‘everyday in a hundred small ways, our children ask ‘do you hear me?’ ‘do you see me?’ ‘do I matter?’ their behaviour often reflects our response.’ l.r. knost

this training course shares knowledge and opens discussions about how adults, educatiors and caregivers can support children through times of anxiety and trauma. we will call on current neurological understanding and share practical ideas to help you understand and support childrens’ emotional wellbeing in the natural world.  

for those who have followed the previous one day course ‘reframing challenging behaviour in the outdoors’ with kinship in nature, there will be a little repetition in this course but it will bring some new theoretical understanding to anxiety and trauma and there are many different activities.

the course will cover:

●  creating a safe space

● anxiety and trauma – what are they? how do we recognise?

● recognising behaviour is communication.

● working with sensory preferences

● grounding and centering outdoors - embodiment and integration

● polyvagal theory and the five touchstones of somatic practice – how does the natural world inform these and our own regulation?

● importance of co-regulation

● working with stories and poetry outdoors in a therapeutic way

● nature-based meditation

● reflections and embodiment practices

this course will reaffirm your knowledge of the emotional benefits of working with groups in nature.

by the end of the course participants should: (3 or 4 bullet points)

● understand sensory preferences

● know about embodiment and integration practices

● recognise the importance of working with themselves as well as their learners

● understand the crucial role nature interactions can play in supporting emotional regulation

we also see this as a wonderful opportunity to connect with others in and around east london to grow together. 

a big pot of soup (vegan) and freshly baked bread from the wild goose bakery will be served for everyone to eat together for lunch. hot drinks will be made over the fire.

what are participants saying about us?

“it was a really wonderful, wholesome and inspiring day. booking was easy, communication was great and the day was extremely well run with a delicious lunch provided too. we were made to feel so welcome and i’m looking forward to attending future workshops here to improve my practice. thank you!” kirsty meekings, previous workshop participant

about jon cree

jon has almost forty years’ experience as an environmental/earth educator and trainer. his passion is helping others ‘get in touch’ with the natural world through dynamic learning programmes and hand-on learning experiences. he has for many years worked in forest school, particularly with learners who are often stressed by our education system, home circumstances or other situations that set them apart from 'the mainstream'. and yet we all bring gifts to the communities we are part of. 

during the pandemic signs of stress, anxiety and even trauma have become more prevalent and jon has been diving deeper in 'somatics' and body based approaches.  he has been asked to run even more trainings on anxiety, stress and trauma, and how the more than human world and creative practises can support healthy nervous systems.  this is based on the many years he has worked with young people, especially adolescents.