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Project NatureConnect
Institute of Global Education
Natural Systems Thinking Process

PROJECT NATURECONNECT
Institute of Global Education

 
 
 Introductory Course
ECO 501 Educating and Counseling With Nature
3 Credits in the Degree Program

Activities Designed by Class Participants.

Go to an attractive area and ask for this natural area’s permission to visit and become involved with it:

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The activity is a nature walk with a small group of people. We gather introduce and then someone leads the group through a circle trail for 15 min or so. We come back gather and then discuss what we saw felt, observed, was attracted to on the walk. Then the leader introduces NSTP, following attractions, becoming present, being aware, and asking for permission. After which we do the same trail again with these concepts in mind. We gather after the walk and ask the same questions before of attractions, feelings, sensations, observed and then ask what the felt difference between the two walks was. What was the comparison and contrast? How was it different? What made it different? And how do you feel about and trust nature? And Discuss these questions and answers within the group setting.

Workshop Activity:

Title – several titles to chose from depending on what sounds better:

1) Becoming Grateful: Interactive Nature Activities that Strengthen Self

2) Whatever happened to Now? Learn to be Still

3) Mind, Body, and Spirit – How Nature can Teach Us.

Facebook Ad: Do an interactive nature walk with others to become more in touch with yourself and nature.

Newspaper Ad: A two hour interactive nature walk that teaches how to be present by getting you back in touch with nature and yourself.

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Find a tree or large rock not far from your home. Pretend that in a world before you were born, it was your closest friend. What would you want to say to it now? How would it answer? Write the conversation in your journal. Twice in the next week visit (and preferably touch) the tree or stone, then later continue the conversation for a page or two. How do you feel about the tree or stone now? What do you 'remember' about your friendship before this life?

^^^

Find a stone which is the appropriate size and weight for a problem you are having in your life. The stone should represent a problem that can be easily done away with. Spend a moment focusing on the weight and size of the stone. Carry the stone with you throughout the natural area. Each time you find a natural attraction look at your stone (problem) and then continue to maintain connection with the area. Stay connected for as long as the area remains attractive. Has the area helped you to view your problem in a different way? If so, how? Before moving onto the next attraction take a moment and imagine your stone (problem) is now lighter. Continue this process until you feel the weight of your stone (problem) is no longer worth carrying. Now place the stone (problem) down or throw it away in a manner that is safe and won’t harm the natural area. Thank the natural area.

This process can also address multiple problems. Simply choose a one stone to represent each problem and repeat the activity above.

Alternatively I found an additional way to do this activity. If you find it more attractive you may also replace the stone with smaller stones each time you are imaging the stone (problem) becoming lighter. In this case, you will see you problem becoming smaller. You can also “weigh” the original stone (problem) with the new smaller stone to decide if it is really worth carrying or worth the extra weight to carry.

^^^

  Go to an attractive natural area, thankfully as for its permission to become involved in itj, gain its consent to help you with this activity.
 
  If the area remains attractive, continue with the activity and thank it for giving you permission. How do you feel when you show your gratitude? Take a deep breath, do you feel that you are attracted to the fresh air? Do you hear your inner voice joyfully telling that you are refreshed by inhaling the oxygen the other living creatures bring to you? Is it better than breathing in an unventilated room? Does it take away your stress and anger meanwhile? Then walk around this area, look for the webstring attractions and awake your natural sensitivities through the nonverbal communication in nature. Find a green plant, greet to this natural friend and notice how it connect with you. Gently move close to it after asking for his permission, stop till your nose is only 2 inches far from it. See how its reaction towards you? Take a close look a the plant, how does it look? Can you sense its feelings? Do you think you share the same feelings with it? Close your eyes, listen carefully. What did you hear? How do you feel when you hear that? Focus on your communication with the plant. Inhale and exheale. Do you feel that the attractions both from the plant and you? What else do you notice besides 'I'm breathing'? See the webstring connection between you and the plant. Open your eyes, can you see some difference in the plant? Is it happy with you? Now imagine you are the  plant, what attractions is indispensable to you? How do you survive and help sustain the balance of this global community?
 
  Thanks the plant and the area for letting you being nature for that moment. Write down your experience and share  with others.
 
  Write down the three most important things you learned from this activity. Write down three G/G statements that come from doing thi activity. How would you feel having your ability to experience this G/G taken away? Dowe this activity enhance your sense of self-woth? Your trustfulness of NIAL?
 
  Athena YI ZHANG

We are the only species on the planet that lives nature separated lives by our own design.  As tropicmakers, we are essentially trying to reconnect to our biological origins by constructing artificial environments that "feel" like a tropical area.  This often creates very unattractive inner-stress, which in turn, results in our stressing out the natural environments around us.  Our stress-induced life style perpetuates indoor, false tropic-like ways of thinking.  This is an activity that promotes direct contact with nature and attempts to reconnect the entire you with who you are.  When deciding if this activity is attractive, take into consideration the local cultural norms, laws, and current weather conditions.  It might also be more easily done in a secluded natural area or backyard.

Go into an attractive natural area.
Ask for its consent to help you with this activity.
If the area remains attractive, thank it for giving you permission.
Now close your eyes. 
With your eyes closed, notice the air touching your exposed skin.
Take a deep breath and notice how the air feels as it passes through your nostrils, throat, and into your lungs.
With your eyes still closed remove your shoes and socks.
Take a moment to thank the soil and plant life that you are now in direct contact with.
Now with your eyes open, take in the surrounding attractions. 
Note the natural textures that are visible.
When you are ready, remove your shirt.
Stand still for a few moments, concentrating on any new sensations that you are now aware of. 
Ask nature for its consent to continue with this activity.
If the area remains attractive, remove your pants or shorts.
Breath in a deep breath. 
Smile.
If it is attractive to do so, remove any clothing that remains.
Write what you sense, think, and feel from this experience.  Try to make sense of it.  This activity asks your new brain to consciously experience nature in a natural way.

*Inspiration for this activity: The Yanomami Indians of the Amazon Rain Forest (who's minimal clothing makes perfect sense to me), Chapter 8 - Reconnecting with Nature, and Chapter 12 - Disconnection and the Tropicmakers. 

Activity: Go to a natural area, yard or beach. If you feel comfortable remove your shoes and socks.

Firmly plant your feet about shoulder width apart in a relaxed stance.

Ask permission from the area to accept and teach you. Then, close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply and slowly and imagine you are breathing in harmony with nature. Once you feel you are in rhythm with nature open your eyes and as you continue to breathe, be aware of what is all around you.

