In 2018, the IPCC (International Panel for Climate Change) came out with a report in which is alarming to say the least. Debra Roberts, a co-chair of the working group on impacts said this in The Guardian,

“It’s a line in the sand and what it says to our species is that this is the moment and we must act now.”

Thinking about environmental issues is not new for me. More than a decade ago, I completed a Masters course in Earth Literacy, which was about knowledge of Earth’s processes and the challenges we’re facing. This course emphasized the importance of acknowledging our place as humans in this process and developing a deep connection with wherever we call home. Since then, I’ve continued to focus on these issues. A few of the writers who have had the most impact on me work in the field of contemplative ecology. They are Douglas Christie (Blue Sapphire of the Mind), David Abram (The Spell of the Sensuous), Bill Plotkin (Nature and the Human Soul), and Laura Sewall (Sight and Sensibility).

Last year, I was shocked by the IPCC report and inspired by a younger generation, who are speaking loudly on these issues. My niece and daughter in particular are committed activists. I’m not an activist in the same way and wondered what I could do that would have an impact now. I’m sure that you too have a deep love and appreciation for the natural world. You discover and appreciate and share beauty wherever you are. You’re probably also aware of the environmental crisis we’re facing and you do what you can to minimize your impact. Maybe you’re involved with issues in your own community. But it can feel overwhelming at times. How can one person make a difference? To me, the best place to start is right where you are. Each individual person can only do so much but it has to start with loving the place you’re in and knowing what it needs.

Enter: PLACE: Discover Yours

All of these influences inspired me to create a 6-months experience simply called PLACE. What do I mean by place? I mean the place where you live, whether you were born there or not. It could be your neighbourhood, your town or city or region. Or, it could be your watershed, a different kind of map. For whatever reason, you are in this place and time right now. And, it needs you as much as you need it.

The first session began as a group experience in April 2019. Yet, I found that most people did it on their own. So, I decided to make the materials available as an on-demand experience. This isn’t a course in the traditional sense. It’s more of an instigation. I’ll provide the structure and ideas for exploring. You’ll rediscover your place through walks, readings, observations, and encounters – on your own or with others of your choosing. Your experience of place is the most important thing. This will serve to strengthen the relationship you already have.

The template I’ve adapted for this course comes from a publication called Exploring a Sense of Place: How to create your own local program for reconnecting with nature (2006). You can download the PDF from their website. The authors state that this program is not a hiking club or birdwatching group. It’s not a way to learn Latin names of flora and fauna. It’s not a tree-hugging cult or something to do on the weekend. Instead, it’s a gradual rediscovery of your place through a geological, ecological, amd cultural lens.

How much time will you need to put aside? The answer is however much time you have available and want to give. It would be great if you made it a priority for your spare time during the six months of the course. I suggest a minimum of one outing a month for learning (visiting a Nature Center or attending a talk, for example) and one for experiencing (regular sensory walks). The more you do the more you’ll get out of it. That being said, you’ll be able to continue learning about your place, using the materials provided, beyond the six months of the course.

Will there be assignments due? Absolutely not. This course is for your own enjoyment and learning, a way for you to experience your place in a whole new way. While you may spend some time looking up information and learning in that way, I’d prefer the emphasis be on encounters with your place, using all of your senses. Learn by doing and being – smell, taste, touch, see, and listen. I’ll offer suggestions and ideas for where to visit and things to learn, but you’ll make your own assignments based on your place and your interests.

What if you have mobility limitations? If this is the case, you may do more online learning or limit your explorations to your backyard or a nearby park. The exercise below (which I recommend for anyone) might be of interest.

Another assignment from my Masters course in Earth Literacy was to get to know one particular place over a four month period. We were to visit a local spot near our home (a park, a pond or stream, even a tree in our backyard) a couple of times per week for 15-30 minutes at a time. We’d study the area and learn about what was living there. And, we were also encouraged to bring art into our encounters – drawing or writing poetry or photographing or dancing.

I’ll provide the weekly structure, provocative questions, and creative components. There will be readings and suggestions for places to visit and explore. It’ll be up to you to decide how to proceed from there – where to walk, attend a talk, or read and learn about your particular area. Yes, it’ll take dedicated time on your part, a couple of hours a week minimum. Of course, you can do as much or as little as you choose.