Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this a forest play group? No, you could almost say it's the opposite. Play groups are child centred with the adults gathering around the children playing whereas we recreate the hunter gatherer experience of children being part of all age appropriate aspects of adult life. Forest play groups often bring many elements of indoor life such as props and toys into nature, whereas we believe that the gifts of Mother Earth and loving adults is all our children need. We also believe children to be much more physically capable of learning skills than many modern adults give them credit for.

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• How is this different from a forest school? While forest schools create the much needed opportunity for children to play freely in the natural world, the 8 Shields approach takes it much further with strategic mentoring and universal cultural elements focused on developing life enhancing attributes of deep connection. 

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• Why do we ask parents to be part of the program? We believe children to the age of about 7 belong with their parents, however families are not meant to exist in isolation. A program like this is meant to be a cultural repair initiative for modern people's isolation from nature and each other. The results are not instantaneous but are long lasting. This is not just a program, it's a doorway to a way of life that requires deep commitment and a significant paradigm shift from modern thinking. Our ideal is to have the whole family present including both parents but we recognize that in many cases that is not possible due to modern constraints. We need the parents present and open to helping create the cultural container for the program to be effective.

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• What are the the attributes of deep connection? These are the attributes that arise in children and adults alike when they are supported with long-term attentive mentoring to develop profound relationships to the beings of the natural world within a culture that supports their journey. The attributes are: the quiet mind, presence and creativity; a general feeling of happiness through all ranges of emotions; vitality and motivation; unconditional listening and inquisitive focus; empathy for people and nature; the innate desire to be truly helpful; awe, reverence and gratitude for life; love, compassion and the ability for forgiveness. 

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• What if my child doesn't want to participate in the activities? That's ok, what matters is that you, as a parent, want to participate. Much of what children learn is through role modelling. We practice what we call the culture of allowance, a universal cultural element in peaceful hunter-gatherer nomadic people who's children consistently have the attributes of connection. It is not to be confused with permissiveness and lack of boundaries. It is the recognition that each individual has their own timing, curiosities and passions. Effective mentoring has no attachment to specific outcomes other than the attributes of connection.

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• Where exactly will the program take place? Our goal is to stick to within about a 20min drive from Bridgewater. Weather is a big factor in our choice of location each week. Here are a few of the locations we have in mind: Asi'tulisk (Windhorse Farm), Risser's Beach and Miller Point Peace Park. Because we are new to the area, we are also open to ideas for more locations on public land. Long-term, we are looking for a home base on private land where we can build long-term relationship to the land, please contact us if you know of any possibilities for this.