Nature Activities - Direct Experience

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Silent Sharing Walk

Of all the activities, the Silent Sharing Walk is potentially the most powerful. Walk in silence, abandoning words and the trappings of civilization - shoes, for example, and synthetic clothing that makes such un-nature-like noises. The silence and harmony of this activity, especially at dawn or dusk, create an awareness that we are sharing in the world with all living things.

Animals can sense the state of mind of a group of humans; they won't run away if they feel a peaceful, harmonious intent. (Deer seem especially sensitive in this way.) Often I've noticed, on these walks, how animals will move away from us without the frantic fear so common at the approach of human beings; instead, they retreat a few steps at a time, stopping to look over their shoulders and satisfy their curiosity. It's wonderful to sense our kinship with the animals; we enter their world as co-members, rather than as outsiders, and nature accepts us as parts of itself.

Because the walk requires sensitivity and subtle appreciation, I offer it only to children who I feel will be receptive and able to enter into the spirit of silent sharing.

In a high forest in Southern California, twelve boys and I prepared for a Silent Sharing Walk by remaining alone and apart for a half-hour, in total silence. We then walked slowly down an old road that was overgrown and shaded by trees, toward an overlook where we would see the great Mojave Desert, stretching out and away, far below. Birds and insects sang a chorus, and the air seemed electrified by our silence. A boy would spot something and tap the shoulders of his companions, pointing to whatever had caught his attention. The boys' eyes testified to feelings of calmness and joy.

We saw a doe moving slowly toward us, intent on browsing in the roadside brush. When we were just 30 feet away, she gracefully raised her head and looked us over quietly. Her eyes were so innocent and trusting that they melted our hearts; rarely had we been accepted so unquestioningly into nature as now, by this gentle representative. There was an indescribable feeling about the moment - like coming home after a long exile.

Ten minutes later we came upon three coyotes trotting alongside the road. Like puppies, they would run a few feet closer, then stop to howl and tilt their heads from side to side as they watched us, curious about the silent strangers.

We arrived at the ledge overlooking the desert and stayed there for an hour, still in silence, letting ourselves be absorbed into the darkening high-desert world.

When a person becomes harmoniously attuned with the world, his feelings of harmony with other people are intensified, too. Through watching nature in silence, we discover within ourselves feelings of relatedness with whatever we see - plants, animals, stones, earth and sky. The American Indians knew that, in silence, we can feel that all things are expressions of a single Life, and that we humans, too, are children of that Life.

* from Sharing Nature with Children, (c) 1998 by Joseph Cornell

Meet a Tree

A. Direct Experience

B. Empathy, olfactory and tactile awareness

C. Day / forest

D. 2 or more

E. 4 years and up

F. Blindfolds

This game is for groups of at least two. Pair off. Blindfold your partner and lead him through the forest to any tree that attracts you. (How far will depend on your partner's age and ability to orientate himself. For all but very young children, a distance of 20-30 yards usually isn't too far.)

Help the "blind" child to explore his tree and to feel its uniqueness. I find that specific suggestions are best. For example, if you tell children to "Feel the tree," they won't respond with as much interest as if you say, "Rub your cheek on the bark." Instead of, "Explore your tree," be specific: "Is this tree alive? ... Can you put your arms around it? ... Is the tree older than you are? ... Can you find plants growing on it? ... Animal signs? ... Lichens?"

When your partner is finished exploring, lead him back to where you began, but take an indirect route. Now, remove the blindfold and let the child try to find the tree with his eyes open. Suddenly, as the child searches for his tree, what was a forest becomes a collection of very individual trees.

A tree can be an unforgettable experience in a child's life. Many times children have come back to me a year after we played Meet a Tree, and have literally dragged me out to the forest to say, "See! Here's my tree!"

* from Sharing Nature with Children, (c) 1998 by Joseph Cornell

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14618 Tyler Foote Rd.
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530-478-7650
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	Nature Activities
	Awaken Enthusiasm Focus Attention Direct Experience Share Inspiration

	Silent Sharing Walk
	Of all the activities, the Silent Sharing Walk is potentially the most powerful. Walk in silence, abandoning words and the trappings of civilization - shoes, for example, and synthetic clothing that makes such un-nature-like noises. The silence and harmony of this activity, especially at dawn or dusk, create an awareness that we are sharing in the world with all living things.

