CORE ROUTINES
"The Core Routines of Nature Connection are things people do to learn nature's ways. They aren't lessons. They are learning habits."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.35
INTRODUCTION TO CORE ROUTINES
Below is a summary of “Coyotes Guide to Connecting With Nature” as it applies to Nature Kids Connect.
CORE ROUTINE 1: SIT SPOT
"The idea is simple: guide people to find a special place in nature where they become comfortable with just being there, still and quiet."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.37
WHAT SIT SPOT LOOKS LIKE AT NATURE KIDS CONNECT
“By far the best way to experience nature is not to travel long distances or to visit exotic places but to simply sit. Nature seems to love people who sit patiently and quietly, and it is then, and only then, that creation will put on a grand show.”
~ Tom Brown’s Field Guide Nature and Survival for Children.
The Sit Spot is the CORE of core routines. It’s the most personally rewarding and the hardest to require. Ideally, all of us do a 30 minute sit spot, see a coyote running past our spot and draw this wild experience in our nature journals then ponder on the majesty of nature until the caw sounds! The reality is a lot of us (adults and kids alike) feel “done” with sit spot not too long after it begins. What we’re seeing and hearing with many kids is a short sit spot time which turns into a playdate when they are “done”.
Done is really an edge; a discomfort. This week on your drive to Nature Kids Connect we would love for you to talk about that uncomfortable and even boring place of being “all done”. You know your child’s passions best, what may motivate and inspire them to continue with their sit spot anyway?
Here are some ideas:
- Recognize feeling all done and keep going anyway
- Play an eye spy game with yourself
- Draw in your journal until birds start or stop making sounds
- Lay down and look at the sky
- Draw in the dirt around your sit spot with a stick or your finger
- Close your eyes and do a sit spot with your ears
We’re here to help! If you have a kiddo struggling with sit spot reach out to Liz, Ember, Kelly or Worthy.
GOT YOUNG KIDS?
Learn from Marianne McGee how to do Sit Spot with young children.
CORE ROUTINE 2: STORY OF THE DAY
"After spending time in nature, tell the story of your day. Tell your story verbally with others, or by writing or drawing in a journal."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.41
CORE ROUTINE 3: EXPANDING OUR SENSES
"Use and expand all your senses as fully as you can. Pay attention! Look Alert! Stretch Out! Use all the senses, one at a time, and together."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.44
CORE ROUTINE 4: QUESTIONING & TRACKING
"Become a detective and track everything as a clue to a mystery to solve. Ask questions about everything and push your questions until they yield answers. Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?"
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.47
CORE ROUTINE 5: ANIMAL FORMS
"Physically, mentally, and emotionally imitate any and all animals in their movements, behaviors, and personalities."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.50
CORE ROUTINE 6: WANDERING
"Wander through the landscape without time, destination, agenda, or future purpose; be present in the moment; and go off-trail wherever curiosity leads."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.53
CORE ROUTINE 7: MAPPING
"Orient to the compass directions and perceive the landscape from a bird's eye view. Draw maps to locate features of the landscape or tell stories that map your explorations."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.58
CORE ROUTINE 8: EXPLORING FIELD GUIDES
"Browse through field guides as treasure-chests of knowledge that fill up the vacuum of your curiosity about nature."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.61
CORE ROUTINE 9: JOURNALING
"Keep a regular record, in drawings and in words, of your experience outdoors. Keep dated sketches, captions, and comments that describe your landscape. Keep it up through all the seasons until it becomes a habit you can't live without."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.63
CORE ROUTINE 10: SURVIVAL LIVING
"Interact with the natural world around you on a survival basis, including all the basic human needs: shelter, water, fire, food, tools, clothing, and art."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.67
CORE ROUTINE 11: MINDS EYE IMAGINING
"Use and strengthen your imagination as much as possible, imprinting images in your mind gathered from the experience of all five senses."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.69
CORE ROUTINE 12: LISTENING FOR BIRD LANGUAGE
"Be still and listen. Quiet down and crane your ears and eyes to notice the vocal signals and body language of birds and other animals, including humans. What message do you hear in their voice?"
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.71
CORE ROUTINE 13: THANKSGIVING
"Find in yourself a grateful heart and express gratitude for any and all aspects of nature and life. Begin every episode with thanksgiving and give nods of thanks as you go about your day."
~ Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature p.73