Urban Rewilding - Deep Nature Connection Practices

Are you longing to experience a deeper sense of connection to the place, plants and animals where you live?

To feel a sense of belonging to a wild community – even in the city?

The Urban Rewilder invites us to experientially explore skills and practices that cultivate a sense of intimacy with the ‘wild’ within an urban context. In this ‘age of separation,’ it is our important that we return to a more meaningful connection with the wider natural world, especially for the majority of us who live in the city.

Join experienced facilitator and Rewilder, Claire Dunn for a deep dive into Urban Rewilding.

'Deep Nature Connection Practices' is a 1 day session that can be experienced on its own, or as part of the 8 week The Urban Rewilding course.

Deep Nature Connection Practices

The Core Routines of Nature Connection are things people do to learn nature’s ways. They aren’t lessons. They aren’t knowledge. They are learning habits. Wisdom cultures around the world have developed an intimate knowledge of place - how to survive and thrive in a region, how to know the patterns of nature, and how to fully inhabit one’s body and sensory system. Learning daily practices to ground ourselves in the rhythms of nature, and acquainting ourselves with the plants, animals, and elements of our bioregion, we can begin to cultivate deep connection with the more-than-human-world. We can start to build our ecological literacy and deepen our sense of belonging.

Practices include: Sit spots, Bird language, sensory awareness, the art of questioning, wandering, mapping, natural movement and tracking.

8 week Course - Session Outline

Session 1 Deep Nature Connection Practices

An introduction into the core routines of deep nature connection including natural movement, wide awareness, sensory expansion and sit spot.

Session 2 Coastal foraging

Guest facilitator Christine Rockley, a self-taught expert on edible seaweeds, will takes us on a delicious mystery tour of Melbourne’s edible coastline.

Session 3 Holistic tracking

An introduction to the art and science of holistic tracking during an excursion to Westerfold Park

Session 4 Traditional earth skills – Fire-by-friction and coal-burnt spoon whittling

Learn the art of ‘hand-drill’ fire making and whittling and burning a spoon from your first fire.

Session 5 Wild edibles

A wild foraging wander for native and introduced edible plants. Session include sharing a foraged wild lunch.

Session 6 Wild Mind

An introduction to the philosophy and practice of eco-psychology

Session 7 Natural Crafts – Basket Weaving

Begin your own traditional hand-woven basket using natural materials and learn the principles of the ‘honourable harvest’

Session 8 Urban Rewilding Adventure Challenge

A grand treasure and challenge adventure to celebrate and test your newfound rewilding skills!

A certificate of participation will be issued upon completion of at least 75% of the course.

What to expect

Expert CERES Facilitators providing hands-on practical experience balanced with theory covering a variety of rewilding and eco-psychology topics.
Practices cultivating sensitivity to the land and ecological literacy such as bird language, sit spots, natural movement and awareness, tracking and foraging.
Dedicated space at CERES to put learning into practice.

What to bring

Comfortable enclosed shoes/boots
Appropriate weather gear eg sunhat
3 Inch non-serrated whittling knife
Binoculars (optional)
Pen and paper
Lunch
Enthusiasm to learn