Birth
An opening Circle was led by Dr Hopi Martin, to get us started in a good way. We all introduced ourselves by sharing who we are, where we and our ancestors are from, and where our heart was in that moment and sang the Nanboozhoo song as a group.
![A group of people sitting on chairs outside in a circle. A man is standing on the far left offering something for the people to bless themselves with](https://a-us.storyblok.com/f/1019905/640x390/4aa7def1eb/land-as-teacher12-w640.jpeg/m/3840x2880/smart)
Movement
LEF Educators, Supervisors, and Senior Managers led attendees through the Movement process, encouraging them to consider the value of daily rituals and comfort levels in taking children outside the fenced playground. In small groups, we embarked on walks to gather found materials, as could be done with children. We were all impressed with the rich variety of materials found in such industrial surroundings! Everyone also appreciated the opportunity to gather debris, so we cou ld leave the Land in a better way than what we found.
![A group of people organizing the items they have found from the ground. They are putting them into a basket. In the background there is a pile of musical shakers.](https://a-us.storyblok.com/f/1019905/640x480/5d9e626efa/land-as-teacher8-w640.jpeg/m/3840x2880/smart)
Relationships
Upon returning to the fenced playground, participants shared excitedly about their experiences and used their found items to create invitations for the children to discover when they arrived at the center on Monday morning. Our team of LEF volunteers facilitated conversations about the relationships that can develop between children and the Land and the role of the Educator in creating invitations and provocations.
![Some leaves and other items from the ground on top of a small tree stump.](https://a-us.storyblok.com/f/1019905/640x480/d7851bb144/land-as-teacher5-w640.jpeg/m/3840x2880/smart)
Passing
Under the shade of trees, we gathered to share about our experiences throughout the day. It is exciting to wonder about the possibilities that will come from this event! We look forward to hearing how the seeds of ideas planted that day will be nurtured and anticipate the growth to come! To learn more about Dr Hopi Martin’s work and the Seasonal Pedagogy, visit edgeofthebush.ca
![A few people outside picking up items from the ground. They are facing away from the camera. One person is crouched down to pick something up and another is standing and holding a basket.](https://a-us.storyblok.com/f/1019905/640x853/950c471028/land-as-teacher16-w640.jpeg/m/3840x2880/filters:focal(357x294:358x295))