Continue to be present to what is happening around you by noting all the attractions that you are drawn to.

Alternatively you may sit or lay down, however it is important that at least some part of your body/ hands/feet are in direct contact with the ground.

Write down the 3 most important things you learned from this activity. Write 3 green in green statements that come from doing this activity. What effect does this activity have on your sense of self worth?

Do this activity with a young group of young children.  Take them into a natural area preferably a garden where the soil has been dug.   Guide them in asking permission to be there.  Wait 10 seconds and if it still feels attractive start the activity.  Each child is encouraged to touch the soil and play with it.  Let them filter it through their fingers and mix the natural compost into the soil. Make it fun.  Allow each one to add water and dig their holes. Encourage them to touch the leaves of their seedling and gently remove it from the container then plant it in the soil.   Each one is allowed to water their plant and talk about the activity.   During the activity the children are told about temperature (hot and cold), conserving water (rain) and taking care of nature. Ask them what they feel about nature, about themselves, ask if this activity has made them feel good inside, if they feel happy, if they love nature. Their self-worth improves when they experience G/G feelings.

When facing a dilemma, challenge, or a decision of any sort, we often forget to ask the guidance of a system that has been here for a very long time, and has seen it all. The natural world. And so, when you are faced with such a situation, go outside. Take your questions, dilemmas, and challenges with you. Go wandering in nature and allow yourself to be attracted to any element/life-form of it. Gain the consent to join the area, and spend some time simply being present with yourself and your surroundings.

When you feel ready, ask that element of Nature to be your guide and council. Bring the question forward, and ask for what your next perfect step needs to be. Remain present, and allow the answers to come back. It might be a simple and short answer, or a whole dialogue and conversation that might evolve from it. Engage and be open to receiving. Remember, or take notes. Take your time.

When you feel/sense that the conversation is complete, thank that natural area for all the insight you have received, and part ways. Spend time thinking about what happened, and what answers (or further questions) that you might have received.

With a group of kids, go to a natural area and ask them to find an area that they would like to play in, but only after they have asked that area if it is OK to spend some time there.  Find one object that you really enjoyed playing with, something you just really liked….maybe you liked the color, maybe you liked how it felt.  Ask it if it is ok to bring it back, but make sure that you don’t tear off a plant leaf or uproot a flower.  Talk about why this would not be a good idea.  When the kids return, ask them why they chose what they did.  Ask them if they feel as special and important as what they had chosen.  Guide them in direction toward their self-worth.
 

ACTIVITY New Senses

Thankfully gain consent to visit an attractive natural area.  Once you sense the natural attraction inviting you to be with the area, sit or be in close proximity and notice any shifts that occur in the way you breathe or sense.  Do you feel any sensations or feelings that were not there before you entered the attractive natural area.  Now close your eyes and take some deep breaths in and notice the shifts that occur. 
Breathing in fully, thank the natural area for the exchange and walk around for 10 minutes with full awareness looking for different attractions in the area.  After 10 minutes return to the initial attraction and redo the above activity and record your discovery.
Now visit a car dealer or your favorite store in the mall and try to create this natural connection with a car or an outfit and what do you discover?
 
Is our society brain washed by an overload of commercials broadcasting the unnatural ways to fulfill our senses?  What can you as the citizen of Mother Nature do to correct our false perception and return our society to our natural roots?

ACTIVITY

You and I have been taught, as puppies are taught: Don‚t‚ Bark!

I know, as do you, you and I have been domesticated by society, our parents, teachers, bosses, clergy, and others.

Before our natural sounds were muffled with a bottle, a stare to comply, a command to remain silent, our natural sounds were in agreement with our feelings.

I know, as do you, most of us have lost our spontaneity, our freedom to say to the Other our thoughts and feelings in sounds and words.

So let you and I, free up those bottled up sounds, and words, buried inside of us by going into nature and barking our sounds and words.

Go into an attractive natural area where you are alone.

Go where you can look in all directions and see no people.

Gain this areas consent.

Ask this area for its permission for you to be there. Ask it if it will help you this activity. Wait for about half a minute. Look for adverse signals of danger such as thorns, bees, etc. If the area still feels attractive, or becomes more attractive, you have gained its consent. If this portion of the natural area you visit no longer feels attractive, simply select another natural part that attracts you and repeat this process. Do this until you find an area where a safe attraction remains.

Avoid mistreating this area.

Avoid taking anything from this area.

Note: This may sound strange to you; however, in this activity it is important for you to give yourself permission to speak out, to bark.

Speak to yourself out loud, or silently within (oneself), ask yourself for permission to participate and for help with this activity. Gain consent from your inner nature. You‚ll know you have gained consent when for example your breathing is more relaxed or your shoulders fall away from your ears or your jaws unclench or you feel tension leave your body. You‚ll know what is right for you.

When you gain consent from your inner nature say thank you.

Now, look about you, find a tree, a rock, a plant, or sit on the ground.

You will find, trees, rocks, and plants, are understanding, patient, and less likely to cause trouble when you practice speaking those unspoken words, and sounds, bottled up inside of you.

You will find them good listeners.

Let the tree, rock, or plant, represent the person you need to speak to. It could be a mother, father, a boss, a brother, a sister or Other.

You will know what is right for you.

Face tree, rock, or plant, and transfer what it is you need to say to the Other to the plant, tree, or rock.

You may notice the silence.

Listen to the silence.

Does the silence create a small anxiety?

Dare you break the silence?

What if someone is listening and hears you?

Are you afraid to speak out in the silence?

Between our words silence is present.

Silence is between sounds.

Touch the tree or plant if you need to.

Sit on the ground.

Start with Hell-o.

Use the Others name, if it is right for you.

Say, what you feel.

Hear yourself say it.

If you are angry does your sound say: „I am an angry person, disconnected from nature‚s intelligent attractions, in people or places?‰

If you are happy does your sound say:‰I am the happiest person in the world?‰

Listen!

How do you feel?

Speak out loud your feeling ˆ without words.

Speak out loud what you need to say to the Other in words.

Leave nothing out.

Does the sound of your voice match your words?

Speak out your feelings in sounds and words.

Speak about what you need-ed from the Other.

Say out loud the sounds of your feelings.

Pound your chest and make sounds out loud.

Scream.

Yell.

Let your arms fly.

Stomp your feet.

Strike the air with your fists.

Dance.

Sing.

You‚ll know what is right for you.

Feel your sounds escape through your voice box out into the air, over the tree, rock, or plant out into the universe.

When you are finished say thank you.

