Wild Child Wandering Series 1

• This event is a combination of Online and In person discovery!
  
• We will provide you with a toolkit of nature connection activities which we will mail out to you before the event.
• We will have a Sunday morning check in, introduce each other and share some helpful tips for the nature connection experience you can do in your own time using the tool kit we will provide to you.
  
• There will be 3 morning check in sessions on Sunday the 9th August, 16th August and 30th August from 9-10am.
• Then you will go out and explore, discover and play in the natural world by yourself or with your children
• We have also included some Adult Solo offerings! For you to explore at your leisure.

• We will then regather in the evening for an online storytelling session sharing stories of your nature connection experiences in the evening on Sunday 9th August, 16th August and 30th August from 8:30-9:30pm.
  

The online components are best suited to adults. The nature connection components can be a whole family affair!

*Please note: For those of us in Melbourne, Victoria, we will move into Stage 4 restrictions from Monday 3rd August to the 13th September.
We appreciate that these restrictions are to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
These restrictions in movement don't need to restrict our sense of creativity, play and self expression.  We invite you to use your personal discretion, creativity, and sense of what will work best for you and your family, to adapt these activities to meet the guidelines. For example, while you are engaging in exercise, you may choose to incorporate some of these nature connection activities at your local park, and even try some in your backyard, or nature strip if you have one. We appreciate that emotions and stress can arise in this time and hope that our morning check in sessions will offer you space to be heard, support and inspiration to meet this challenging time in a way that nourishes us and our families as best we can.

The Wild Child Wandering Series is brought to you by a collaboration between Rachel, Becky and Michael. See our bios below:

The Wild Child Wandering Team:

Rachel DeSumma
Rachel loves sharing outdoor nature connection experiences with other people, and the plants and animals that share this beautiful planet with us. Her vision is a world where we are intimately connected with our surroundings and develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world. She founded Forest Immersion walks in 2019 to offer opportunities for us to explore the natural world using all of our senses. She has a background in Psychology and Community Development, and has worked in the community sector, with young people and with people with a disability. Rachel is passionate about sharing nature connection with families and children because it is so much fun and she is really a big kid at heart. Rachel is currently a Forest therapy guide in training with the Association for Nature and Forest Therapy.

Becky Walls
Becky Is passionate about nature connection. She spends as much time as
possible exploring with her children in the wild. She has undergone
Forest School Training and is co-founder of ‘The Foresters’ a connection
based bush school program for homeschooled children. She is
influenced by the work of Jon Young and the 8 Shields Institute, the
theory on which parts of Wild Child Wandering series is based.

Michael Norton
As a boy my happiest memories are of playing outdoors and exploring the
patches of wildness around our home and neighbourhood. Many adventures
were also had while on holiday at the beach or in the bush. I loved
collecting rocks, shells and other “treasures” from nature, or trying my
hand at wrangling lizards and other wild critters. These early
experiences forged a powerful connection, respect and appreciation for
nature. In my early adulthood landscape
and nature photography became one of the great joys in my life. At
first as a passion and later a vocation, it drew me deeper into the
mysteries and wonders of the Earth. I'm so grateful for the time I've
spent in some of the wildest and most beautiful places in the world.
Now with a young family, I've turned my attention to supporting my kids,
as well other families and children, to include more nature connection
in their lives. For the last 5 years I've lived with my family in
Eltham, next to the Yarra River and amongst the gumtrees and abundant
bird life. Being here has enabled me to spend a lot more time on the
land and to develop an intimate and nourishing connection with this
place.