Using the Core Routines of Nature Connection

When I was in the final year of my undergraduate degree I had the most amazing opportunity to take a course on the applications of wilderness therapy. The course itself took place primarily over an eleven day backcountry canoe trip in Strathcona Provincial Park. Throughout the course we learned about ways to facilitate wilderness therapy groups and sessions. As well as leadership, group debrief facilitation techniques, backcountry cooking, survival, and canoeing.

A key pillar of our wilderness therapy training was the utilization of the core routines of nature connection as outlined in the book Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature by Young, Haas, and McGown. The core routines of nature connection facilitate a strong connection to nature and the environments one finds themselves in. Practicing these routines creates learning habits that when repeated and internalized heighten our connection to the natural world. Which in turn opens us to learning from the natural world, and reconnect with ourselves. Connection to nature is shown to improve and foster resilience, confidence, sensory processing, attention, mindfulness, mental health, and wellbeing.

Throughout the course the core routines we practiced every day were maps of the day, expanding sensory awareness, learning the language of birds, exploring field guides, story of the day, and sit spots. While I enjoyed and found benefits from all of these routines, the one that I found the most impactful was sit spots.

Practicing sensory expansion

To find our sit spot we began with wandering, this is another core routine to connect with nature. We wandered with no aim or purpose until we found a spot that felt good to us, trying out as many spots as we needed until we found the right one. Once a spot had been selected the next step was to go through a sensory expanding routine and mindfulness practice. After this we spent time in our spot to just sit, taking in everything around us and within ourselves. This was a unique experience to every person, as everyone had a different spot, and a different personal/ emotional experience during their time in their spot. For myself, the first time I went to my sit spot for thirty minutes straight was the first time in months I was able to process some of the stress and grief I had been experiencing for months leading up to this course at work. It was the first time I was completely disconnected from my work and my clients in years. The realization that I was deeply worried about the wellbeing of some of my clients and had no way of knowing how they were faring until I got back home in two weeks; along with the fact that I did not feel like I had the support to help these individuals when working all came crashing down on me. 

I’ve never really experienced that level of emotional clarity at once, it felt like a tidal wave of grief, fear, anxiety, and stress crashing over me with unbelievable force. If I had never been able to identify these feelings I had been burying down each day so I could show up for the youth I worked with, I would have never been able to work through it. Beyond working through it, once I could identify what was happening, when I returned home I could go to my manager and identify exactly what I needed and what my clients needed from us.

My sit spot

This experience had a significant impact on me personally, and as a person working in a helping profession. Our connection to nature is a powerful tool, it can open us up as well as heal. I spent the rest of that trip using the core routines to heal and prepare for returning to my job and clients. I am a better professional because of this experience, and more intune with my own feelings, all as a result of taking time to connect with nature. 

Some tips for finding and using your own sit spot

-To find your sit spot do not seek out a spot, wander without a set goal and let a place find you

-Connection to nature is ideal, but a sit spot can be anywhere

-Try to return to the same spot every time, repetition and routine will help you enter a state of mindfulness with ease 

-Get to know your spot, every twig, ant, shadow and rock, notice at what point you become part of the spot rather than a visitor

From West to East!

Hello everyone! My name is Amy (she/her). I am a second year occupational therapy student from University of Toronto. As this is my last fieldwork placement before I graduate I really wanted to end with an exciting placement. So I came here to Larchwood! 

Exploring Banff national park

Learning about all the different places therapy can take place has been so exciting, so far we have done therapy in a barn, in a field, on a walk through the forest, beside a pond, and while visiting all sorts of farm animals! All these unique environments offer experiences, stimulus, and challenges that are unique to the outdoors. Teaching about the senses by picking flowers and herbs to smell, or learning about self regulation strategies to handle frustration when the minnows are hard to catch are two examples of nature based occupational therapy occurring out at the farm. 

I’ve always wanted to work with children and youth. I learned a lot of my skills about play and building therapeutic relationships during my undergraduate degree in Child and Youth Care at Vancouver Island University. It was there that I first learned about the therapeutic applications of nature when I took a wilderness therapy course that included an 11 day canoe trip in the backcountry.

Me and my dog Milly at lake Helen Mackenzie on Mount Washington

Growing up on Vancouver Island meant I was always surrounded by nature. My family loves going on hikes, having campfires, going to the waterfall park nearby our family home, camping, and kayaking. My partner and I love going on road trips around the Island and exploring all the different trails and beaches. I’ve enjoyed checking out some of the waterfalls and beaches that the Durham region has to offer during this placement with my fellow OT students here on placement. I am looking forward to all the exploring and experiences this placement has to offer over the rest of the summer!