Do you want more of the magic of nature and community in your life?
Do you ever wish you felt more confident heading out into the wild with the kids in your life?
Do you want more tools in your nature connection toolbelt?
Are you looking for inspiration and guidance in a community of supportive, nature-loving folks?

Join us this spring for a deep dive into nature-based mentoring. Guided by Steph and Becky, experienced mentors passionate about sharing what truly works, we will explore tools and practices that cultivate curiosity, build connection, and invite belonging — both in yourself and the children you mentor.

What we will explore together:

Awakening Wonder and Awe

This course invites you to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with your own sense of wonder. By following your curiosity and noticing what lights you up in nature, you'll rediscover the joy that inspires and ignites the children you mentor.

Guiding Principles

Throughout the course, we will explore our emerging Guiding Principles of nature mentoring, foundational elements that we have found support meaningful and responsive mentoring.

Mentoring Tool Bundle

Throughout the course, we will explore simple, powerful tools to support your mentoring practice. These resources will help you shape a mentoring style that’s true to you and responsive to the children you guide.

Mentoring in the Wild

You will have opportunities to step into real-world mentoring roles offering a chance to interact with the principles and practices of nature connection with children in nature.

Mentor Peer Support Hub

You’ll gain access to our ongoing Mentor Peer Support Hub — an online gathering space designed to nurture, inspire, and support you throughout your mentoring journey.

Who is this course for?

Mentors, educators, homeschoolers and parents wanting to support children’s connection to nature
Those wanting to start their own nature-based mentoring program
Mentors wanting to deepen their practice
Folks working with kids of all ages (including adults!)
You, if this awakens your curiosity!

Course structure:

The course will begin in the last week of August and run through spring. It will consist of:

Eight online sessions on Monday evenings
A full day in-person gathering in Melbourne in mid September
A weekend camping immersion in early November within an hour or two of Melbourne

Participants will also receive:

An invitation to mentor at Firekeepers Village Camp during the September school holidays, as well as several other in-term opportunities to put their mentoring into practice, supported by experienced mentors
Weekend camping accommodation and some meals catered
Resources to support your learning and ongoing nature mentoring journey
Access to our new Mentor Peer Support Hub, a gathering place for folks to share ideas, raise questions and cheer each other along on their nature mentoring paths
Plenty of tools, including games, activities and strategies, to carry in your back pockets when you’re going bush with kids (or adults)
Immersive and playful approaches to learning and connecting
Hopefully, a good dose of inspiration and confidence to carry you forward on your path of nature mentoring!

Cost:

This is a pilot program, funded largely by a grant from Vic Health. The cost for participants of this pilot offering will be $300.

For those feeling abundant, we welcome additional donations to support our programs and get more kids out in the bush!

Course Dates:

Date	Time	Location
Mon 25th Aug	6.15pm - 8pm	Online
Mon 1st Sept	6.15pm - 8pm	Online
Mon 8th Sept	6.15pm - 8pm	Online
Sat 13th Sept	10am - 4pm	Melbourne
Sat 29th Sept - Sat 4th Oct	Village Camp (optional)	Riddells Creek
Mon 13th Oct	6.15pm - 8pm	Online
Mon 20th Oct	6.15pm - 8pm	Online
Mon 27th Oct	6.15pm - 8pm	Online
Mon 3rd Nov	6.15pm - 8pm	Online
Fri 7th Nov - Sun 9th Nov	Friday dinner to Sunday afternoon	Outside Melbourne
Mon 17th Nov	6.15pm - 8pm	Online

Who we are:

We are Steph and Becky, nature-based mentors dedicated to reconnecting kids with wonder, wildness, and their inner spark. We’ve worked together for nearly 5 years designing experiences that blend storytelling, bushcraft, wandering, song and adventure in the wilds of northeast Victoria. We believe this work is rooted in connected relationship to self, each other and the natural world and feel excited about the possibility of continued learning alongside you!

Contact:

Reach out with any questions: steph@firekeepers.com.au