Tracking Connections

We're going to take a little break this summer and we plan to resume episodes in September. We've got exciting stuff planned and we look forward to coming back and sharing all kinds of new ideas with you in the fall. In the meantime, if you can't get enough Tracking Connections, we definitely recommend you go back and listen to some of our older episodes because every episode is timeless, and maybe you'll hear something that you didn't hear last time. If you're interested in checking out what else we've got going on, you can always visit us at Living Connection 1st. We've got some really cool free stuff as well as courses, videos, books, and audio products. Thanks a lot for listening!Visit the Tracking Connections Podcast Page to join our mailing list and see browse our episodes.

What if the birds outside your window were telling a story—and you could understand it?In this rich and deeply practical episode, we explore the timeless practice of bird language: an ancient skill of awareness, empathy, and interspecies communication. We share stories from sit spots, backyards, and wild landscapes where birds, bobcats, and even our dogs, help shape our understanding of what's happening in the natural world around us.Jon shares insights from decades of study and teaching, including lessons from his book What the Robin Knows, and describes how tuning in to the “Five Voices” of the birds can open a deeper relationship with the world. Sarah and Aidan add stories of personal encounters—from backyard alarms to bobcat tracking—that show how learning bird language can help us see more of our wild neighbors, enrich daily life, and even change how we move through social spaces.Whether you’re a seasoned tracker or just stepping outside with a cup of tea, this episode invites you to slow down, listen closely, and find magic in the everyday movement waiting just outside your door."Birds talk to each other, we can learn to understand it, and it's fun."Backyard Bird Language CourseComing soon - learn bird language at your pace, right in your backyard. Visit the episode page to learn more, and join our mailing list so you hear about it as soon as it's available.Show Notes and transcription for this episode are available hereLearn more about our work at https://www.livingconnection1st.net/

"Nature doesn’t judge. It just invites you to show up and be yourself."In this wide-ranging conversation, we’re joined by Alexis Burnett—naturalist, tracker, herbalist, and founder of Earth Tracks in Ontario, Canada. Alexis takes us on a journey through three decades of nature connection, beginning with a longing for deeper meaning after high school and leading to a life of wilderness mentoring, community building, and raising a family rooted in the rhythms of the land.We explore Alexis’s learning journey, early influences from indigenous elders and mentors, and the humble beginnings of Earth Tracks, born out of curiosity, commitment, and a deep love for the land. Along the way, Alexis shares the transformative power of long-term mentoring, the quiet magic of gratitude circles, and the importance of routines like sit spot, tracking, and plant observation—simple practices that create space for awe, healing, and purpose.Whether you’re new to nature connection or decades into the journey, this episode is a rich reflection on what it means to walk a path that’s guided not by goals, but by listening, presence, and the willingness to follow what calls.Connect with AlexisVisit Earth Tracks to learn more about Alexis' programs and join his newsletter. Alexis also has a great blog on his website.Follow Earth Tracks on Facebook or InstagramAbout Alexis BurnettAlexis Burnett is a Naturalist, Tracker, Herbalist, Wilderness Skills Practitioner and Canoe Guide from Orangeville, Ontario. He currently resides in the Owen Sound area with his two children, spending his days tracking, wild-crafting and running his Outdoor School and Wilderness Canoe Tripping company, Earth Tracks. Alexis is lead guide for the wilderness canoe trips and head instructor for all the programs and classes. He is committed to mentoring and teaching others the skills that help us to re-connect with the natural world in an ancient and powerful way. By learning from nature through immersion and direct experience we begin to see and more importantly ‘feel’ the inter-relation of all things in the natural world. And from here we can begin to understand the important role that we all can play in protecting and preserving the Earth for future generations. View Alexis' full bio on his website.--Tracking Connections Podcast is a production of Connection 1st, an organization that helps you deepen your connection with nature, other people and yourself. Learn moreThe transcript for this episode is available here.