	Animals can sense the state of mind of a group of humans; they won't run away if they feel a peaceful, harmonious intent. (Deer seem especially sensitive in this way.) Often I've noticed, on these walks, how animals will move away from us without the frantic fear so common at the approach of human beings; instead, they retreat a few steps at a time, stopping to look over their shoulders and satisfy their curiosity. It's wonderful to sense our kinship with the animals; we enter their world as co-members, rather than as outsiders, and nature accepts us as parts of itself. Because the walk requires sensitivity and subtle appreciation, I offer it only to children who I feel will be receptive and able to enter into the spirit of silent sharing. In a high forest in Southern California, twelve boys and I prepared for a Silent Sharing Walk by remaining alone and apart for a half-hour, in total silence. We then walked slowly down an old road that was overgrown and shaded by trees, toward an overlook where we would see the great Mojave Desert, stretching out and away, far below. Birds and insects sang a chorus, and the air seemed electrified by our silence. A boy would spot something and tap the shoulders of his companions, pointing to whatever had caught his attention. The boys' eyes testified to feelings of calmness and joy. We saw a doe moving slowly toward us, intent on browsing in the roadside brush. When we were just 30 feet away, she gracefully raised her head and looked us over quietly. Her eyes were so innocent and trusting that they melted our hearts; rarely had we been accepted so unquestioningly into nature as now, by this gentle representative. There was an indescribable feeling about the moment - like coming home after a long exile. Ten minutes later we came upon three coyotes trotting alongside the road. Like puppies, they would run a few feet closer, then stop to howl and tilt their heads from side to side as they watched us, curious about the silent strangers. We arrived at the ledge overlooking the desert and stayed there for an hour, still in silence, letting ourselves be absorbed into the darkening high-desert world. When a person becomes harmoniously attuned with the world, his feelings of harmony with other people are intensified, too. Through watching nature in silence, we discover within ourselves feelings of relatedness with whatever we see - plants, animals, stones, earth and sky. The American Indians knew that, in silence, we can feel that all things are expressions of a single Life, and that we humans, too, are children of that Life. * from Sharing Nature with Children, (c) 1998 by Joseph Cornell
	Meet a Tree A. Direct Experience B. Empathy, olfactory and tactile awareness C. Day / forest D. 2 or more E. 4 years and up F. Blindfolds
	This game is for groups of at least two. Pair off. Blindfold your partner and lead him through the forest to any tree that attracts you. (How far will depend on your partner's age and ability to orientate himself. For all but very young children, a distance of 20-30 yards usually isn't too far.) Help the "blind" child to explore his tree and to feel its uniqueness. I find that specific suggestions are best. For example, if you tell children to "Feel the tree," they won't respond with as much interest as if you say, "Rub your cheek on the bark." Instead of, "Explore your tree," be specific: "Is this tree alive? ... Can you put your arms around it? ... Is the tree older than you are? ... Can you find plants growing on it? ... Animal signs? ... Lichens?" When your partner is finished exploring, lead him back to where you began, but take an indirect route. Now, remove the blindfold and let the child try to find the tree with his eyes open. Suddenly, as the child searches for his tree, what was a forest becomes a collection of very individual trees. A tree can be an unforgettable experience in a child's life. Many times children have come back to me a year after we played Meet a Tree, and have literally dragged me out to the forest to say, "See! Here's my tree!" * from Sharing Nature with Children, (c) 1998 by Joseph Cornell

	\| Flow Learning™ \| Nature Activies \| Programs \| Calendar of Evcnts \| \| Sharing Nature Worldwide \| Country Coordinators \| Joseph Cornell \| \| Books and Resources \| Connections and More Information \| Mailing List \| Sharing Nature Foundation 14618 Tyler Foote Rd. Nevada City, CA 95959 530-478-7650 e-mail: info@sharingnature.com