The Wolverine Way Summit on Nature Connection

It all started from something I saw on Facebook.   

It looked like just about any other of the hundreds of links and posts about nature that show up every day in my Newsfeed, and I almost skipped over it.   But I didn't.   I read it and then I checked it for sources.   It was legit.   (You can read the original article here.)

That's when I had a few sleepless nights.   

You see, the basis of this report is simple.  Only one out of five kids are getting a close relationship with nature.   A meaningful connection to the natural world.   A real understanding of the earth and the land.   One out of five, means four out of five kids are NOT getting a real chance to connect.   It means that 80% of our kids are functionally disconnected from nature.  They aren't getting the emotional, psychological and physical benefits from a strong connection to nature.   They don't get the stress cleansing power of a walk in the woods.  They don't get the creativity boosting energy from making a fort, or exploring a new section of the back field.   They don't get the problem solving insights that come naturally from playing and adventuring in the wild.

There is also the intimacy that nature offers to our kids, as their first real relationship beyond their family.   The nature around us provides a protective factor that enhances almost every part of our lives.

I knew I had to do something more to make a difference.  I knew I had to have a bigger impact.

So, for the past eight months, I have interviewed 29 different experts in various aspects of the Nature Education 'field' so to speak, for a Summit of Speakers on Nature Connection.  Activists.  Philosophers.  Writers.  Biologists.  Conservation Leaders.  Trackers.  Wilderness Survival Experts.   Educators.   Musicians.   Photographers.   Writers.   Community Organizers. Nature Advocates. Herbalists.  And more…

It's called The Wolverine Way.   I called it that because the wolverine is a powerful animal that is virtually unstoppable in it's ferocity to defend itself, or get what it needs.   It is fearless in the face of certain destruction.  It will use a tireless lope to travel miles of vertical ascents of rugged mountains and walls of ice.   It is impervious to cold, too!   I thought it would be a suitable totem animal to help me define my approach to getting us connected to nature!

 

It's totally free to sign up, and all of the interviews are online audios that can be downloaded, or listened to easily.   You can listen by phone for the first 'airing' too.   Just click the link in this post and you will go to my web page where you can sign up for instant access.

I purposely interviewed experts from a broad range of nature connection spectrum, to give us the widest view of our situation, and get tools and perspective from these amazing individuals who have graciously taken part in this project.   

The biggest effect that I got almost immediately was a sense of hope.  A sense of renewed strength and energy.   I feel totally different after putting this together, and I hope that anyone who gets a chance to listen can come away changed, renewed, stronger, smarter and better able to keep up the work of getting that 80% number a lot lower in the next few years!   We have our work cut out for us, but we can do it if we work together!

Anyway, I am really happy to be sharing this with everyone, and here is the link to sign up:   The Wolverine Way.

I will try to post more often and in the meantime, get outside!    Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Ricardo