And find another natural-attraction and follow one attraction after the other. When you are finished thank this area.

Write down three important things you learned from this activity.

ACTIVITY: Spirt to Spirit Messages.

Do this activity, preferably early in the morning periods. Go to an attractive natural area; gain its consent to help you with this activity. If the area remains attractive, put off your shirts and try to walk bare-footed on sands. Then, have your new brain connect to the most attractive things in this area. Nonverbally, focus your energy and thoughts on things that attracted you most for a while. Now notice what message communed through the spirit to spirit contact in this area. Again, pause for two minutes, let your new brain validate and register natural sensations your new brain had with these attractive things. Recognize your higher powers and label it as “spirit”. While still bare-footed, walk around the natural area and repeat the word “spirit”. Observe some nature strings springing up the entire environment and know its effects.

Write down three most important things leaned from doing this activity

ACTIVITY: A Direct Experience of you.

This is a choice. You get to choose to be in contact with Nature, just you and Nature. Don't let your mind be the great thief and steal away your real experiences by protecting you with stories.
  GO out into Nature. Gain permission to do this activity with the area. When you have gained permission, become aware of all the things you are attracted to. Sun, trees, warmth, a field. Whatever catches your senses. Accept that this is how you feel, even if you find yourself saying this is ridiculous, don,t listen to your mind. Listen to your body. If you feel it and then it comes to mind, this is your body. If you find your mind saying something and then you feel it, it,s your story. This also applies to not being attracted to something. If you feel the urge to leave an area and your mind is saying that it is okay to stay, then leave.
The purpose is to allow the body to use all of the tools it was born with. Do you question when you are thirsty? Do you ask yourself if you really have to go to the bathroom. Generally without thinking we are drawn to getting a glass of water or are heading to the bathroom before our minds are going "hey, I haven,t gone pee in awhile, what do you say, should we go or not?
Right now we are re-establishing equilibrium between mind and body. That is the key ingredient to learning to walk balanced.
Whatever you feel, feel it. Be okay with it. Wander around touching, smelling, seeing whatever you feel attracted to. Remember you have to obtain permission first.
Set aside 5 minutes a day to do this activity. If you find your stories taking over then try saying the word "connection or focus on your breath "breathing in, breathing out. After awhile you,ll feel the relief of being you without your story. That is a direct experience of you. Tell me who you are. Tell everyone. That is your gift.

Created Activity:

Go to an area that is natural and as free from distractions as possible:

Ask for permission to enter the area and after receiving permission spend about ten minutes moving through the area. 
Whenever you note something that attracts you, if it is possible to do so without causing any damage  (and it is small enough to do so), pick it up and take it with you  (make a mental note of where you got it).
 
After doing this for a few moments sit down with what you have collected and enjoy those  expressions of nature for a few moments.
 Note how you feel about them and what you sense about them.
 
Thank each item for giving you this experience and for sharing itself with you. 

 Now return each item to the original place where you found it (or as close as you can remember) thanking the area you took it from for letting you enjoy it for awhile.

 Note how you feel about returning the items.

How would you feel if you could not return the items even if you wanted to?

How do you feel differently about the items in taking them and returning them, as opposed to ∑∑∑if you had not taken them from their original place to begin with?

How did the area feel to you after returning the items?  

How does it feel differently than when you first approached it?


Write three G/G statements resulting from this experience

Write  a statement as though you are the old brain explaining to the new brain what it is that you want the new brain to comprehend from this activity.

 
 
 
This is a site specific activity with nature. Go to a stream, creek, or river. It can be tiny or large. Ask the flowing body of water permission to consciously connect with it. If it says yes proceed. Notice how you are feeling. What season are you visiting this body of water in? Are you aware of the last time it rained? How has the amount of rain fall effected the river? Can you feel the connection between the creek or stream and your body which is also made up of water?
If you feel safe and attracted go into or along side the river and go up stream? How do you feel moving opposite the natural flow of the water? Where are you opposing the flow in your life? How is the river flowing, is it running smoothly or is it blocked up in places? If there are rocks and things climb and explore the river or creek. What are you attracted to? What kinds of animals or living beings do you come across with your attractions? How do the animals or living beings you see live their life? What insights can you gain from comparing your lifestyle to the lifestyles, of the other natural beings you are attracted to?
Do this activity for 30 minutes. At the end of 30 minutes write down any insights. What is the river teaching you about your life? How are you feeling now? Has your mood changed from when you started the activity?
Thank the natural area for connecting with you. You are invited to visit this same area at different seasons. What is similar? What is different?
This activity to me specifically addresses part of the water cycle and our connection to streams, creeks, and rivers. It brings into awareness the connection between observing a river flowing and the flow of a person,s life. It also touches on the importance of rain and could bring awareness on people,s vocabulary of what makes a day a beautiful day. To often I hear "It,s going to be a great day sunny and 70 whatever. Where when it rains there is always a dreary tone and words used. Meanwhile people complain when a drought hits.
The time spent in this activity is important also allowing the sound of the flowing water the time to fully integrate into a person,s vibration and body.
 
 
 
In partners, go to a natural area, and gain its consent to participate in a nature connecting activity with it. Slowly, and quietly walk through the area together. After five minutes, the partners will stop, look into each others eyes, and one partner will ask the other, tell me who you are,. The other will answer who they are in that moment, what they feel, see, are experiencing. After finishing, the first person will simply say, thank you. The second person, will then ask the first person, tell me who you are,. After they have answered, the second person will also simply say, thank you. Continue to walk through the natural area, for 30-40 minutes, walking a couple minutes in silence, then repeating the exchange. No other conversation, analysis, or thoughts are to be shared about what the person has talked about. Each person supports the other in who they are in that moment by simply saying thank you.
This activity allows one to go deeper and deeper into them selves in the present moment. This activity can be repeated several times over a day. Ex. 40 minute session, then 20 minutes of quiet time alone, then repeat, x3, or x4, etc.
You can go through a lot of layers with this activity. I believe nature would be an excellent facilitator in this.
 