In this heartfelt and inspiring conversation, we reconnect with Julie Stonefelt of Wild Homestead Living—park ranger, nature mentor, cancer survivor, and long-time member of the deep nature connection community. Julie shares her powerful personal story of transformation, from teenage struggles and early mentorship with Jon to her path through illness, healing, and the creation of a slow, connected life on a rural homestead.We explore the roots of Wild Homestead Living, a vision born not just of longing for simplicity, but of intentional reciprocity with the land and the more-than-human world. Julie offers intimate reflections on how nature supported her through life-altering challenges and how she now supports others in their own reconnection journeys—whether through sit spot practice, gardening alongside local wildlife, or simply noticing the breeze on your skin.We also talk about ego, control, and decolonizing our approach to land and learning. Julie shares how observation, curiosity, and story are at the heart of her teaching—and how small acts, like growing sprouts in a jar, can spark a deeper relationship with life itself.If you've ever wondered how to begin (or begin again) in relationship with nature—especially in our fast-paced world—this episode is your invitation to slow down, listen, and remember."Slowing down and having those connections—it's simple, but it's not easy."About Wild Homestead LivingIf you’re craving a life that’s more connected to nature, rooted in simplicity, and aligned with your values, you’re in the right place.Founded by Julie Stonefelt and Kevin Mack, Wild Homestead Living offers practical tools, heartfelt inspiration, and a supportive community to help you create a sustainable lifestyle—whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or off the grid. From patio gardens to permaculture homesteads, you’ll find resources to help you start small, grow slow, and live deeply.Ready to begin? Explore their free courses and guides »About Julie StonefeltJulie grew up with salt in her hair and sand between her toes, falling in love with nature along the shores of Puget Sound in the Great Pacific Northwest. That love led her to The Evergreen State College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree specializing in environmental education, cultural history, and wildlife rehabilitation.For over 28 years, she’s been helping people connect with the wild world around them, whether through her work as a Park Ranger or here at Wild Homestead Living. She believes that nature isn’t just something out there—it’s part of who we are. And no matter where you live, there’s always a way to bring a little more of it into your life.--Tracking Connections Podcast is a production of Connection 1st, an organization that helps you deepen your connection with nature, other people and yourself. Learn moreThe transcript of this episode is available here.

This episode is all about motivation. How do we motivate our students, and ourselves, to practice our skills, be more consistent in our routines, and deepen our connection to the natural world? Jon and Sarah are joined by Jack Durtnall, based in the UK, and an experienced naturalist, musician, and mentor, to explore these questions and share stories about what Tom Brown Jr did when mentoring Jon and his peers, and what Jon, Jack, and Sarah have applied in their own work, and in their own routines. Enjoy!About Jack DurtnallJack Durtnall is a musician and nature connection facilitator living in the south east of England. His music can be found under his solo name and also as part of the band Shoal and the Seabird. Jack enjoys the rich musical and nature connection culture locally, and founded Hopjam, a long running groove-based jam night in 2022. Jack also gets to play at folk night with dear friend and colleague Anna Richardson frequently! Jack has been inspired by 8 Shields, Connection 1st, and the Art of Mentoring camps (2017 at Burnicombe Farm, Devon, and 2019 in Scotland) and loves the world that has opened up by being part of this wider collective culture.Jack works with the following organizations:Cultivating Curiosity - Children's Nature Connection Programs Learn moreKinship in Nature - Forest School in East London Learn moreChildren's Forest - A movement to inspired and enable children to plant healthy forests Learn moreThe Earth Stewardship Apprentice youth program at Sacred Earth Learn more--Tracking Connections Podcast is a production of Connection 1st, an organization that helps you deepen your connection with nature, other people and yourself. Learn moreThe transcript for this episode is available here.

