Cancelled: Workshop on Nurturing Children, Ourselves, and Nature

Workshop Postponed.

Reluctantly we had to postpone this workshop until 2018. If you are interested in the program, let us know so we can inform you when it will be rescheduled. Also, let us know if we can guide you on how to use our resources for multigenerational events. Also, please see our website (http://www.oneearthconservation.org) for more resources (https://www.oneearthconservation.org/nurture-nature).

This is a workshop for facilitators and teachers who lead multigenerational nature and animal experiences, and learning of all kinds.

Background:

This workshop is leading and demonstrating a new way of learning and community in a multispecies, multigenerational, and multicultural context. It addresses the disconnection between humans and nature, and provides tools for adults to help children who thrive when they are able to connect to nature and animals. They do even better if unfettered in nature without negative value constraints placed upon them by their peers, family, and community, which hamper their formation of relationships that empower them and increase their resilience. Adults facilitating children and youth flourishing need to understand the emerging paradigm that sees humans as deeply embedded, belonging, and nurtured by nature and our relationships with other animals. They must also face the challenge that we as a society don’t know how to support learning and nature connection in a way that that crosses generational, cultural, and species walls that humans have constructed. Barriers are also arise from our own evolutionary biology. We need to capitalize on engaging with this changing paradigm to produce the happiest and most connected adults we can who can in turn empower and sustain their efforts to save the planet. To best serve children to grow into this future, adults accompany them in their development through their teens and young adulthood. This mentorship needs to happen in relational community where adults understand and live this paradigm of loving all nature, including human nature, and for this reason, adult leaders need to be trained in these techniques and understand the foundations so that they can pass this on in an embodied and intuitive manner. They become the change they wish their charges to see and be in the world.

The Workshop:

One Earth Conservation believes that a multigenerational, multicultural, and multispecies milieu is the bright hope for the future of our children, and we provide the learning and tools for adults to bring this to their work, relationships, and programs. Adults and mature teens learn and apply techniques and principles from the Nurture Nature Program of One Earth Conservation, which not only facilitate their own well-being, but also increase their ability to enrich children’s lives and futures. The foundation of the workshop is based upon five human natures: emotional, social, multispecies, ecological, and spiritual intelligence. Together they form a way of being in the world that sees every individual, of all species, as beautiful and worthy, and interdependent with all others. This understanding is founded on science and the practice of Nonviolent Communication, which is woven throughout our Nurture Nature Program. We expand Nonviolent Communication (www.cnvc.org) to include all species, while relying heavily on human well-being. Participants learn the science, behavior, and psychology of human and other animal nature, using it to not just accept human nature, but embrace it, and be embraced by it. So nurtured participants gain tools for lifelong learning and application to their relationships and work in the world. We offer specific examples of events and programs for children and youth, and each participant is supported in how to apply their experience to their specific program and relationships with children.

During our time together we will:

Slow down and connect with each other and the world of nature
Experience a multi-media presentation highlighting five natures: Emotional, Social, Multispecies, Ecological, and Spiritual Intelligence
Nurture each other with discussion and listening
Go deeper with nature meditations (both silent and guided meditations)
Enjoy brief outdoor nature experiences
Discuss and plan how this learning and experience can be applied to your life and work
Assist one another with plans for continued development in this field
When: Saturday, October 7, 10 – 3 p.m.

Where: Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains, NY, 468 Rosedale Avenue

Transportation: The Metro North train comes to Harrison, only 3 miles away. If you arrange with us ahead of time, we can find rides to pick you up (donations gladly accepted for this service). There is plenty of parking at the venue.

Nutrition: Bring your snacks, lunch, and beverages. We will provide coffee and tea. We have access to a full kitchen. There is a deli .75 mile from the venue if you’d like to purchase sandwiches and sides.

You Will Need: Comfortable clothing for brief outdoor experiences, and writing implements. We will provide a handout of materials

What We Need From You: Please reserve your place by paying on Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nurturing-our-children-ourselves-and-nature-tickets-36541752365)by October 5th. We are asking for $25 to cover our expenses and effort, and to grow our program. As a nonprofit organization, the proceeds all go towards offering this program and similar programs to more people in more locations, and to support our conservation efforts in Latin America. We gladly accept donations in excess of the registration amount. If you cannot pay online, you can mail checks (made out to One Earth Conservation) to: One Earth Conservation, 82-[masked]th Street, Hollis Hills, NY 11427. We are open to providing scholarships, and accepting whatever you can offer. For more information contact LoraKim Joyner or Gail Koelln at: [masked],[masked].

The Facilitators:

Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner is an inspiring speaker, wildlife veterinarian, Unitarian Universalist minister, and trainer in Nonviolent Communication. She draws on 30 years working in Latin America with marginalized people and endangered wildlife and 20 years working in Unitarian Universalist ministry. She is also an adjunct professor at the Unitarian Universalist seminary, Meadville Lombard Theological School, where she teaches "Multi-species and Ecological Ministry, Theology, and Justice" and "Compassionate Communication." She uses her experiences to address the importance of both human and nonhuman well-being in living a deeply meaningful and vibrant life, as well as caring for self, family, relationships, organizations, and life all around us.

Gail Koelln is President of GK Grant Writing, a grant writing consulting firm established in 2006. She is also the Co-Director, with Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, of a not-for-profit organization called One Earth Conservation. Gail has a Master’s degree in Zoology, a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a passion for environmental causes. She is a volunteer Climate Leader who trained under former Vice President Al Gore, Co-Chair of the Climate Justice Task Force at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset, NY, the former Chair of Gotham Green (a business and social networking group for green businesses in New York), a former Chair of the New York City Sierra Club’s Endangered Species Committee and a former docent for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo.