Welcome to Learn Your Park!
Thank you for embarking on this journey toward deeper connections with the more-than-human world through the lens of a local park.
How the course works
After the preliminary step of finding a park (Activity 1), the course is structured in three major sections: Awareness, Appreciation / Co-Creation, and Action. While much of the course is non-linear, you should complete some of the activities in each section before starting the next. On the other hand, you can (and should!) continue or come back to activities in earlier sections after starting those in later sections. Within each section, activities need not be completed in order. In addition, many activities extend over a longer time frame and can overlap with other activities. You also need not complete all of the activities. Some may not make sense in your context, or you may simply not be inclined to do something.
As a general rule, there are no assignments to "turn in," and certainly nothing is graded. The course is intended to benefit you and your community. Of course, I would love to hear from you! Please share your reflections on learning about your park and its inhabitants; any writing, images, or sounds you create in collaboration with your park; or your experiences as you get involved in building regenerative communities. I would also love to learn about additional resources that would be helpful to others! You can reach me through the Share page, or by sending an email to momentsinthepark@gmail.com.
After the preliminary step of finding a park (Activity 1), the course is structured in three major sections: Awareness, Appreciation / Co-Creation, and Action. While much of the course is non-linear, you should complete some of the activities in each section before starting the next. On the other hand, you can (and should!) continue or come back to activities in earlier sections after starting those in later sections. Within each section, activities need not be completed in order. In addition, many activities extend over a longer time frame and can overlap with other activities. You also need not complete all of the activities. Some may not make sense in your context, or you may simply not be inclined to do something.
As a general rule, there are no assignments to "turn in," and certainly nothing is graded. The course is intended to benefit you and your community. Of course, I would love to hear from you! Please share your reflections on learning about your park and its inhabitants; any writing, images, or sounds you create in collaboration with your park; or your experiences as you get involved in building regenerative communities. I would also love to learn about additional resources that would be helpful to others! You can reach me through the Share page, or by sending an email to momentsinthepark@gmail.com.
Course Outline
Activity 1: Find a Park - Identify a place that will serve as your home space and the focal point of the course.
Awareness
These activities will help you learn about your park, its inhabitants, and its story. Engaging in these activities will form the foundation of your relationship with your more-than-human neighbors. The activities in this section have a more natural order than those in other sections, and you may wish to start them more or less in the order presented.
Appreciation / Co-Creation
These activities are designed to inspire you to create in collaboration with your park. Creating in partnership with the land and your more-than-human neighbors will deepen your relationship with them. You will probably be drawn more to some of these activities than others. Don't force yourself to do something you have no interest in. But I encourage you to try something a bit out of your comfort zone.
Action
These activities build on the relationship you have cultivated with your park and guide you to connect with others in your community. Participating in these activities will help you find your niche in an ecosystem working toward regenerative communities where all beings can thrive.
Activity 1: Find a Park - Identify a place that will serve as your home space and the focal point of the course.
Awareness
These activities will help you learn about your park, its inhabitants, and its story. Engaging in these activities will form the foundation of your relationship with your more-than-human neighbors. The activities in this section have a more natural order than those in other sections, and you may wish to start them more or less in the order presented.
- Activity 2-1: Get to Know Your Neighbors
- Activity 2-2: Tune in to the Rhythms of the Land
- Activity 2-3: Let a Child Take You for a Walk
- Activity 2-4: Recognize the Original Human Companions of the Land
- Activity 2-5: Learn the Park's Human Story
Appreciation / Co-Creation
These activities are designed to inspire you to create in collaboration with your park. Creating in partnership with the land and your more-than-human neighbors will deepen your relationship with them. You will probably be drawn more to some of these activities than others. Don't force yourself to do something you have no interest in. But I encourage you to try something a bit out of your comfort zone.
- Activity 3-1: Prompts for Visual Media
- Activity 3-2: Prompts for Writing
- Activity 3-3: Climb a Tree
- Activity 3-4: Eat from Your Park
Action
These activities build on the relationship you have cultivated with your park and guide you to connect with others in your community. Participating in these activities will help you find your niche in an ecosystem working toward regenerative communities where all beings can thrive.
- Activity 4-1: Support Your Park
- Activity 4-2: Develop Your Regenerative Community Venn Diagram
- Activity 4-3: Explore Local Regenerative Community Organizations
- Activity 4-4: Connect with an Organization
- Activity 4-5: Spread the Word