- 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 by Jon Young, Evan McGown and Ellen Haas


There are a total of 13 Core Routines that we use to shape our program.

Below is a brief overview.

- 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, 37

- 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, 41

- 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, 44

- QUESTIONING AND 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, 47

- ANIMAL FORMS -

"Physically, mentally, and emotionally imitate any and all animals in their movements, behaviors, and personalities."​
 
~ Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature, 50

- 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, 53

- 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, 58

- 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, 61

- 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, 63

- 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, 67

- MIND'S 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, 69

- 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, 71

- 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, 73