We sometimes find it difficult to describe exactly what it is that we “do.” A number of years ago, we were turned on to Jon Young and the 8 Shields approach to deep nature connection, which resonated with us as we noticed how closely the work we are doing fits with this philosophy. The model is built around a core concept of mentoring as a relationship of mutual respect and equality, in which the ideas and needs of the person being mentored become the framework from which learning and growth can occur. In conjunction, the approach  looks to cyclical patterns in nature as the basis for its methodology. We have embraced this idea because of the power and potential that it holds for personal and societal transformation. Mentoring serves long-range goals of self-development, while occurring in an informal or sometimes invisible fashion. It truly blossoms at the personal level through investment in one-on-one relationships over the long term. This is in direct contrast to the predominant modality of child development in western society, which tends toward quantitative measures of performance, occurs within increasingly formal and structured environments, and is often authoritarian in nature. The dominant structures of our society, and therefore of conventional education, lack freedom and opportunity to connect slowly and meaningfully without the pressure of a standardized agenda to be accomplished at breakneck speed. The pain and disillusion this causes to individuals and society at large is evident. Thus, we believe that mentoring plays an important role in cultural repair and in healing the various social and environmental issues growing in today’s world.

 

As healthy mentor relationships are imperative to individual and cultural healing, so is each of us reclaiming our connection with the Earth. These go hand in hand. We are all born ancestrally into nature connection — as creatures of the Earth, the blueprint resides in each of us at the most primal level, in our DNA. Terrahana's mission is to facilitate learning in young people by awakening their innate nature connection blueprint, and supporting the journey that arises from that awakening. Our work is centered on the belief that simply holding space for experience in nature brings people into a deeper awareness, sense of belonging and purpose as they move through life.

Each of our programs consists of a small group of about 12-15 participants. It is important to us to keep our group sizes small - this allows for a more individualized learning atmosphere, facilitates the development of close relationships, and makes it possible for kids to safely explore their independence. When we gather, our days have a general rhythm, allowing everyone to settle into the flow of life in the forest. Each morning, we welcome each other, greet our surroundings, and acknowledge our presence on the ancestral lands of the Abenaki people. We build a fire together that we take collective responsibility for tending — here we give thanks, gather to reflect, and sing greetings and farewells. By daily ritual, stories, observation and sharing of ideas, we cultivate reverence for the natural world. Throughout the day, various projects, primitive- and naturalist-focused crafts and skills, sensory awareness activities, imaginative games, music making, storytelling, and solo time all help young people learn to recognize what inspires them. Plans evolve based on children’s passions. Nothing is required. Achievement is never measured. All activities are simply potential entry points into connection — doors that the child can walk through, feel how an experience resonates or does not, and use that new self-knowledge to inform their own unique path. In other words, content is less important than what comes of it: opportunities to explore, create, be wild, be silent, observe, be alone, take risks, do nothing, rest, make mistakes, cooperate, face fear. Given the freedom to listen to their own instincts and engage in ways that move them, young people come into who they truly are, a process supported by a community of others on their own similar journeys.

Opportunity to be immersed in nature, to be largely self-directed and free, and to draw inspiration directly from the natural world supports young people’s full growth. This serves their fulfillment in all areas of life, and is essential to the cultural healing that is so necessary in our society. A culture in which people are connected to themselves, each other, and the living world is imperative for future resilience of human communities and the Earth as a whole, and the way we educate, or mentor, plays a fundamental role in its existence. Centering nature connection feeds the well-being of the child. In turn, the child who develops a true relationship with the land naturally contributes to regenerating a society that honors the fullness of each being in the web of life. Such humans will walk softly on the Earth with a sparkle in their eyes.