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
First, find a park or natural space you can visit regularly. The following activities invite you to develop a relationship with the park through learning (Awareness) and creativity (Appreciation) and respond to that relationship by caring for the park and your broader ecosystem (Action). Feel free to find your own path through the activities, weaving across the sections. The diagram below illustrates a few of the many possible paths.
(After the slides run, click the arrows on the bottom left to review the paths.)
Cycle Overview
If you aren't sure where to start, you might simply begin with the first activity in each section--getting to know your neighbors (2-1), creating art with the park (3-1 or 3-2), and finding ways to support the park (4-1)--then consider looping back to try other activities.
Neighborhood Connections
If you want to connect with both your human and more-than-human neighbors, you could join a group that helps maintain the park (4-1) and learn about the inhabitants of the park along with the group (2-1). The group could have a picnic in the park (3-4). You might become curious about how the park came to be (2-5) and could share what you learned with the group (4-5).
Explore with Kids
If you have kids in your life, you might start by letting them take you for a walk in the park (2-3) and climbing a tree (3-3). They might surprise you with what they know about who lives in the park, and you can follow their curiosity to learn more (2-1) and draw or paint pictures of your new friends (3-1). Hopefully you'll be inspired to work toward a bright future for the kids and the park, and you could take the first step by making your regenerative community Venn diagram (4-2).
When I started getting to know Horton Park, I had a full-time job and two young kids, so long backpacking trips in the wilderness, or even spending a whole afternoon strolling in the woods, weren't really in the cards for me. But through regular visits and attention, I built a relationship with the park in the midst of that busy life. I hope this practice enables even busy people to connect with their ecosystem wherever they are. You should be able to do most of the activities in small, intermittent chunks of time.

Each activity includes an introduction explaining the purpose, suggestions of things to try, and selected resources that may be helpful. Several activities have printable worksheets that you could take with you to the park. If you want to dig deeper, each activity has a list of suggested reading, including a 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.

The activities are designed to be done independently, as you have time, but can become even richer in conversation with others. You might consider sharing your experiences with a friend or forming a small group to explore together. I would also love to hear about your experiences, see what you create, and learn about any additional resources that would be helpful to others. You can reach me through the Share page, or by sending an email to [email protected].
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 creativity 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. ​ 
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