The Art and Science of Nature Sense - Weekend Workshop

What is our Nature Sense? How did we get it?  How did we lose it?  How can we get it back?  

Why is our Nature Sense important?

Our sensory systems and the intentioned integration that our neurological system demands, is the foundation for all higher cognitive processes.  Human sensory systems are best engaged and integrated through our Nature Sense. Our Nature Sense is responsible for engineering the entirety of our neurological systems. Through millions of years a process of fine tuning our abilities in relationship to the forms, patterns and rhythms of the landscape and ALL her inhabitants, humans grew the highly specialized brain and body systems we have today,

How can re-engaging your own Nature Sense support your practice, mentoring, teaching or parenting?

All higher cognitive processes such as:  academic learning, attention, inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility, problem solving, reasoning and planning, social and emotional competence and regulation, and organizational skills rely on good sensory integration.  

The senses we refer to above come pre-wired into our neurological systems but there is no gaurentee they will "just develop".  Development is dependent on active engagement.  Integration is a learned skill just as emotional and social competence are learned.  Integration requires active integrative processing of the individual senses.  For all of humanity this integration was part of a larger cultural experience dominated by our survival bias.  The staggering numbers of childhood (and adulthood) ills are demonstrating a literal disintegration of the systems that built us.  Humanity has the opportunity before us to bridge the best of our past bias, with the potentials of the present moment, for a greater future. 

What will we do during our Nature Sense weekend?

This weekend introduces participants to the Nature Sense in a meaningful and contextual format.  Through immersion in experiential practices and scientifically supported information, your facilitators will demonstrate how to "make sense" of our more familiar senses (sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, proprioception and vestibular) as they are actively awakened, engaged, and integrated through simple, accessible practices in nature.  This weekend will leave you forever changed and inspired to bring these principles and practices into all that you do.  Whether in a public or private school, clinic, summer camp programs, or the all encompassing job of parenting; Reintegrating the Nature Sense will effeciently and effectively bring meaningful, contextual and highly motivating foundations to your chosen area by opening a door to the plethora of tools the landscape offers.  

*This weekend is a pre-requisite to enrollment in the Nature Sense Certification distance education program.  

**This weekend may be taken as a stand alone course, or as a prerequisite for the Certification.  

Come be inspired!  This weekend will change your life!  

This weekend will be led by Kathleen Lockyer OTR/L and Caitlin Williams, Internationally Certified Track and Sign field expert.  

Kathleen has been a Licensed and Board Certified Occupational Therapist for 20 years. She has advanced training in several areas including Sensory Processing Disorders. Kathleen is a Naturalist, Herbalist and mother of two teenage women. In 2003 she co-founded a local non profit (Outside Now) Kathleen has dedicated her life to creating programs and trainings to facilitate child development by using routines of Sensory Processing and Integration in the natural world. Kathleen is a self proclaimed "fierce protector of children and childhood".

Caitlin holds a B.A. in Spanish with a concentration in Humanities. Caitlin is a former adjunct professor for U.C. Davis. She is a certified Permaculture Design Specialist and is internationally certified in wildlife tracking. Caitlin is an author, storyteller and naturalist. For the last 20 years she has been designing and teaching nature connection programs for infants, children, teens and adults. She has facilitated hundreds of trainings and workshops and taught at many popular wilderness schools. She is currently working with Weaving Earth Regenerative Design Institute and at Foundations IN Nature. Caitlin holds a B.A. in Spanish with a concentration in Humanities.