Cumberland Wayfinders

Wayfinders is a weekly offering for kids aged 7-12, for yearlong nature-based mentorship in the 8-Shields model. 

The kids will learn of responsible harvesting, medicinal and food plants, natural materials, wild crafting, navigation, tracking and stalking, bird language, ancestral heritage and local ecology. With strong core routines of gratitude, circle sharing, singing, storytelling, inquiring, mindful “sit spots”, and mentoring of each other, they will experience and incorporate a nature-connected community-minded culture, grounded in relationships of respect and reciprocity. 

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Nature is our teacher, and throughout the year we will move with the seasons around the “wheel of development”, offering subtle guidance towards the lessons that bring us into deeper connection with our selves, each other, and the land. Kids will learn without even realising, and will discover emerging emotional qualities, social skills, self-awareness and self-confidence that seem as natural as the changing of the seasons. Through games, storytelling, songs, and guided exploration in small groups, they will find personal trails of intrigue and natural mysteries calling out to them and to their growth, their gifts. 

The 8-shields “Coyote Mentoring” approach was developed by Jon Young at the Wilderness Awareness School, formalizing the child-led, experiential schooling methods apparent in nature-based cultures. This approach cultivates our children’s curiosity and innate wisdom, guiding them into personal and collective learning experiences that reveal their gifts and support their development towards healthy maturity and wholeness. 

The 8-shields model has seen abounding success across the world as an alternative education option for home school communities, and as extra-curricular programming for kids in school. Both Steph and Kes have extensive experience designing and facilitating 8-shields programs at different nature schools in Canada. 

Program starts in Sept 2022 and runs until June 2023. Registration is for the full 32 sessions.

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Seedlings is a weekly offering for kids aged 4-6, for yearlong nature-based mentorship in the 8-Shields model.

The kids will learn about responsible harvesting, medicinal and food plants, natural materials, wild crafting, navigation, tracking and stalking, bird language, ancestral heritage and local ecology -- all while having fun. With strong core routines of play, gratitude, circle sharing, singing, storytelling, observing, inquiring and mentoring, we cultivate a nature-connected, community-minded group culture, grounded in relationships of respect and reciprocity.   

Nature is our teacher, and throughout the new year we will discover the lessons being offered by nature that bring us into deeper connection with ourselves, each other, and the land. Kids will learn without even realizing, and will discover emerging emotional qualities, social skills, self-awareness and self-confidence that seem as natural as the changing of the seasons. Through guided exploration in small groups they'll discover personal trails of intrigue and natural mysteries calling out to them.

Program starts in Sept 2022 and runs until June 2023. Registration is for the full 32 sessions.

Return to Yearlong Programs