about the world around us, each other and most importantly ourselves. By providing a balance between action and energy, stillness and focus, discussion and reflection, this simple tool in a Nature Educator’s kit bag helps to teach skills in the most natural of ways building connection to nature, to community and to self.

At the conclusion of each and every program, the Nature Connection Mentors at Educated by Nature gather for a process of debrief and reflection. We allocate time to honour the process which allows us to delve deeper and unpack the experiences of the program that has just occurred. This assists us in developing the program further in preparation for the next time we meet. This blog, written and read by Daniel Burton, delves into the magic that is created when we truly listen to Children's energy needs!

Here at Educated by Nature we believe that if we are to regain our place within the natural world, if our society is to once again find our connection with the world around us, we need to start by supporting and mentoring children to have the time, space and permission to be in nature and to experience the joys that nature can provide. A blog written by Daniel Burton