Today’s episode is all about relationships, and how putting people first and valuing connection helps us build a conscious legacy in our families and in our work. Our guest, Peter Johnson, is a long time financial and estate planner, the co-founder of Family Nature Retreats, and the author of The Little Book of Family Treasure. He joins us to share how the principles of Connection 1st have influenced his work, helping him to heal families and build loving legacies that last.“We’re all ancestors in training, meaning, we’re all either leaving a conscious legacy or we’re leaving a shadow legacy.”We discuss how our legacy is our culture, the wake that we leave behind our boat, and how the wellbeing of our family culture is so influential on the wellbeing of the individual that it’s indistinguishable. Peter shares about the power of nature connection to put us into a peaceful state of being, which enables us to successfully navigate the difficult conversations that come up in families around legacy. Most of all, you will feel the loving kindness that emanates from Peter and informs all of his work with people, and be moved and inspired by what it is possible to heal when we come together from that place of love.“Money comes and goes, but the relationships and the skills and the knowledge, and the wisdom, and the desire to be of service to others, these are the things that really drive human behavior and determine outcomes.”The Little Book of Family TreasureWhat if the greatest threat to your family's legacy isn't poor investments or estate taxes, but the invisible walls that keep family members from truly connecting? Learn more about Peter's book here.Family Nature RetreatsFamily Nature Retreats rekindles the magic of life and connection for families seeking to create sustainable legacies and design purposeful estate plans. We assist client families in discovering and realizing their highest aspirations and potential — together — by combining facilitated conversations led by world-class, inter-disciplinary teams with proven healing nature connection practices.Estate PlanningIf you are interested in working with Peter and his team for your own family, visit https://pwjohnson.com/ to learn more.About Peter W. JohnsonFor over 25 years, Peter has served individuals and families with their wealth and financial planning needs. His own experiences with his family of origin fuel his commitment to family peacemaking, mentoring and connection. Peter’s deep respect and passion for nature connection and awareness, as well as other transformative practices, has led to the creation of Family Nature Retreats℠, which creatively combine proven, multi-disciplinary practices in a uniquely rich, integrated program. Peter has been an active leader in the development of Collaborative Practice Trusts & Estates since it began in 2012, and his writing has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Journal of Practical Estate Planning, The Journal of Financial Planning, and Black Enterprise.Visit https://www.livingconnection1st.net/ to learn more about our work.

Since he was a child, Richie Rivera Booth has dreamed of being a protector of the natural world. In 2007, he embarked on a journey that would lead him to becoming just that, when he discovered a nine-month intensive program at Wilderness Awareness school, called The Immersion.In this episode, we discuss the transformation that is possible through immersing ourselves in deep nature and people connection with a small group of people that depend on each other. Participants often sign up for the program because of their interest in nature and the outdoors, but wind up getting so much more than they expected, including a lifelong community, and a sense of purpose and service to the future generations and the natural world. We explore how pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and comfort zones together in nature, combined with witness each other's stories, leads to a deep self assuredness and healing connection to each other. We discuss how participants emerge as natural leaders and mentors, and share stories of what graduates have gone to create in their communities. Finally, we discuss the legacy of Wilderness Awareness School over 40+ years, Ingwe's vision for the sacred fire on their land, and how that connection has rippled out to thousands and thousands of people over the years. About RichieRichie Rivera-Booth has been a core instructor for The Immersion program for 11 years, and he finds this work to be the most meaningful way he can give back, by empowering others on their own path. Read his full bio here.The Immersion at Wilderness Awareness School - accepting applications for Fall 2025 Imagine waking up in the morning, excited to go to class where you'll deeply connect with the natural world and see yourself evolving into a new kind of human.Imagine being an important part of a nature-connected community committed to supporting your growth.Imagine yourself after nine months of connecting with the natural world on physical, intellectual, and emotional levels, after expanding your comfort zone—leaving you capable of so much more than you've ever imagined.The Immersion is a transformative, holistic learning experience focusing on eight core areas of study. The power of The Immersion lies in the integration of these subjects as an immersive experience.Students finish this training with an end-of-year rite of passage, resulting in a greater understanding of their purpose and a lucid awareness of their passions and vision for their lives. Based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, The Immersion is a nine-month transformative journey of deep nature connection, wilderness skills, and self-discovery within a supportive community.Learn MoreEmpowering the Connection JourneyFree Online Event - Mon, Mar 24, 6-8pm PDTJoin Jon Young for an evening to learn what nature can teach us when we hone our awareness, and how to empower this connection while finding a deep sense of purpose in relationship with the natural world. Sign Up Now

