Sharing Nature Programs in Brazil
by Rita Mendonca
The Sharing Nature games and activities are practiced in Brazil by teachers in primary and secondary schools and environmental NGOs. We are also developing ways to practice them in ecotourism travels. After Joseph's visits to Brazil in 1996 and 1999, the games and activities of "Sharing Nature" became much more known by educators and environmentalists. The activities they learned during Joseph's workshops or by reading the books (both "Sharing Nature with Children" and "Sharing the Joy of Nature" have been translated into Portuguese) are integrated into their other activities and classes. Although at this time, very few are using the "Flow Learning" methodology. What I would like to share with you is my experience adapting the activities and using "Flow Learning" in ecoturism travels, for adults or mixed groups (children, young people and adults). In this kind of trip, participants are sometimes more interested to pass through the attractive places than to really interact with Nature. So when organizing the itinerary, we have to conciliate their interest with the object of deepening their relationship with Nature (I think it is essential to give meaning for this kind of visit. If not, why visit Nature?).
Whenever it is possible I meet the group before the departure day, to talk about the following subjects: how they see their relationship with Nature; how other cultures have it; and what is happening in our society with a cold and irresponsible relationship with our source of life. These discussions are very interesting because frequently people want to visit natural areas only to do a different thing, without having thought about these subjects. So, I explain Flow Learning methodology and I share my thoughts about the deeper meaning of the visit: we have very few preserved natural areas compared to what it was like a 100 years ago.
Brazil is a very privileged country with wonderful natural areas and very rich in biological diversity. All these areas are very compressed and menaced by several kinds of economical activities. Ecotourism has the potential to protect nature by giving it an economic value and also as an opportunity to practice environmental education. But if we really want to preserve nature we have to love it first, and this is not obvious for urban people. Environmental education is often frequently limited to some biological explanations about Nature. As Joseph Cornell teaches us so well, to love Nature we need to have a personal relationship with the animals, rocks and plants. So we have to prepare ourselves for our visits, in order to have a more meaningful travel.
I have been doing these trips in two very beautiful parks that are famous for their extraordinary caves. Our itinerary includes activities in both the rainforest and cave environments. It is a weekend program. Walking, crossing rivers and going into caves are done in a progressive way to allow for deeper contact with nature and themselves.
Each time I travel with these goals in mind, I learn more about the games and about Flow Learning. Each time I include new activities, and I feel I am doing it more deeply. I also conduct walks for one day in urban parks of Sao Paulo. We name them Philosophical Walks. In these walks I introduce the practice of walking meditation after more enthusiastic activities. In general, the deeper contact with Nature given by these travels and walks is very meaningful for the participants. I've had many gratifying comments from them. I also had problems when I met people who weren't used to this type of approach. That is why I now always like to meet the participants before the activities, to prepare themselves (and also myself) and to establish a group atmosphere of collaboration, mutual interest and friendship.
Rita Mendonca teaches ecology and environmental education for several universities in the city of Sao Paulo. She also organizes "special" travels and walks in natural areas of Brazil, and works as a consultant for both government and NGOs enterprises. She coordinates the Sharing Nature Program in Brazil.
by Rita Mendonca
The Sharing Nature games and activities are practiced in Brazil by teachers in primary and secondary schools and environmental NGOs. We are also developing ways to practice them in ecotourism travels. After Joseph's visits to Brazil in 1996 and 1999, the games and activities of "Sharing Nature" became much more known by educators and environmentalists. The activities they learned during Joseph's workshops or by reading the books (both "Sharing Nature with Children" and "Sharing the Joy of Nature" have been translated into Portuguese) are integrated into their other activities and classes. Although at this time, very few are using the "Flow Learning" methodology. What I would like to share with you is my experience adapting the activities and using "Flow Learning" in ecoturism travels, for adults or mixed groups (children, young people and adults). In this kind of trip, participants are sometimes more interested to pass through the attractive places than to really interact with Nature. So when organizing the itinerary, we have to conciliate their interest with the object of deepening their relationship with Nature (I think it is essential to give meaning for this kind of visit. If not, why visit Nature?).
Whenever it is possible I meet the group before the departure day, to talk about the following subjects: how they see their relationship with Nature; how other cultures have it; and what is happening in our society with a cold and irresponsible relationship with our source of life. These discussions are very interesting because frequently people want to visit natural areas only to do a different thing, without having thought about these subjects. So, I explain Flow Learning methodology and I share my thoughts about the deeper meaning of the visit: we have very few preserved natural areas compared to what it was like a 100 years ago.
Brazil is a very privileged country with wonderful natural areas and very rich in biological diversity. All these areas are very compressed and menaced by several kinds of economical activities. Ecotourism has the potential to protect nature by giving it an economic value and also as an opportunity to practice environmental education. But if we really want to preserve nature we have to love it first, and this is not obvious for urban people. Environmental education is often frequently limited to some biological explanations about Nature. As Joseph Cornell teaches us so well, to love Nature we need to have a personal relationship with the animals, rocks and plants. So we have to prepare ourselves for our visits, in order to have a more meaningful travel.
I have been doing these trips in two very beautiful parks that are famous for their extraordinary caves. Our itinerary includes activities in both the rainforest and cave environments. It is a weekend program. Walking, crossing rivers and going into caves are done in a progressive way to allow for deeper contact with nature and themselves.
Each time I travel with these goals in mind, I learn more about the games and about Flow Learning. Each time I include new activities, and I feel I am doing it more deeply. I also conduct walks for one day in urban parks of Sao Paulo. We name them Philosophical Walks. In these walks I introduce the practice of walking meditation after more enthusiastic activities. In general, the deeper contact with Nature given by these travels and walks is very meaningful for the participants. I've had many gratifying comments from them. I also had problems when I met people who weren't used to this type of approach. That is why I now always like to meet the participants before the activities, to prepare themselves (and also myself) and to establish a group atmosphere of collaboration, mutual interest and friendship.
Rita Mendonca teaches ecology and environmental education for several universities in the city of Sao Paulo. She also organizes "special" travels and walks in natural areas of Brazil, and works as a consultant for both government and NGOs enterprises. She coordinates the Sharing Nature Program in Brazil.