 
 
 
 
This activity can be used with small groups or simply yourself. Pick as natural an area as you can with as few people distractions as possible and familiarize yourself with this area in detail prior to the activity. Ask this place for permission to learn and visit. Look around for safe areas to place participants once they have gained consent with the various areas. Spend time enough to feel the area, its safeness and how you would enter and leave in the dark. Thank this natural area for allowing you to learn and share.
I have always experienced unique kinship, spiritual connections, and a deeper peace during solo times of darkness in the woods, at least an hour before any daylight and sitting still through this time period for an hour after daylight. In this time, there are many senses that we are more open to from recent sleep. Our being is refreshed but our new brain has not dominated us as powerfully as mid-morning or in the rush of the day.
Wake at least two hours before any daylight and gently walk to the area selected with no flashlights or any other light. Follow the same process of following natural attractions to or within the area and gain consent to be fully involved with this natural place. Gently sit in this area and sense as many of the intelligences/natural attractions that come naturally to you. My experience is that a multitude of senses are more aware. Sit as quietly as you can without movement of any kind, other than blinking and breathing. Stay in this place until full daylight has come and then stay for another 30 minutes. When finished, I have always been deeply refreshed, felt more alive to all my senses and deep peace and spiritual kinship with Earth.
Now on the same day, repeat this process, only go to the area you were at in the morning activity at least an hour before sunset and stay at least an hour after dark----following the same process of natural attractions and consent. On another day or the next day, visit this area for 30 minutes in the middle of the day and note any differences you feel and following the same natural attraction and consent process.
With small groups, you want to know the area well and give the participants assurance that you will place them in an area that they are to stay until you come around to get them and guide them out.
With a group, you can gather after each solo and share experiences and then follow write-up processes to share later.
 
I feel this activity is beneficial in relation to experiencing natural areas at unique times when nature is in transition, thus placing people in a natural harmony to experience/sense with natural attractions that deepen these. It is also a unique bridge to our senses in the sense of how our body, mind and spirit resonate naturally with closings and openings of the course of night and day.
This activity can enhance: ìWhat immediate actions can I take to sustain my relationships? How can I participate in these actions now?î DAN SHELTON
 
The Activity:
Dealing with a low-self esteem, as most folks have, is what we have been wrangled into thinking... of our world and ourselves. The basis for this is a misconception right from the start- on Who We Are. If I allow my thinking of separateness to continue- focusing on that, then I have made no gains. I choose to do this activity by bringing a thankfulness and gratefulness to each encounter met during the activity done and then try to incorporate that throughout the day with laughter and a playfulness.
 
The objective of this activity is to gain consent from yourself to go within and without appreciating, thanking, acknowledging and playfully enjoying each precious gift. That means to oneself, thanking for the gifts of all the senses that have come to life within and without. My reality holds no room any longer for an activity that is unattractive; choosing to only to see, the it is what it is, as it releases within me not only forgiveness, but an understanding that all is, and all is well,. When the "if,s and,s or but,s including the "I should haves come in, I recognize that as a wrangler, an unreal story. I start out by writing down statements such as "I am worthy, I am love, I am peace, I am OneI am that. Even pretend at first if you mustfor when you do the activity often you become that. Only be consistent. With consistency, it changes one from a low-self to a higher self; one that you are.
 
Now practice writing down your own statements: Try it now. Writing it down, reading it, and saying it to yourself means in essence you go through a period of releasing the wranglers, of forgiveness, of acceptance to all.... to one of Oneness. If it is only one statement, focus on that; write it down, read it, say it mentally or out-loud; makes no difference. The statement is something that comes from within, from Source itself. Listen. If it takes some minutes to do this-give into this-time is not of the essence. 
 
Now relishing your affirmation or statement, take it outside and with permission sit, with your statements non-verbally, and find an attraction in the out-of-doors. It might be the stars at night, it might be the air, the dirt, the cool breezeShare it with Nature. Go to each attractive attraction and say your statement of affirmation. How does it make you feel? What do the attractions say back? For truly, That is Who You ARE. 
 
When wranglers persist to come to the forefront, let them come and let them go or pass right on by; you need not capture them, hold them, feel them any longer- as you are not that. You just are. Accept them, forgive them, and understand them as having no power over you as you thankfully let them go in peace. Breathing slowly deeply in and out, in and now out, in fully and now out completely, knowing you are who you are. You are is-ness. As there is no past/no future/ only the Now, the moment. 
 
Is. 
 
Be-ing.
 
 
 
 
 
Our self-concept is mainly formed of ideas we think fit ourselves. Many of these ideas we have gathered from our past experiences and from other's ideas about ourselves. Some of these ideas are fixed statements which influence the way we go about in life, and we rarely stop for a second to question them. These ideas register in our mind in the form of statements that say: "I should" or "I should be" Some people might say things like: "I should be admired", "I should be understood", "I should be perfect", "I should be able to do whatever I want", "I should always know more than others", "I should never be hurt" or "I should be hurt, "I should have done something about my life earlier", "I should have been a lawyer", etc.
The objective of the following activity is to get a reality check on how true those statements feel once you are in intimate connection with nature. Take a piece of paper and write as many "I should" or "I should be" statements as you can find about yourself. When you have written statements that really feel central to your idea of yourself and how you relate to yourself, others and the world, go connect with nature. Find a place or object in nature with which you feel you can have an intimate connection. If you feel you have received consent to relate to it, use all your senses to connect to it. Stay with this intimate connection for as much as it is possible, and feel how it intensifies. After at least 10 minutes of relating to nature, use your sense of language to share with it your "should" statements, share them out loud.
As you share these statements check how you feel about them in the present moment. Are you experiencing a sensation of congruence (accuracy) or incongruence (inaccuracy)? Some statements may bring up stronger sensations than others, explore those further. What is your overall feeling about these statements after having gotten feedback from an intimate connection with your environment?
There are other statements that are important in forming our stories about ourselves, as Dr. Mike Cohen would say. Those statements can have the form of: "If I", "I could have", "I would have", "I always", "I never" This same activity can be done with these kinds of statements.
 