"I love that survival mentality; the will to solve problems…It gives you the confidence to tackle so many things…You believe in your resourcefulness and those around you."Jason Knight is the founder of Alderleaf Wilderness College, best-selling author of The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival, a Kamana graduate, and has been teaching nature connection, tracking, and survival for more than 25 years.In today's episode, we explore Jason's lifelong interest in survival, his unlikely path to meeting Jon, and how that led to being mentored by him and ultimately to Jason starting the first year-long nature connection immersion program for adults. We reflect on how much the influence of Jon and Jason's work has spread across the world over the past 25+ years and the hope that brings, while remembering how much there is still left to be done. We also reflect on the inspiring power of learning survival skills and the confidence we gain from them, and how our deepening connection to nature tends to lead us to be called to mentor others in these same teachings. We hope you enjoy!Essential Wilderness Survival Skills - Online CourseWhat You Need to Know to Stay Alive in the OutdoorsLearn the core skills of survival - shelter, water, fire, and food - in a format that allows you to participate at home and at your own pace. Come away with practical life-saving skills, a deeper relationship with nature, greater confidence, and resources to share with your family & friends for fun and in emergencies.In this course you will:Understand the survival mindsetLearn how to build natural shelterExperience how to make fire from frictionLearn how to find and purify waterUnderstand how to safely forage for wild foodsKnow how to better prevent and prepare for emergenciesJason is offering Tracking Connections Podcast listeners a special price, with Connection 1st as an affiliate partner. The course normally sells for $397 but it's available for $97 if you sign up by March 4th. Your purchase will help support Jason's work and ours.Learn More or Sign Up HereAbout Jason KnightJason is passionate about helping people learn wilderness survival skills. Since 1997, he's taught thousands of people, including training hundreds of adults to become survival instructors. He has consulted as a local wilderness skills expert for the Discovery Channel and has been featured on NPR. He is a cofounder and instructor at Alderleaf Wilderness College, one of the leading outdoor schools in the United States offering courses on wilderness survival to the general public and a broad range of clients including the US Forest Service, the Seattle Mountaineers, and the cast of the award-winning film Captain Fantastic. Jason is also the author of the best-selling book, The Essential Skills of Wilderness Survival.--Our next episode will release on Mar 12, 2025.The transcript for this episode is available here.

"It doesn’t matter how long it's been since I've had an experience with nature. As soon as I show up, nature is there for me."Maria Buitenhuis is a host and facilitator of the upcoming online course Ecological Homecoming, based on the 8 Shields. She has extensive experience supporting people to deepen their connection to nature, including our own inner nature as part of the larger natural landscape. She is the co-founder of GIFT (Global Institute of Forest Therapy) and the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.In this episode, we explore how the natural world welcomes us into connection, the power of names, ways in which the trees can transform our perspective, nature's capacity to receive our emotions, and the message that the starling brings. It is a wide-ranging, magical conversation that will inspire you to go outside and find a few quiet moments to connect with the natural world. Enjoy!--Maria's upcoming program, Ecological Homecoming, begins March 19th. Learn More--Visit Living Connection 1st for more information about our work in nature connection and people connection.--Our next episode will release on Feb 26, 2025.The transcript for this episode is available here.

