5 Key Elements of Nature Connection

There is no end to the learning that can happen in, with, and about the natural world. Humans have spent generations learning about all of this and have passed on this knowledge over time. One person cannot hope to learn it all on their own; this is where mentoring comes in. We teach one another, sharing stories, insights, and observations in all directions through a community of learners. This is not about top-down information sharing, but bottom-up inquiry and exploration. And, with artful mentorship, learning can happen quickly, deeply, and seamlessly. Successful mentors know both how to hold a child’s hand, gently introducing them to new experiences, and also when to let their hand go.

If there is a “secret” tool in the mentorship toolkit, it is questions. Questions are a powerful driver of learning. As human language develops in individuals, questions become a way of expressing our innate curiosity. There is often a blossoming of questioning around the age of three or four. Any response is met with another “why?” Rather than try to “answer” questions, with inquiry-based education, the emphasis is on supporting young ones to find the answers on their own and to explore—with all their senses—the world around them.

There are many different styles of learning, both individually and culturally. And, there are patterns and best practices that can be found across cultures, communities, and places. When we invite children (and adults for that matter) to learn with all of themselves (hands, heart, feet, eyes, ears, mind, imagination, etc.) the results are profound. Moreover, many of these practices are rooted in lifeways that have supported human development as a species over time (e.g., hunting and gathering). Some of these “core routines” include: sit spot (place-based observation), storytelling, wildlife tracking, talking circles, games, animal forms (imitating the movements of animals as a way to understand them), sensory awareness challenges, etc. These (and others) are the foundation of nature connection.

A 2001 study published by Berkeley found that, on average, Americans spend 87% of their time indoors. While there are lots of issues that can arise from this, one simple one is that we tend to be far less in-tune with the natural rhythms all around us: Sunrise, sunset, the seasons, the tides, the moon, the migrations of birds and animals, the cycles of plants. The list goes on. Watershed Schoolhouse immerses children in the seasons and cycles in a deep way. What is happening with the plants in the winter? What are the birds up to in the spring? The curriculum is inseparable from these natural phenomena; the learning is unavoidable.

Circles (and spheres) are all around us in nature: the sun, moon and earth, tree rings, planetary orbits, and so much more. As a community practice, circle is an ancient communication form. Everyone can see everyone else. The circle is a place to share, to listen, and to learn with and from one another. In this way, circles are a powerful element in mentoring, questioning, and nature connection. Learning each day begins and ends in circle, sharing stories, gratitude, nature mysteries and more. While all sharing need not be verbal, this practice encourages oral speaking skills and draws on thousands of years of our human development as oral, storytelling animals.