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build relationship with yourself, with each other, and with the land.
Learn The Land is a year-long adult program at GOS for anyone who wants to develop and deepen their nature connection and naturalist knowledge in a community setting. One day each month, we’ll gather in a different natural environment around Guelph to learn about wildflowers, trees and shrubs, animal tracking, all the while exploring how we fit into the broader ecological community. A monthly zoom call supports home study and self-directed projects.
IN A NUTSHELL:
Want to learn more about wildflowers, tree identification, animal tracking, birds, and the web of relationships that makes up our local ecology? Do you want to develop relationships with the landbase beyond consumption? Would you like to learn in the fields and forests with friends?
THE BONES:
Learn The Land offers hands-on community based mentorship, with knowledgeable naturalists to help you get to know the wild nature in Guelph’s backyard.
What will we be doing? One Sunday morning each month, we’ll gather in a different location in Guelph to explore and look at local plants, animals and their ecological connections together in a small group setting. Through the art of questioning, open discussion, field guides we’ll come to know many of our wild neighbours.
THE DETAILS:
Deepen your learning journey by joining the group for the monthly Sunday outings in the parklands, forests and along the river's edge throughout Guelph, where we will investigate the flora, fauna, and fungi we find along the way. There we will practice observation, field journals and sharing of knowledge based on what the group knows so far. We will use field guides to learn how to properly identify the species we encounter. This field work will be complimented by in depth at-home study, follow up research, focal species assignments, and self-directed projects supported by mentors through a monthly Zoom call. On the calls we will share stories, presentations, follow-up research on what has captured our imaginations out on the land, and what we have been learning through home study.
We are here to support, guide, and mentor on this learning journey.
THE APPROACH:
Why do a program that asks for a commitment to looking beyond learning the names of the species we encounter?
We believe that a profound relationship requires patience, questions, listening, and understanding. By investigating the ecologies which link the mushroom to the pine, the pine to the bird, the bird to the squirrel, then we really start to know and understand our wild neighbours for who they really are; complex organisms in delicate communities learning how to be in relationship with each other.
“ I am so grateful for the deeper level of awareness, inquisitiveness and knowledge that I have gained since beginning Learn The Land. The instructors have been super knowledgeable and inspiring. Providing supportive, positive guidance, a TON of great resources along the way and even ideas on how to organize your various field findings.”
These are lessons we can learn from for the benefit of our own interconnected relationships, with our communities, our families and ourselves.
Learn The Land is an experiential naturalist training program for adults GOS-style, with a focus on curiosity, questioning, mentorship and self-directed learning at your own pace. It is for adults of all experience levels. Together we'll build our knowledge of plant, tree, animal tracking, and broad ecological connections.
In the field we will be practicing awareness routines of nature connection, playing games that awaken our bodies and minds, and working toward building lasting relationships with the place where we live and with each other. Each Learn The Land session will be a reflection and celebration of what emerges on the landscape through the seasons. We welcome everyone from the nature-curious, to avid naturalists who want to get together with others and keep the wonder alive!
Learn the land is an inclusive, anti-oppressive space.
MEET YOUR MENTORS:
byron murray : I grew up walking along the Etobicoke Creek before I set out to spend years exploring the continent making music, writing zines, and learning about the natural world. At the Guelph Outdoor School since 2013, I treasure all-day wildlife tracking missions, and wandering the Eramosa River valley just trying to find out what's on the other side of the hill. I love to sing and make radio. I am inspired by thunderstorms, decolonization, and rivers.
Annie Sanassian : I am an Outdoor Educator and owner of Full Moon Farm and Apothecary; I have learned from tending land, animals and people, and I love spending as much time outdoors as possible. Visiting many parts of the world has fostered both my understanding of cultural sensitivity and awareness to the richness and diversity of life. I aim to create inclusive and positive outdoor learning experiences for all people.
We will be getting together throughout the year, rain or shine, every Sunday closest to the New Moon from 9am - 1pm, rotating between three different locations around the city. Some of the locations involve moderate hiking conditions.
DATES :
Sunday May 5, 2024 (GOS Stone rd site)
Sunday Jun 9, 2024 (Arkell Springs)
Sunday Jul 7, 2024 (South End Community Park)
Sunday Aug 4, 2024 (GOS Stone rd site)
Sunday Sep 1, 2024 (Arkell Springs)
Sunday Sep 29, 2024 (South End Community Park)
Sunday Nov 3, 2024 (GOS Stone rd site)
Sunday Dec 1, 2024 (GOS Stone rd site)
Sunday Jan 5, 2025 (TBD)
Sunday Jan 26, 2025 (TBD)
Sunday Feb 23, 2025 (Arkell Springs)
Sunday Mar 23, 2025 (GOS Stone rd site)
For any additional questions please email byron:
byron@theguelphoutdoorschool.com
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This is entirely up to you. Most folks choose to spend about 2 hours a month, which worked for them. Others chose not to do at home projects, and only came to outings and did the zoom meetings, which is great if that is what you prefer. Our online community (hosted on the Slack platform) is a great place to talk about any follow up research and to connect with others in the group. Some will put in a little more time there, while others don't. This part really is self directed, and up to you.
Annie and byron are available to help with the follow up research along the way. -
The calls typically begin at 7:30 and run until 9pm. We will determine the best night of the week for the majority of participants but it seems to be Wednesdays, the week before our next outing.
The recordings will be uploaded and retrievable on youtube for future reference and review. -
Some suggestions on what you may need to bring with you are :
- Appropriate clothes for the weather
- Binoculars or field lens if you have them
- Notebook and field guides
- Lunch & Snacks
- Camera
- Thermos or water bottle
- Some goals and intentions for the dayWe will also include specific suggestions with the notification email sent out the week before every outing.