"Someone said to me, ‘We have all the tools and techniques we need for widespread earth repair at the moment.’ Ok, so why is that not happening then? And the answer is always about people."Looby Macnamara leads a productive career as a pioneer of permaculture and co-founder of Cultural Emergence. She is an author, facilitator, designer, gardener, mother, and has written 4 books; Cultural Emergence, People & Permaculture, 7 Ways to Think Differently and Strands of Infinity. ​In this episode, Looby joins us on a Design Adventure. We discuss the nature of vision, how we are all visionary, and how Looby's Design Web helps us to discover our vision in different areas of our lives and move into action in a flowing, easy way.View the Design Web and learn all about Design Adventures hereIf you're looking for a simple way to get started with Design Web, check out Looby's Design Your Week courseView Looby's bio here--Visit Living Connection 1st for more information about our work in nature connection and people connection.--Our next episode will release on Feb 12, 2025.The transcript for this episode is available here.

"The message of healing you bring to attend to individual and cultural wounding is paradoxically undermined or attacked by the very same wounding you would seek to heal.”What about deep nature connection work, and mentoring for connection, brings about this paradox? Why do we rebel against our mentors? How do our own wounds prevent us from fully sharing our gifts? In this episode, we dig deeply into these questions, inspired by the quote above, and explore it from many angles with Dr. Bill Sutherland.Note: This topic came about as a result of a conversation Jon and Bill had, back in Dec 2024, as part of their Renewal of Creative Path process. If you want to learn more about the Renewal of Creative Path process, listen to Episode 36 - Renewal Routines for Connection.Learn more about some of Dr. Bill's work at https://www.complexitymedicine.org/--Visit Living Connection 1st for more information about our work in nature connection and people connection.--Our next episode will release on January 29, 2025.The transcript for this episode is available here.

"The vision is the journey, and the journey is now.” -Tom Brown Jr.In today's episode, we take a look at the power of renewal routines as a tool for deepening connection with ourselves. Jon shares a process he learned from Tom Brown Jr, which he has named Renewal of Creative Path, and the benefits that process has had on his life since he was a teenager. Sarah and Aidan share their own experiences and reflections on renewal routines, and what they have gained from integrating these routines into their lives on yearly, monthly, or even daily basis.Renewal of Creative Path can be a very in-depth process that takes multiple weeks and many hours of reflection and conversation to complete. However, it can also be a shorter process. The following is a very quick look at the steps in the process, which Jon shares in greater detail during the podcast.1. What connects us in our lives to nature, ourselves, and other people?2. What are the obstacles to connection in our lives?3. Tracking patterns of synchronicity and help from nature4. Inventory of gifts, passions, and talents5. Backtracking the stepping stones of visions and gifts6. Release expectations and offering forgivenessPause, gather from steps 1-6, and reflect. Repeat as needed until you feel complete.7. Create the ideal scene8. Reflections with ancestors and future generations--Visit Living Connection 1st for more information about our work in nature connection and people connection.--Our next episode will release on January 15, 2025.The transcript for this episode is available here.

"My life’s work is connecting people deeply to nature, each other and themselves. Through over 50 years of mentoring, I’ve seen that deep nature connection changes us on a profound level. Deep connection rewires our nervous system and boosts our wellbeing and potential. "In today's episode, Jon shares about the 512 Project, which is a culmination of more than four decades of research into the cultural practices that foster connection, resulting in a video series that looks closely at each of these 64 Cultural Elements and shares stories of their benefits and how we can integrate them into our own lives.Bonus Audio - At the end of the episode, we have included the complete audio of Greeting Customs, which is the first part of the series. You can also watch it on Youtube and share with friends and family.Click here to learn more about the 512 Project and view the 512 Project map of all 64 videos.Our next episode will release on January 1, 2025.The transcript for this episode is available here.