 
Activity:
I am struck by the wrangling stories presented in our society about the dangers, and negative constructs, going into nature may bring. Similarly to the experience of this group of people I described above, the collective we, of our society relies on masks as our presentation to the world, discounting the reality of who we, are and the reality of the blessings and support offered in nature.
An exercise I have conducted in a number of settings and will restructure to share nature,s blessings is one of mask making.
Going to an area and asking permission to participate in the activity, once permission is granted ~
Ask individuals to describe their first impression of being in this area.
Ask individuals to explore the area and spend some time in one spot that creates an attraction for them.
Gather as a group and share learnings about their attraction in nature.
How did this differ from your first impression?
Depending on the length of the activity and the comfort of the participants in the group, the discussion will be facilitated in a way that is safe for each participant. (I prefer to conduct such a workshop over a minimum of six hours)
Have participants select items in the area that represent parts of themselves. When the pieces are selected have participants assemble them into a mask and relate to the group what they are choosing to share about themselves through their mask.
(This can be done with a variety of media ~ again dependent on the length of time and the group comfort level)
 
 
 
Sit somewhere in your home for about 5 minutes. Observe and label the thoughts that enter your mind as "my stories." Notice whether your thoughts tend to deal with past or future events. Next go to the closest attractive natural area outside your home and get consent from the area to become involved with it. Say out loud "nameless" several times. Notice moments when your stories are absent from your mind and you are enjoying the moment. Thank this natural area for supporting you to be in the present moment. Go back indoors and say out loud "stories," then immediately step outside and say out loud "present moment."
I sat in front of the dinning table, leaned my body forward and rested my head on the table. I started to call ãstory, story, story·..··ä. Some scenes of my childhood appeared. I consciously knew that my thoughts were tending  to deal with past events. After 3 minutes, I went out to my balcony facing the park. The strong afternoon sunshine shrank my eyes. I said out loud ãnamelessä several times. The ãstoryä was gone. I could only recognize the strong sunshine with red light and its warmth. I retuned back to the dinning table and said out loud ãstoryä. My old childhood story did not come back. What was in my mind was the sunshine. I followed the activity to step outside and say out loud ãpresent momentä. The blue sky attracted me with its calmness sheer. There was no more ãstoryä in my mind. I found this activity could be helpful to me when my thoughts are down and desperate. 
Bonnie Chan
1. From Chris Meuse
The following activity is designed on the theory that many of the causes of drug and alcohol abuse, crime, depression, suicide, anxieties, etc. have their roots firmly planted in a soiled mind set, polluted by a sense of low self-esteem from webstring deterioration. It is in this mind set of worthlessness, that individuals turn to a variety of escape mechanisms, such as drugs, or suppressed seclusion, in an effort to ease their pain and suffering. Of course, we know the long term affects of these fruitless solutions are devastating; devastating to one's self, as well as to all of nature as a whole. Low self-esteem results in the creation of a fear based mentality; a fear of trusting one's nature to live life with confidence and love.
The crippling affect of a fear based existence is not only sad, but it is unnecessary. By reconnecting with nature one can again discover the love and peace which nature intended one to experience. The new brain barriers of a conditioned mentality, can be broken down, down, down, by the love of mother nature. Thus, allowing sensations of joy to set one free, to live a life based in unconditional love. This is a non destructive life; non destructive to self, to genius, to soul, and to all of nature's creations.
 
Please note that if the fearful situation you choose, for the following activity, is an intensely sensitive situation, it may be wise to conduct it with the support of another person.
Go to an attractive natural area. Become involved with it and gain its consent to help you with this activity. If the area remains attractive for at least 10 seconds, thank it.
In this natural setting, look for a small piece of branch, leaf, wood, pebble, something natural, approximately the size of your thumb, that attracts you. Once you have found this object, thank it for being attractive and obtain its consent to help you with the activity. Recognize that it reasonable to do this.
Find a comfortable and pleasing place to sit. It is in this setting that nature will supply you with the positive support/rapport necessary to conduct the activity.
While sitting, look around and find an attractive sight to focus your attention on for the moment. Once you sense the joy of this attraction, turn your eyes and head away from the attractive sight and sit comfortably, while holding the thumb size object in your hand. Close your eyes and bring to your attention a situation in which you sense fear. It could be a fear of public speaking, a fear of flying, a fear of love, etc. Now focus on this fearful scene; create a large bright image of the scene in your mind, intensify any sounds that you may hear while living out the scene, and feel the negative sensations associated with this fearful experience. Repeat the inner visualization, auditory, and kinesthetic sensations (you may add gustatory and olfactory sensations to intensify the experience) until you are feeling the intense reality of the experience.
Once you are living the experience, open your eyes and "immediately" place your thumb size object approximately 12 inches in front of your face at eye level, and "immediately" begin to move the object back and forth across the line of vision, from extreme right to extreme left, at the rate of about one back and forth movement per second. ( Follow the object with your eyes; do not move your head.) Do this 8 times, then switch the movement to a diagonal movement from the upper right side of vision to the lower left side, at the same rate of speed for 6 movements; then switch the diagonal movement from the upper left side of vision to the lower right side, for 6 more movements. Finally, return to the original horizontal movement for 5 more movements. Stop, place the object down, and "immediately" focus on the pleasing natural attraction which you were focusing on prior to starting the activity. Give it a warm smile and know that NIAL is supporting the removal of your fear. Sit quietly and allow all the surrounding natural attractions to flow effortlessly to you. Sense nature's peaceful joy!!!
This activity will permit the removal of fearful sensations on a neurological new brain level, and will enhance the capability of nature's multi-sensory attractions to bring peace and balance to your psyche.
 
2.
From Mike Cohen
I use a similar activity to 1. when I wake up in the middle of the night thinking about something that seems important and I can't get back to sleep. I am attracted to the small moving object I imagine because I imagine it is of nature and has the webstring power to gently, safely, reasonably erase any word strings that enter my consciousness. As my eyes follow it racing around all over inside my head, it erases my word strings like a demagnetizer, Words disappear until I can sense them coming and thereby erase them before they do. As soon as I recognize that I'm doing this, I'm asleep and I know it.
 
 
3.
From Gretchen Grani
Sit somewhere in your home for about 5 minutes. Observe and label the thoughts that enter your mind as "my stories." Notice whether your thoughts tend to deal with past or future events. Next go to the closest attractive natural area outside your home and get consent from the area to become involved with it. Say out loud "nameless" several times. Notice moments when your stories are absent from your mind and you are enjoying the moment. Thank this natural area for supporting you to be in the present moment. Go back indoors and say out loud "stories," then immediately step outside and say out loud "present moment."
 
4. From Renee Hamilton
This activity could easily be done in the morning, evening, while at work, or while driving (don't close your eyes, though. :) )
Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down, preferably next to awindow, so you can at least get some fresh air into the room.
Once you have made yourself comfortable, take several deep breaths tohelp you relax and to clear your mind. (If you have done Yoga, do Yoga breathing) Allow yourself to take in the fresh air from outside, filling your lungs with its crispness.
As soon as you are relaxed allow your mind to go to a place that you enjoy in the wilderness. (For example, I often go to the mountains ofALaska or the meadows of New Mexico). Think of this place, while continuing to breath deeply, and why this place is attractive to you. Imagine yourself there running, playing, swimming, relaxing, camping, sitting, enjoying.
Do this for a couple of minutes or for a few, depending on where your imagination takes you. Finish up by taking a couple more deep breaths and carrying with you the image that you created in your mind.
 
