In association with WildWise and special guests
April – November 2013
This course is open for bookings.
We are living life in a time of tremendous global change. Many of us are sensing the shifts both without, and within us, and we feel called to act. It is clear that the current paradigms of the industrial growth model are both unsustainable, and not meeting the needs of its citizens living within the system.
The formal education system is creaking under the strain of the national curriculum and our children are receiving instruction rather than a true education, within a context of reaching goals and targets that fail to address the body/mind/spirit potential within each child.
One of the most effective ways to inspire and enrich ourselves and each other, is to find our way back to engaging with the natural world. An extraordinary syllabus is available to anyone open to spending time in nature, and our job as environmental educators is to cultivate this ‘nature connection’ in helpful and meaningful ways.
Therefore, we invite you to become one of the new generation of change-makers through the Foundation in Environmental Education – Outdoors! that we are hosting in association with bushcraft and outdoor education specialists WildWise.
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The process of developing our capacity to be an environmental educator is an adventure that’s full of potential opportunities, challenges and possibilities.
This programme will give you the skills and tools to navigate this journey and bring your leadership potential out into the world, supported by experienced professionals, a community of like-minded students and a connection with the natural world itself.
Through the programme you will become a more grounded and effective educator, be more connected with the natural world and be more connected to yourself and your aspirations.
The programme has been created for those on a personal and professional development path. It may be at the point of a career change, or after graduating that the need for practical experience and mentoring in the field is required.
In professional terms, Call of the Wild offers skills-development, mentoring, professional training and precious contact time with a wide variety of client-groups.
Over the duration of the programme, we expect students to pick up a broad base of skills and experience, to clarify which areas of environmental education they have a particular interest and talent for, and which client-groups they would like to work with.
This becomes the ideal platform from which to pursue a vocation in, for example forest school, bushcraft, earth education, outdoor pursuits, or the more formal environmental education sector.
In more personal terms, the programme aims to align you with your goals, connect you deeply with nature, and offer you tools and experiences that will translate effectively into everyday life.
The programme is geared toward teachers, educators, outdoor instructors, rangers, forest school leaders, play-workers, and in more general terms, those who are change-agents, community leaders, people in personal or professional transition, and people who long for more fulfillment in their lives and a deeper impact in the world.
This is primarily a hands-on, experiential course and is based on 6 skills-development weekends, taking place between March and November, from Friday afternoon to Monday lunchtime.
Students will also be required to complete 5-10 days fieldwork on WildWise’s calendar of events and courses to gain experience with varying client-groups, be part of a staff team and extend their teaching practice.
The programme will introduce deep ecology, earth education and the work of Joseph Cornell and Jon Young. The journey will include nightwalks, earthwalks, naturalist study, canoe-trips, role-play, ceremony, a storytelling and a medicine walk.
In addition, participants can choose three courses from a selection of WildWise’s professional training programme to focus and develop their skills further.
There will also be an opportunity to attend short courses from the inspiring programme run by Schumacher College which next year will include teachers such as Bill Plotkin and Andy Fisher. Attendance of these will be subject to availability and offered to students of the programme at a 10% discount from the stated course fee.
Structure of the programme
6 Core Skills and Development weekends , April – November (Friday 2pm – Monday 1pm)
3 WildWise professional training courses (Sept/Oct/Nov)
5-10 days fieldwork on WildWise camps and events
3 mentoring sessions
Various assignments and practices associated with developing nature connection and integrated learning.
Online peer group
As part of the Call of the Wild programme you will:
• Learn and/or develop new skills, tools and techniques to become a more effective environmental educator
• Gain experience with a range of client-groups
• Discover more of your gifts, passions and vision
• Move yourself closer to your professional aspirations, and toward your dreams for yourself and the world
• Receive coaching, mentoring and support
• Adopt routines that connect you with nature and can facilitate others connection to nature
• Be introduced to new ideas
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1. Core Skills and Development weekends
The weekends will focus on building your core skills and knowledge in the following areas: Nature Awareness, Campcraft, Firecraft, Shelter building, Wild Food , Sensory Awareness, Naturalist Activity, Creative Interpretation, Storytelling, Nature Games, Woodcraft.
April 5-8 – Orientation
Introduction and induction to Schumacher college. Group-building. Campcraft skills – firecraft. Introduction to core routines. Meeting the mentors. Nightwalk. Assignments and practices
May 24-27 – Hands On
Bushcraft skills – firecraft, shelter-building, cutting tools, coppicing, woodcraft, wild foods, campfire cookery
Nightwork. Bird language
Assignments and practices
July 5-8 – Imagination
Creative interpretation. Nature games. The teachings of Joseph Cornell. Earth Education. Environmental storytelling. Animating nature. Narrative techniques. Storymaking. Assignments and practices
September 13-16 – Heart
Gaia theory. Deep ecology. Council of All Beings.
Overnight solo.
Nightpaddle.
Assignments and practices
October 18-21 – Awareness
Sensory awareness. Tracking skills. Wildlife observation. Bird language. Nightwalk. Medicine walk – Martin Shaw.
Assignments and practices
November 15-18 – Leadership
Leadership styles.
Eco Constellations.
Information and resources for Environmental Education UK
Celebration
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2. Professional Training (September-November)
Students choose 3 training courses from the 2013 WildWise professional training programme to develop particular areas of interest.
3. Fieldwork (May-September)
Students gain experience assisting on WildWise courses and camps, choosing between a wide-range of events and client-groups. Students work with WildWise staff. A minimum of 5 days required, followed by, where appropriate, some teaching practice.
4. Mentoring
3 sessions of one to one focused enquiry to support the participant in how they reflect on the course, develop their emotional literacy, their professional and personal aspirations, and clarify next steps.
And beyond…
Graduates of this programme will have the opportunity to apply to become part of the facilitation path team that helps the course leaders deliver the 2014 programme. These places are limited and are assessed on application.
£1950
Price includes the cost of all core skills and development weekends, 3 professional training courses, plus fieldwork, mentoring and all accommodation and meals.
Accommodation
Included in the price, is the camping ground next to Schumacher College. This will have a basic facility and as such, is an integral component of the course experience ie. camping together in the forest and cooking over open fires. There is however, also an option available to book into the old student accommodation at Dartington Hall at a subsidised price of £15 per night.
Teaching Venues
Teaching will occur across the following venues: The Craft Education Centre at Schumacher College, Dartington Estate Woodlands, The River Dart, plus camp locations on Dartmoor.
Click here to book this course via our on-line booking system >>
Click here to find out how to book by fax or mail >>
For more information about this course please contact Rebeh@wildwise.co.uk