We have a special episode today, sharing two excerpts from Tracking Our Roots In Nature, the 40th anniversary edition of Jon's seminal audio series on connecting to nature, each other, and ourselves. Free Event Dec 10thWe are hosting a free event next on December 10th, 2024 at 11am Pacific TimeThe event is called The Ultimate Wilderness Skill: Awareness as the Key To Empowering your Ancestral Skills, Deepening Your Personal Relationship with the Outdoors, and to Passing Forward This Legacy to Future Generations. Register HereEven if you can't attend live, we will send you a copy of the recording afterwards so you can listen at your convenience. In the meantime, stay tuned for more information about the release of Tracking Our Roots in Nature in the next week or so.Our next episode will release on December 18, 2024.

"The stories we were hearing were of animals coming out onto the trail in front of people and knowing they were there, but not minding that they were there."What if you could calm your nerves, notice more of the world around you, and improve your joint health at the same time? In this episode, we're exploring Foxwalking and Owl Eyes, two techniques that help you to do exactly that. Jon, Sarah, and Aidan share stories of how these techniques effect their daily lives, how to learn and teach them, and how much fun we can have when we practice them. Enjoy!"Expanding our awareness out into our senses quiets our cognitive mind, and we have this experience of almost invisibility that can emerge where there’s a deep silence in our being."--Visit Living Connection 1st for more information about our work in nature connection and people connection.--Our next episode will release on December 4, 2024.The transcript for this episode is available here.

“Mimicry has been my life. It was the easiest channel to my best teacher. For me, it wasn’t people; it was the animals themselves, and the most accessible route to that was through their language.”What effect does imitation have on our body, our memory, our sense of connection? What if we could understand just what the Raven is saying? How do the coyotes behave differently around wolves than they do around mountain lions?In this episode, George Bumann joins us to explore these questions, and shares stories from his lifelong journey of learning just what the animals are saying to each other. Enjoy!About George BumannGeorge Bumann (rhymes with ‘human’) is the author of Eavesdropping on Animals, and a professional sculptor living with his wife, young son, and black Labrador Hobbes, at Yellowstone Park’s northern entrance in Gardiner, Montana. George has been a life-long observer of nature and was raised in his mother’s New York sculpture studio. He holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in wildlife ecology and has worked in the fields of wildlife research, taxidermy, back-country guiding, environmental consulting and has taught art and natural history programs for youth, adult, and university audiences since 1990.Learn more about George hereOrder Eavesdropping on Animals--Visit Living Connection 1st for more information about our work in nature connection and people connection.--Our next episode will release on November 20, 2024.The transcript for this episode is available here.

“I define tracking as paying attention to the movement of energy.”What are the birds telling us and how can we learn to notice more of what they have to say?In this episode, Dan Gardoqui joins us to share stories from his 35+ years of teaching bird language, tracking, and nature connection. We explore mentoring someone in bird language, what gets people to pay attention, and how the process of learning bird language has evolved over the years. Plus, Dan shares some of his incredible animal imitation skills with us. Enjoy!About Dan GardoquiDan is a nature-based consultant & coach, award-winning educator, seasoned guide, naturalist & bird language expert, and the founder of Lead With Nature.As a suburban New Jersey teen, Dan met his first mentor, Jon Young, who set him on a journey as a naturalist, a mentor and a leader. That journey led him to many other mentors, students and landscapes that have taught him priceless lessons. For the past 25 years, he has lived and worked in both human and wild communities in New England. He has served as a resource for many leaders in the field of Nature-Connection, consulting and training many teams and executives in finding excellence through role modeling, mentoring and training programs.Learn more about Dan here--Visit Living Connection 1st for more information about our work in nature connection and people connection.--Our next episode will release on November 6, 2024.The transcript for this episode is available here.

“These are the core routines of people connection.”What happens when we slow down, get present, and put connection first?In this episode, Jon and Sarah give an overview of the 10 Foundation Stones of Connective Culture: what they are, how they help facilitate connection between people, and the kind of outcomes that can result from practicing them together with a group.--Free Download - 10 Foundation Stones--Embodying Unity With NatureIf you're interested in doing a deep on people connection practices, like the 10 Foundation Stones, our upcoming fall program explores how to develop them in your own life...Starting October 17th — 7 week Journey: Embodying Unity with Nature--Visit Living Connection 1st for more information about our work in nature connection and people connection.

