Nature Immersion: A Serious Play Experience

Masterclass | Thursday 16 April – Friday 17 April

This masterclass brings together Nature Serious Play and Nature Immersion into one integrated learning journey, delivered across two connected sections with an evening activity bridging the experience.

Section One: Nature Serious Play

Thursday 16 April | 12:00 – 18:00, followed by dinner, an evening activity and overnight stay at Greenlands.

Both scientific and anecdotal evidence suggests that multisensory engagement with nature is the best way to get the maximum holistic benefit from natural interactions. However, the current practices of "walk and talk" Nature coaching although powerful are still limited in scope. So how do we get beyond these standardized practices to get the greatest engagement with the landscape and therefore ourselves and how to we pass it on to our clients, for them to achieve the maximum benefits within their natural environment?

Beginning with a review of the incredibly well proven and established principles and methodology of Lego® Serious Play® which has been used so widely and well throughout various industries and corporate settings, we will identify and embrace different potential approaches to time outdoors and our utilisation of natural resources in a coaching setting.

Nature Serious Play relies on naturally foraged materials and through powerful use of correct questioning, use of metaphor and third party representation of answers, provides a structure and methodology to quickly, efficiently unlock a deeper understanding of an individuals view on issues, concerns or thoughts. Providing a space for safe silences, deeper introspection, reflection and discussion, Nature Serious Play offers coaches, managers, executives and more, self applied tools for the individual or group.

This workshop is a combination of a small amount of theory and a main focus on practical exploration and application of the lessons in a natural setting.

Outcomes:
This workshop will contain details, descriptors and takeaways of exactly how to set, stage and execute, simple but powerful practices and methods to move your coaching ability and client's interactivity with nature to a new level. Post Workshop Assignments will be given and upon successful completion of which, a certification in ‘Nature Serious Play Facilitation’ will be issued to the individual.

Section Two – Nature Immersion

Friday 17 April | 09:00 – 13:00

Following on from 'Nature Serious Play', we now look further at the principles and benefits of play based learning, ways to activate and engage in 'childlike curiosity', and add in another layer to applying multi sensory engagement.

This Nature Immersion workshop starts with an overview of the three progressive steps from Nature Fluency, to Nature Connection and finally Nature Immersion. Then begins the journey in earnest as we dive into more detail, of understanding and harnessing 'Nature Fluency', learning the language of the natural environment itself and our place in it.

Beginning with an overview of the foundational model of Nature Fluency, We explore each of the three 'legs' of the model in turn consisting of
Leg 1) Movement/Breathing and sensory awareness
Leg 2) TRUE tracking
Leg 3) Bird Language,
in a series of practical, field based exercises, explorations and discoveries. To finish the workshop we combine all our freshly rewired skills together for a final 'awe walk'.

All of these lessons will give insight and facilitate your ability to create time, space and place, for meaningful interactions with nature, initially enabling an 'external conversation' with the natural environment to be had, and eventually provide the ability to have higher quality internal conversations for both your client/staff and you as a coach.

This workshop also is a combination of a small amount of theory and a main focus on practical exploration and application of the lessons in a natural setting.

Outcomes:
This workshop will contain details, descriptors and takeaways of exactly how to reengage and improve your Nature Fluency and through simple but powerful practices provide you a strong base for further progression towards Nature Connection. A certificate of attendance will be issued to all participants and an invitation to journal your ongoing journey and remain in contact with, and share progression with, your instructor and course delegates.

• Overnight stay at the Greenlands Hotel
• Complimentary tea and coffee throughout
• Breakout snacks (mid-afternoon on Day 1 and mid-morning on Day 2)
• Evening meal in the Heyworth Restaurant (Day 1)
• Breakfast in the Heyworth Restaurant (Day 2)
• Lunch in the Heyworth Restaurant (Day 2)
• Post-workshop assignments. Upon successful completion, participants will receive certification in Nature Serious Play Facilitation.
• A certificate of attendance for all participants
• An invitation to journal your ongoing journey, remain in contact with your instructor and fellow delegates, and share your progression
• CCEUs from the ICF (currently in application)

Thursday 16 April

11:30: Arrival and registration at Greenlands

12:00: Bring your own lunch, casual networking/wander around grounds

13:00: Afternoon workshop

Approx. 17:30 – Check into room and freshen up

Evening: Meet in bar/dinner at 18:30

After dinner, Optional evening nightwalk/blindfold nature activity

Friday 17 April

07:30 onwards: Breakfast in restaurant

09:00: Workshop 2 begins

13:00: Lunch in Heyworth restaurant

14:00 – Event close

*please note this is a guide and timings are subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to delegates.

Toby's unique fusion of teaching background, risk management qualifications, military training and outdoors experience allows him to deliver Nature Based experiences and training of the highest calibre. Based in Scandinavia, and frequently working deep inside the Arctic Circle, Toby holds expertise in Extreme Cold Weather Wilderness Survival Skills but has also travelled extensively to deliver immersive nature experiences internationally. When not teaching or studying aspects of seasonally led practices, Toby also deals with Management and Coaching Consultancy as well as running various highly applied camps and seminars, aimed at managing, and reducing stress both at individual and organisational level.

Toby is also passionate about using immersive nature engagement to help promote positive reconnection with the natural environment ('Rewilding Yourself') and tapping into the powerful personal development and growth that can be attained from this.

In his spare time Toby is also an on-call firefighter, Military Medic and community support volunteer.