Welcome to Start with a 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 practice works
After the preliminary step of finding a park (Activity 1), the practice is structured in three major sections: Awareness, Appreciation / Co-Creation, and Action. You don't need to complete all of the activities within each section before moving on to the next. In fact, if an activity doesn't make sense in your context or doesn't appeal to you, feel free to skip it. You should work on some of the Awareness activities before moving on to Appreciation / Co-Creation, and work on some of those activities before moving on to Action. The earlier sections should continue to reinforce the work of later sections, and you can (and should!) continue or come back to activities in earlier sections. Also keep in mind that many activities extend over a longer time frame and can overlap with other activities.
All of the activities are voluntary. Please use the worksheets if you find them helpful, and feel free to send them in if you'd like to share, but nothing is graded. The practice 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.
Each activity includes an introduction explaining the purpose of the activity; a description of what to do, with suggestions of how to do it; and selected resources that may be helpful. The resources sections also include suggested reading associated with the theme of the activity. Most activities include a suggested chapter from Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which resonated deeply with me and has been a valuable source of inspiration.
After the preliminary step of finding a park (Activity 1), the practice is structured in three major sections: Awareness, Appreciation / Co-Creation, and Action. You don't need to complete all of the activities within each section before moving on to the next. In fact, if an activity doesn't make sense in your context or doesn't appeal to you, feel free to skip it. You should work on some of the Awareness activities before moving on to Appreciation / Co-Creation, and work on some of those activities before moving on to Action. The earlier sections should continue to reinforce the work of later sections, and you can (and should!) continue or come back to activities in earlier sections. Also keep in mind that many activities extend over a longer time frame and can overlap with other activities.
All of the activities are voluntary. Please use the worksheets if you find them helpful, and feel free to send them in if you'd like to share, but nothing is graded. The practice 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.
Each activity includes an introduction explaining the purpose of the activity; a description of what to do, with suggestions of how to do it; and selected resources that may be helpful. The resources sections also include suggested reading associated with the theme of the activity. Most activities include a suggested chapter from Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, which resonated deeply with me and has been a valuable source of inspiration.
Outline
Activity 1: Find a Park - Identify a place that will serve as your home space and the focal point of the practice.
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.
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. Feel free to do these activities in any order.
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 practice.
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.
- 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. Feel free to do these activities in any order.
- Activity 3-1: Prompts for Visual Media
- Activity 3-2: Prompts for Writing
- Activity 3-3: Climb a Tree
- Activity 3-4: Eat from the 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