“When we talk about tracking, it's a very holistic definition. It means paying attention, not just with your eyes, but with all your senses.”In this episode we explore the question, "does tracking help us connect deeply with a place more quickly?" Jon and Sarah, having recently returned from two weeks in South Africa and the Kalahari, reflect on the impact that tracking had on their experience, not only connecting with the land but also with people through tracking. We also look at the broader definition of tracking, moving beyond footprints and into awareness of the world around us, our communication with that world, and how our intentions shape our environment. We explore how connection develops, in the deepening of our awareness that occurs through the process of tracking, in our collective engagement with the present moment, and shared curiosity about the world around us.Upcoming Programs:If you're interested in the themes of this podcast episode, our upcoming fall programs explore how to develop them in your own life...October 3rd, 2024 — Free Event: Harmonizing with NatureStarting October 17th — 7 week Journey: Embodying Unity with NatureScheduling Note: due to travel and more obligations than usual, we have decided to move to an every-other-Wednesday release schedule for a few months.Our next episode will release on October 9, 2024.

“There’s an intelligence that emerges out of being together in a connective way, that we can call The Keeper, or we can call it The Emergent Mind in interpersonal neurobiology.”"It was an example for me of what I want to build as a community and how I want to build it and participate with people."Susu, Martha, and Patrick joined us to share about their transformational experience designing a weekend program together for the first time, using principles like Designing with Natural Cycles and the Ten Stones. Everyone that participated was moved by the way the experience unfolded, and what is possible when we slow down and listen deeply to The Keeper, remaining present to what most wants to emerge in that moment within the group. If you have been considering starting a program or offering something, this conversation will inspire you and give you insight into what's possible. Enjoy!Janet (Susu) Marley is earning an MA in Ecopsychology from Naropa University. She is currently researching styles of governance in traditional indigenous societies of Turtle Island and how such wisdom ways can positively influence contemporary ecocentric and regenerative residential communities and bioregional initiatives. She is a dedicated student of the Tracker School, and committed to carrying the wisdom of the lineage into the future. Janet is a community organizer with an abiding interest in co-creating intentional living and learning centers that model and teach connection and reciprocity with the natural world. She is integrating the 8 shields design model into this work. Her gifts and roles include mentor, healer, event producer, and guide to ceremony, council, rites of passage, ecotherapy, and trauma integration work. She is a Montessori-trained educator and mom of two young children.Martha Meacham is a professional educator with a Ph.D. in Education living in the Austin, Texas area. After decades in higher education, she is focusing on bringing people together who want to explore deep relationships within nature, themselves and others. She brings natural design principles (8 Shields) to her classroom for first time-in-college students to reflect on what they need from their college experience to successfully accomplish what they want. As a Niasziih practitioner, she promotes mind~body~spirit~soul wellness, rooted in the Earth. Aligned with this, she is an Apprentice Tracker, and a Quest protector. She has also learned Tellington TTouch Method for humans and companion animals from Linda Tellington-Jones. Learn more about Martha’s healing work at heartfelttouch.usPatrick Monroney lucked into some great mentors and teachers in the outdoors when he moved to Alaska in 1987. He learned fishing, plants, and survival, and started an outdoor school for kids and adults. Patrick has taught flora, plantlore, fishing, survival skills, leadership and community building to children and adults for thirty years. He is a cancer survivor, and his current communities are the Tracker School Keepers group and the Helpers Mentoring Society.Show Notes & ReferencesIf you want to learn more about the Ten Stones, join us for Embodying Unity With Nature, which starts on Oct 17, 2024. We are also holding a free event, Harmonizing with Nature, on Oct 3rd, 2024Visit Living Connection 1st for more information about our work.