nature connection weekend
in partnership with the children’s forest
2025 dates tbc
secluded woodland ~ east london, e11
payment plans & bursaries of up to 40% available on request for those who need.
“eons ago, homo sapiens were just as alert and aware as all other creatures, and for the same reason. they needed to be. now we don’t need to be – or do we, but just don’t understand this anymore? our sensory equipment and brains are still designed for this awareness. these instincts are still in each of us, just buried, maybe deeply buried…”
~ jon young
about the workshop
an embodied, experiential introductory journey into the ‘8 shields’ and nature connection practice. ‘8 shields’ is a cultural map which has the cycles of the day, the seasons and life as its foundation to guide us in understanding the patterns, cycles and energies of the natural world, how they are expressed through us as human beings and how they teach us to be in right relationship with all of life. as natural beings whose nervous systems have evolved through different species lineages over millenia to arrive at our present day forms, our bodies understand and are deeply hard-wired to be in tune and harmony with the natural cycles of nature.
this map is pancultural and maps like these have been used by many indigenous cultures. during a lifetime of dedicated work and nature connection, jon young and his mentors (tom brown junior amongst others), colleagues and friends have striven to restore an intact and accessible map outlining the ways that the natural cycles have significance to us as a species and can help our human cultures to come back into balance and connection with nature, ourselves, each other and the earth and elements from whose nurturing care we are raised.
anna richardson, author and founder, and jack durtnall, facilitator, from the children's forest movement both have many years of training and mentorship in the 8 shields and started working together through the 8 shields network uk in 2017. now known as the ‘nature culture network’, this is the british branch of the ‘8 shields’ network that was founded by jon young and norman 'ingwe' powell in the east coast of america in the 1980s. together anna and jack are coming to k.i.n to deliver these teachings.
this weekend is for you if you would like to;
deepen your experiential journey into nature connection and the natural cycles
learn easy-to-use techniques for weaving natural design into your ways of organising
to immerse in nature, sing and celebrate all the aspects of nature that we share this life with
to have lots of connective fun
a big pot of soup/stew (vegan) and freshly baked bread from the wild goose bakery will be served for everyone to eat together for two lunches and dinner on friday night will be cooked over the fire. hot drinks will be made over the fire.
the facilitators
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she lives and works in east sussex. she is a mother, a forest school facilitator and trainer, working with young people of all ages. she is enthusiastic about rediscovering the uses of wild plants and the indigenous approaches to sustainable harvesting for food, medicine and other practical crafts and teaches foraging workshops.
over the last 20 years her interest in plants and traditional skills has developed through training, teaching and practicing bush craft, plant spirit medicine and invaluable time spent in the field with gordon hillman, professor of archeobotany. anna has taught at sussex university cce in wild plants and their ancient uses (in connection with the archeology department) and continues to develop her own knowledge and inspiring ways to teach plantlore alongside a deep love for the natural world.
anna is passionate about new and indigenous ways to educate and co-creates local community projects which enable people to share and learn together to reconnect to nature. she also enjoys the creative arts, plays fiddle and is actively involved in running folk music sessions in the local area.
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he found a way back to nature connection through revisiting positive role models, places and memories from his childhood and connecting with mentors and inspirational friends and places in the second half of his 20s.
during this time jack fell deeply in love with the work and vision of ‘8 shields’ organisation and has staffed and participated on the musicians’ team on their flagship program called ‘the art of mentoring’ in the UK in 2017 and 2019.jack has worked with many different age-groups of children, teens and young adults in nature since 2016 from parent and toddler groups to late teens through volunteering initially with ‘holland park ecology centre’ and subsequently staffing with the ‘earth steward apprenticeship’ programme at ‘sacred earth’ and ‘cultivating curiosity’, launching forest school camps at ‘kinship in nature’ with rhiannon & ‘the children’s forest’.
jack’s first background is as a musician. he plays guitar, saxophone, tin whistle and loves singing and song.