5. From Alfred Blue
Go to a place that is appealing to you. Find a place where you can sit down and just observe the activities of your senses as they encounter whatever is there. Recognize how sensitive and powerful your physical senses are in picking up and recording all the nuances in your environment. Take a moment and thank them. Notice how you feel when you do. Notice what kind of being you truly are, and thank the one you are. Then, let your imagination soar. Unawakened or untrained people have the illusion that imagination is a disconnect from reality, and indeed, it can be. But, it can also be led by the senses into another reality not detected by the logical mind. See if, or to what degree this happens to you. Then, when you are through relishing the experience, write down your impressions, read them back to yourself outloud, and, if you are so inclined, share them with the rest of the group.
May your experiences with this day be peaceful and encouraging ones.
 
6. From Beverly Deering
Go to an attractive area in Nature. Take some moments to pay attention to your breathing, feeling the air coming in and out of your body, feeling it as it enters your chest and your stomach. Let your outbreath release any stress or tension you might be feeling. Then, as you walk through this attractive area, continue to keep in the background a subtle consciousness of your breath, feeling it in your chest and stomach, breathing in and out a sense of connection to everything you see, hear, feel, smell, touch and sense. Explore the area, using as many senses as you can. Just keep a soft awareness of your breath, as well as everything you sense, and notice any feelings as you connect with Nature around you. At the end of your walk, write down how this experience affected you and any feelings and thoughts that arose.
 
7. From Marie McLean
In a situation with teens at risk, with their many stories of hurt and inadequacy and shame, I would introduce this activity once they had gotten to know each others' and their own histories as 'stories.' It's often easier to forgive someone else their story than to forgive yourself, particularly if there is shame involved. It's really just a variation on the theme "Who are you without your names and labels?"
 
    Choose a partner and silently go for a nature walk.  Set a limit of fifteen minutes, and then agree to come together again to share. It's not necessary to stay together the entire time.
    Follow your attractions as they come up. As you non-verbally appreciate each attraction, ask each one "Who are you without your names and labels?" Note the qualities it has. Can you find those qualities in your partner? See if you can find two or three attractive natural things or areas that can share this with you. Thank each area for its part in helping you to build stronger webstring attachments to your friend.
    When you and your partner come together again, take them to each of these things or areas, and share with them your attractions. Thoughtfully verbalize how this area or thing shares part of its essence or qualities with your partner. Always be mindful of phrasing your words so that your partner will feel good about him/herself. Be prepared to share this experience later in the large group.
 
8. From Judy Sher
This activity works best with trees, especially large ones. So if possible work with them, however it can work with smaller plants and grasses as well.
Go to an attractive natural area, especially one with trees and seek out an older tree in the area. Thankfully ask for its permission to become involved with it, gain its consent to help you with this activity. If the area remains attractive, continue with the activity. How does this tree feel to you? What do you notice? Can you hear its story? Thank it for sharing this information with you. Ask the tree if you may speak to one of its seeds either present or absent physically. If yes, there may be an actual seed on the ground for you, if so, go find it and pick it up in your hand. If not, just imagine the seed there. Ask the seed what it needed to grow into this type of tree. What life attractions were necessary for it to thrive and live? Thank the seed. How did that make you feel? If you can share this experience with others do so and find out what feelings your sharing brings up. Can you see yourself and others once as a seed, needing certain ingredients to grow and live. What did you receive? How do you feel?
Thank the tree and the seed for its wisdom and sharing and notice if there are any G/O stories that came up. If so, what did the tree and seed teach you about G/G information about you and your life.
 
When I went to do this activity I actually got surprised by the information that I received. I went and spoke to a very tall blue spruce that lives in front of my house. I received permission to interact with it and picked up one of its pine cones. Inside I found a small seed. I looked at the tree and then looked and felt the seed sitting so small inside my hand and asked it, what did it take for you to grow into this type of tree? My new-brain thought it would say something like, temperature and light and moisture ? all things that I know, but it said courage and persistence trust and vision and truth. Almost knocked my socks off. My G/O awareness thought how could this be. But my G/G awareness let my in on a secret. Since I am part of nature and I am conversing with this seed ? it's talking about me and it at the same time. I had to let go of my old conceptions of what it means to get information from nature ? it's not always literal, its multilayered and sensient and gives us me what I need. What a great and unexpected teaching.
I feel there may be many applications to this type of activity done individually and with groups. If you feel inspired I would be interested to hear what happens if anyone of you try this out.

9 Activity designed by Jan Kindred
Go to an outdoor natural area that is at least six feet in diameter. Ask permission to become involved with it to do a harmless activity. Wait 10 seconds. If the area is still attractive after this time, thank it and proceed with the exercise.
Find some sticks and/or rocks and use them to make a circle approximately four feet in diameter. Just a few are necessary to define a border. Sit inside the circle (in the middle or towards one edge) and for 15 minutes pay attention to what is currently in this space, right from the earth to the sky, and to what enters this space during this time. Notice how the things you are observing make you feel and give these feelings a one word label (example: peaceful, anxious, joyful, afraid.) Are these feelings coming from your immediate experience in the moment or are they triggered by stories, past experiences, memories or expectations?
If something is unattractive, perhaps like a stinging/biting insect or an unsettling weather pattern, notice if it is currently a threat to you. If not, are you able to allow yourself to re-write the story that it is currently not a threat and peacefully allow it to go about its business? Can you acknowledge that it is just following the flow of its own life and is not there to vindictively hurt you and may even feel just as threatened by your presence? Can you allow yourself to feel respect for this life even though it may trigger discomfort or fear?
If something is attractive, enjoy it and discern how it makes you feel. Why do you think it makes you feel this way?
10. From Jenna Caplette
Exercise: In a safe place, with a partner experience life through your feet. Close your eyes, plug your ears, keep your hands in your pockets or by your side and have your partner take off your shoes and guide you to different experiences through your feet. After about a ten minute experience, have your partner put your shoes back on. (If possible do this on a very dark night with your eyes open without a flashlight, without a partner.) Temperatures, textures, feel the connection you have every day, all the time to Mother Earth. What does She say to you? What webstrings attract you through your feet? Can you trust them to lead you? ö
11. From Lynn Ruoff
Activity: Seek Nature âs Wisdom - Seek Your Wisdom...
1. Bring to mind the most recent unresolved concern,
worry, issue (an old brain story) that you would like to
seek some wisdom and guidance about.
2. Place this thought is in your minds periphery, without
judgement let it be there for a few moments. Then,
go outside and seek a natural attractive area, ask its
permission to seek its wisdom and then thank it if it feels
right.
3. Close your eyes as you bring to the forefront this "old
brain story" you are seeking wisdom about and ask
this natural attractive area for guidance as to how
to resolve this story. While eyes are still closed listen and
sense what nature is telling you, then again,
sense with eyes open what nature is telling you,
then thank nature when all information has been received.
4. Write down, and/or share you experience with
someone else to ground this experience into your
consciousness.

12. From Karthik Sidhar
Fear of Taking Tests?
Take a questionaire consisting of 5 extremely simple questions. Sit in a area most comfortable to you, preferably outdoors. Make sure the surroundings must be silent(less distracting) Once you feel at complete ease with your surroundings and blend with it, memorize the entire questionaire and itís answers. Slowly, close your eyes and start by focussing on your mindís eye which is the portion between your eye brows. It might be difficult at first but with determination it is easy to achieve. Now mentally visualise the following:
     You are literally thrown in an exam room. You are about to take the most crucial exam of your life, an exam that might decide whether you will live or die. You can see several students, all seem as panicked as you areósweating profusely, shivering terrible out of anxiety. You look at the exam paper. Suddenly you feel your back feel warm. These are the questions that you have so well known. Good Lord, I can ace this exam,î you tell yourself. You realize that the only reason why you can do well are because of 2 factors. You seem less anxious than the others surrounding you and that you have gone through the questions and their answers very well and are able to recall them perfectly. ÖÖÖNow the results of the exam are being declared. "What, I have got an A?" you scream at the announcer."I am the only person who got it?" Now you feel the euphoria deep within yourself. .... Slowly count from 5 to 1 and then open your eyes. Enjoy the bliss surrounding you and try listening to any natural sounds if outdoors..It can be the chirping birds, or even just the wind if nothing elseÖ.    
Repeat this exercise as long as it take and make it a regular routine. Just watch the ìanxiety demonî or what you think of as an incurable disease dissappear in an amazingly short time.
 
 13 Amy Withrow
Go to a natural area of attraction. Ask permission to do this activity within this area. If permission is not granted, move on until you find a place that does grant it. Find a comfortable place to sit down. Within your range of vision, again, find something that attracts you (ie. rock, flower, tree, mountain, cloud, etc.) Make sure that it holds your attraction - if it does not continue to be attractive to you, please find something else that does. As you gaze upon this attraction, notice what sensations you are aware of in your body. Where are they? What are they? Without attaching words or names to the sensations, for a few minutes, just allow yourself to experience and savor what you notice. Now, think of a recently challenging experience you have had - make sure that it is not one that is heavily trauma-based for you. As you bring this experience into your awareness (close your eyes if this helps you focus), again, notice what sensations are in your body - try not to judge them, just notice, and pay attention to them for a few minutes. Now, again for a few minutes, gaze upon the attraction, and again hold your awareness on these sensations. For a few minutes each, toggle back and forth between the sensations of the natural attraction, and the sensations of your challenging experience. End with the sensations of the natural attraction. Thank the attraction and the area for being willing to participate in this activity with you. Write down what you experienced or noticed while doing this exercise and share it with your group.

The basis of this exercise is to use your attractions as a way of resourcing your nervous system. The basis of Peter Levine's trauma work is that the more resourced your nervous system is, the more resilient it becomes and the more resilient it is, the more it is able to bring to the surface your trauma (wranglers, old stories, etc.) and the easier and faster it will be able to discharge old, tissue-bound experiences. Resources can be lots of things, like your support system of friends and family, certain clothes you have, and certainly, your attractions in nature. I believe that by doing these exercises of following our attractions and paying attention, we have been doing just that - resourcing our nervous systems. Thus, it more often is able to access the rest and relaxation of the parasympathetic nervous system as opposed to the fight or flight of the sympathetic nervous system, which is where we spend most of our time in disconnected lives.

From Sharon Massey

I have taken the process and ritual of asking for consent when out in nature and applied it to my interactions with people and social systems. Because I lack the language to name what I am accessing (I think Mike says its a collective webstring) I have been asking for consent to interact with people's souls. When I am passing people on the street, I acknowledge them in my head even while I am saying hello out-loud. When I am talking to people, I simultaneously ask for permission to participate in the interaction in my head (with your consent). I say this out loud to my kids--but even saying it in my head
has results with the average person.

The test for this was doing it myself--moving through my day and making a conscious nonverbal connection with each person I encountered. I got many more hellos, smiles, and even physical touch then usual. I have
also described this process to people and they have expressed that it worked for them too.

Thanks Sharon, I tried this for the last few days, and it felt weirdly sci-fi at first, but I do believe like lotus flowers, we appear energetically more open, and this then allows communication (nonverbally) to initiate. I also noticed that I felt I could pick up on people's energy vulnerabilites, for instance a need to feel in charge, or a need for feedback, or a slight hug, or smile. This was a great test for my awareness of my presence on other's as well.

 

From C.J. Rich

It seems that a lot of people are afraid of mice. My mother was, even though she grew up on a farm. My cats have had a terrible habit from where I used to live- a converted horse barn. They loved to put mice in the bathtub and freak them out until weakened, and then go from there. I would always get a surpise in the morning when getting ready to shower....a bad scene from Psycho in the shower awaited me.Does this help your fear?  For a long time, I've wanted to get over that fear, which I've kind of generalized to all animals. I went outside last evening after it had turned dark and sat on the back steps, close to the fallen leaves. I just wanted to try to stay out for awhile without feeling terrified. For awhile, I had been getting visits from skunks, and I figured there was bound to be a groundhog, a cat, or a mouse scratching around out there. I sat there, feeling the chilly autumn wind, repeating "attraction...connection" to myself and, eventually, I heard something rustling through the leaves. I asked permission to stay for a few more minutes thinking that, after all, this was the animals' natural habitat. I was the intruder, especially now that it was nightime.A good way to give some perspective, yeah we are guests sometimes Then I saw them - a pair of iridescent eyes reflecting off a slim patch of light coming through the kitchen window. I stood up, but I didn't leave. Neither did the eyes. "Connection...connection...." I said it a few more times, forcing a half-smile. Eventually the eyes casually moved on. I'm not sure what it was. It was pretty dark: Maybe just a cat; but I felt like something "big" had happened. The creature didn't run, it didn't attack. We were nature - together.

from Kathy Petett

Age: Children, 8-11
Have children decorate (2) shoe boxes. In the first box, "my old stories," and in the second box "my new stories." Ask children to come up with all the things they believe to be true about themselves, and write each on a small piece of paper. Place a slit in the top of each box an put the "old" stories---"I'm retarded everyone says so", etc. Then have children engage in a nature activity, like sitting by water, picking up rocks, looking at leaves, feeling the wind. For each nature experience, write a "new story," that begins with "I like, or I feel". Add the new stories in the other box, creating a slit in the top as well. Each week children can pull out an old story, and let it go when they are ready. For instance, "I'm not retarded, that was an old story somebody told me, and it's not who I am." A ceremony like burying the old story, throwing it in the trash, cutting it up..whatever to bring closure.

