Step away from the screen and into nature with a new experimental naturalist training program coming to Guelph.
It's called the Learn the Land: Naturalist Study Program and it is run by the Guelph Outdoor School (GOS). During the year-long program, participants will gather once a month online and in different locations across Guelph to learn about different plants, animals and fungi in those areas.
Through group discussions, asking questions and using field guides, organizers hope participants will gain a better understanding of the land and relationships happening in nature.
One of the program instructors for Learn The Land is byron murray. He said GOS came up with Learn The Land after hearing from parents and adults within the GOS community about wanting a program similar to the one children participate in.
“Their kids come home every day teaching the adults things, and the kids are surpassing the adults in their understanding of what's going on out on the land,” said murray, “so it’s creating an opportunity to be with other adults in an outdoor setting, working with each other and mentoring each other.”
With some traditional naturalist programs for adults, murray mentions it’s often one person in the front leading a group while identifying various plants and animals in the area.
“We call that a ‘brag and drag’ where someone is just showing off everything that they know,” he said, “but with our program, we’re all contributing together in the learning process by the art of questions, and that’s just learning how to ask questions that deepen our observations.”
murray adds participants in Learn The Land will get to feel and smell different plants and follow animals tracks to see where they lead. By asking questions about the land and searching for the answers, people will gain and retain knowledge.
“Instead of just naming things and moving on, part of the goal is to learn how to look, how to listen and how to pay attention.”
Along with gathering knowledge, the program allows participants to develop better relationships with the land and other people.
“When we get together with other adults, when we get together with new people and we’re present in a learning environment with them, often friendships can develop, long-term relationships can develop and we can support each other,” said murray.
Learn The Land is designed for adults of all skill levels and is an inclusive and anti-oppressive space.
"Our intention is to create a welcoming environment that is accessible to all levels of learners. We're hoping to ground the learning in real connection with the land and work to remember that we are all coming from different places," said murray.
"This takes care, understanding and nuance with what folks are bringing to the program, but that same care, understanding and nuance is needed when looking into the relationships with all the birds, with the trees and insects. Nature shows us a multiplicity of forms and we can take a lot of lessons from that teaching."
The start date for Learn The Land: Naturalist Study Program is May 1. Those who are interested in registering for the program can learn more about the fees and schedule on theguelphoutdoorschool.com.
