Rewild Fridays Returns - Winter 2023
An Urban Dive into Deep Nature Connection Practices
with Emily and Leafy
Rewild Fridays is back!
As featured in Rewilding the Urban Soul, Rewild Fridays has offered dozens of people over multiple years the consistent access to ancestral skills and community-based nature exploration that so many are craving today.
Rewild Fridays has shown that it is possible to cultivate a depth of belonging to the natural world, build strong community, and nurture one’s inner wildness, all while living in the city.
Join Leafy from Leafy Adventures and Emily from Nature’s Apprentice for its next iteration.
What is Rewild Fridays?
The old ways are new again for the many now seeking to (re)learn the skills, practices and mindsets of our ancestors – everything from our food to footwear.
It’s a movement that’s become known as ‘rewilding’; a return to a wilder or more natural, instinctive way of being. In contrast to the ‘back to the land’ movement of the 70’s, rewilding is as much urban as it is rural – wildness rather than wilderness.
Learning daily practices to ground ourselves in the rhythms of nature, and acquainting ourselves with the plants, animals, and elements of our bioregion, we can begin to cultivate deep connection with earth wisdom, ourselves and each other.
Are you ready to create time for deep nature connection in your life?
Rewild Fridays is an ongoing program dedicated to exploring deep nature connection practices, nature play, community building and traditional earth skills within a small group of under 15 participants.
Together we will explore and experiment with practices and activities that will serve to embed us into the land we live (yes the city!), the more-than-human-world, and each other. The goal here is connection - to self, earth and community - the pathway to a life of vision and joy.
What do we mean by Deep Nature Connection Practices?
Spending time outdoors does not necessarily cultivate a deep connection to nature. Pioneers in the field drawing on anthropological study of indigenous cultures, science, and a long hard look at the effectiveness of environmental education have found that there are core practices that quickly create strong bonds of connection between humans and nature.
Simple and repeatable practices such as tracking, bird language, sensory awareness and attuned mentorship are some of the most effective and ancient techniques that exist to enable profound connection with nature, with ourselves, and with each other. By understanding our relationships with the animals, plants, weather and wind, and various aspects of the natural environment around us, we re-pattern our brain and nervous system to activate what are known as ‘the attributes of connection’ – happiness, vitality, the ability to listen deeply, increase empathy, helpfulness, true aliveness and gratitude for life, compassion, forgiveness and the quiet mind.
What might we get up to?
Here are some of the activities we may explore. Repeated over many weeks, these practices strengthen the threads of connection until they become strong ropes of relationship.
Sit spots
Tracking
Bird Language
Mapping/Navigation
Indigenous Knowledge
Natural Movement & Awareness
The Art of Wandering
Nature Games and Play
Nature Literacy and Ecology
Wild Edibles and Medicinals
Fire-by-Friction
Natural cordage and rope
Shelter Building
Eco-Dye
Hide Tanning
Basket weaving
Ceremony
Community Building
Campfire cooking
The Facilitators
Emily Coats
Emily is a passionate advocate and facilitator of deep nature connection practices that awaken full sensory awareness, quieten the mind, and enliven body and Soul. Her teachers include master tracker Tom Brown, nature connection expert Jon Young and Australian bird language teacher Andrew Turbill, as well as multiple sit spots she has come to love over the last four years. Emily is also a dancer and experimenting with weaving movement and nature connection practices together. She lives on Wurundjeri country in Warrandyte where she shares her garden with over 50 species of birds. She loves to escape to the bush and sink into Deep Time, practice her skills and apprentice to the mysteries of the wilds.
Leafy
Leafy is an experienced primitive skills and adventure instructor, and an educator on edible and medicinal plants and animal processing. He’s also a qualified permaculture designer and outdoor recreationalist. Leafy’s knowledge is based on countless hours learning from and teaching to others. The skills he shares range from fire by friction, to rehydrating landscapes, to processing animal bodies. Leafy put his skills to the test by spending an entire year living alone in wild bushland. The practical and philosophical lessons he received now inform his daily life. He shares them with others to strengthen our connection to our true nature, within nature.
Testimonials for Rewild Fridays
“Rewild Fridays gave me the skills, knowledge and confidence to engage with the wild places all around me. It’s not just in the national parks an hour drive from my house - the wild is in my backyard, my local park, that tree right next to the milkbar. It’s made me feel more alive.”
— Michelle Kovacevic, mother and community organiser
Testimonials for Leafy and Emily
"I grew up spending a lot of time in nature, which is an important part of my Indigenous American heritage. Leafy has not only a deep sensitivity to the land, but also a deep sensitivity to people. He holds deep care and consideration no matter what a person’s background, and he can tailor bushcraft and nature connection skills to any level of ability. His calmness and ability to slow down is so valuable in the hustle of modern society. With his presence and his words, he holds the ability to listen to yourself and listen to land. He approaches his workshops with respect, kindness, playfulness and humour, qualities which brighten the spirit and the heart, and which help you to further develop your connection with everything”.
— Damian Matthews, Wayapa Wuurk Practitioner
“Emily brings story and her real life experiences to this ancient practice. She teaches the skill in a way that is patient, enjoyable and nurturing at all ages and abilities.”
— Shau Teo
The Details
Rewild Fridays is a regular dedicated program of study and nature adventure held on Fridays between 9.30am - 3pm over four teaching terms in parkland settings within Melbourne’s inner north. A couple of times a term we venture out of the city for a day long ‘excursion’ for immersion in a wilder landscape or during particular foraging seasons such as mushrooming in autumn.
Most participants commit to full terms of study (and play) however we will offer a number of ‘drop in’ passes each week.
Why is this not on a weekend?
Rather than an extra-curricular activity, this is a commitment akin to any other program of study. And besides, we like family/play time on weekends.
Dates
The term will consist of 6 dates this Winter:
July 21, July 28, August 4, August 11, August 18 and August 25.
Prices updated to include GST
Term pass (6 sessions): $412.50 waged / $385 concession
Half term pass (3 sessions): $247.50 waged / $220 concession
Drop-in passes: $93.50 waged / $82.50 concession
Schedule - updated 10th August (subject to change with weather, etc.):
Week 1: 21st July: Foraging for edible and medicinal plants
Week 2: 28th July: Fire by friction
Week 3: 4th August: Holistic tracking, awareness and blindfold activities
Week 4: 11th August: Working with bone and stone: needles, fish hooks, jewellery, arrowheads
Week 5: 18th August: Shelter construction
Week 6: 25th August: Bird language
For drop in passes please book by Thursday 7pm for that week.
Cancellation Policy
Tickets are only valid for this term. Dates of attendance must be confirmed before term starts. Date changes within the term can be made with at least one week’s notice of the session you are cancelling. No refunds or date changes with less than a week’s notice. No refunds available. Half term passes must be booked in by the previous Friday. No refunds on drop in tickets. If you can’t attend a Friday you are booked in for, you may on-sell your pass.
Please email info@naturesapprentice.com.au with any questions or call Emily on 0436115128.