2. Perspective taking nature style
An exercise for any age. Have participants sit back to back on the ground. Imagine a line that is drawn between them. The dividing line represents separation, the sitting touching back to back represents potential integration. Ask each participant to describe what they see from their point of sitting. Encourage as much multisensory expression as possible...the wind, birds, grass, people, animals, etc. Then ask the other person to do the same. Then switch sides, and ask if each can understand "their world" by sensing/seeing/feeling the things that person described.


3. An individual journey
Find a natural attraction, ask for consent, then move toward a comfortable sitting place. Enter the area with a particular concern that you are dealing with. As you sit (bring a small journal) write down everything the natural area is saying to you about you. "The water says that I am creative and flowing, but feel scared when an intruder drinks from my source." "The tree says I am tall and inviting, but worry too much about shadows." Whatever inspiring thoughts are generated from the voices of nature. Then, go back to the original point of concern and evaluate how nature helped to solve the dilemma.

I love doing and creating these activities, and hope to create a whole book of 'em. Kathy.

Kat

F

 Circle of Life
 Appreciating  the Web of Life

frome Carol Lindner

 Everything an Indian does is in a circle,  
 and that is because the Power of the World always works  in circles, 
 and everything tries to be  round.
 The sky is round 
 and the earth is round like a  ball,
 and so are all the  stars.
 The wind, in its greatest power,  whirls.
 Birds make their nests in  circles.
 For theirs is the same religion as  ours.
 The sun comes forth and goes down again in a  circle.
 The moon does the same, and both are  round.
 Even the seasons form a great  circle
 In  their changing,
 And always come back again to where they  were.
 The life of a man is a circle from childhood to  adulthood,
 And so it is in everything where power  moves.? 

- Black Elk in Black Elk Speaks.

 ACTIVITY
 Go to an attractive natural area, the more natural the better. Preferably 
 one that has a looping trail 
 Bring along a journal and a pen
 Gain permission to become involved with it, gain its consent to help you 
 with this activity
 Walk the loop of the trail once and simply just ?be in  the moment,? enjoy
 the feelings you get from the experience  
 Stay conscious of your breath, breathing in through your nose and out 
 through your mouth as you walk in silent meditation to connect to how you are  feeling.
 Walk the loop of the trail once again and identify things in nature that  are
 formed in the shape of a circle
 Note how you feel when you walk in the circular loop?how it feels to  touch
 those things you find that are shaped in a circle
 Use as many of your senses as possible during this activity : sight,  smell,
 hearing, taste, touch, intuition, etc.
 Note what thoughts and feelings?messages about your life, past or  present, come up for  you?
 Express appreciation for your good feelings.
 Now, think about a time in the past when the connection was broken. 
 Use your journal to describe the situation, how the  circle of life was
 broken and how you felt.  
 Think about what could have been different to maintain the connection.  Then think about a time when you felt whole, renewed, inspired and complete. 
 Write and share statements describing how the activity felt and makes  sense  to you.
Include in your journal writing the completion of the following  statements:?
 My  experience in nature shows me that I am a person who gets good feelings
 (from,  when, if, by, etc. _________________

 Elle

Go to an area that is natural and as free from distractions as possible:

Ask for permission to enter the area and after receiving permission spend about ten minutes moving through the area.  

Whenever you note something that attracts you, if it is possible to do so without causing any damage  (and it is small enough to do so), pick it up and take it with you  (make a mental note of where you got it).
 
After doing this for a few moments sit down with what you have collected and enjoy those  expressions of nature for a few moments.
 Note how you feel about them and what you sense about them.
 
Thank each item for giving you this experience and for sharing itself with you. 

 Now return each item to the original place where you found it (or as close as you can remember) thanking the area you took it from for letting you enjoy it for awhile.

 Note how you feel about returning the items.

How would you feel if you could not return the items even if you wanted to?

How do you feel differently about the items in taking them and returning them, as opposed to ÖÖÖif you had not taken them from their original place to begin with?

How did the area feel to you after returning the items?  

How does it feel differently than when you first approached it?

Amber Berg

 This perosn can be any of the following: friend, family member/s, significant other, neighbor your barely talk to, teacher, co-worker etc.
whomever came yo your mind at this moment please consider.

I want you to plan to go on a run, hike or walk to a specific set destination with this person.  Tell them you need a partner for safety reasons to go to this area.

Before you leave, when alone write down how you are feeling.  Note if you have the feelings of anxiety, happiness, fear, excitement etc.
When you arrive make sure you feel you have gained consent to be there, otherwise go to your ‘back-up’ destination.  Wether you are out for 1 or 6 hours make sure you are feeling consent to be in this area.  If you feel like conversing the whole time please do, if it is silence that seems appealing to you let there be silence, go with the flow! No pressure.

The key is for the two or more of you to reach the destination.  When you do share a moment of silence, thank this area that it allowed you to reach it safely and ask others if they are ready to head back, maybe they need another moment.

When you arrive back, still in the presence of the others make sure you thank them for joining you.

The next moment you are alone note your feelings.  What are the three most dominate feelings you are experiencing?

What attracted you most about the area or activity you just experience?

If you have a difference in your feelings before as to after the activity, try and consider why.

Do you feel more confident after you have completed the activity?

How did it, if it did, effect your sense of self-worth?

?

Students may progress through this course at a faster or slower pace, as appropriate for all with permission of the course instructor. The default schedule is recommended.

FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION

Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D.
Director, Project NatureConnect
P. O. Box 1605
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 USA
Tel: (360) 378-6313
Email: nature@interisland.net
Website: www.ecopsych.com

Communications should take place during daytime working hours in the western time zone or by appointment.

Project NatureConnect
Institute of Global Education
Special NGO consultant to United Nations Economic and Social Council.
P.O. Box 1605 Friday Harbor WA 98250
(360) 378-6313
nature@pacificrim.net
www.ecopsych.com

.