North West Shield
The more I learn about the interconnectedness of everything that goes on in the forest, and the world for that matter, the more fascinated I am with how ecological systems work. Spending time observing, studying (via: reading, videos, lectures, games and activities), and interacting with the plants, trees, mammals, birds, and all the other living families of the world is always a rewarding experience. It’s an important part of many programs. I have a number of activities and games to help us capture the, “essence”, of all those we share this planet with. If your not sure what I mean by that last statement, I guess you’ll just have to sign up for a program and come learn! With a little questioning, we can learn a lot about what happens in the forest on a day to day basis, and how this relates to the rest of the forest. We also gain great insight into how these natural systems are effected by, or affect our lives in the modern world and how we can lesson our negative impact on them.
The lessons and knowledge of nature are so vast that I often find it can be overwhelming, especially when it is past on through long lectures and scientific explanations. Seeking the answers to your own questions with the help of a guide can be a rewarding experience. Rather then just being told information, I find that by answering questions my self, it often leads to even greater deeper questions. The information I do uncover, becomes much more rewarding, and stays with me longer. I recognize that people have many different learning strategies. I am a fan of Howard Gardner’s work on, “multiple intelligence theory”, and the eight different forms of intelligence. I greatly enjoy studying learning patterns and have taken a number of courses related to this topic. I will do my best to work with all learning styles, but always like to encourage people to seek their own answers first. I am always happy to offer a little direction in the search.
Depending on the program I have a fairly large resource library of books, field guides and videos that I can make available for your personal research. These resources also often trigger great evening and meal conversations and some times send us off on a new unexplored learning path with great new discoveries for all involved.
If you are interested in acquiring your own self directed learning resources follow the resources/more information link.
