Training Modules & Workshops

Aboriginal Awareness Training for government employees in NSW Australia

Training module name: ‘Aboriginal Awareness Training”

Is part of: Efforts to make or increase awareness of Aboriginal cultural connections to landscape, including spiritual connections, and thus aid in the respectful delivery of government policy actions so as to be inclusive of Aboriginal rights as first nations in New South Wales and Australia.

Place: The programme was mostly delivered in Protected Areas, not in centralised office environments.

Number of hours/days: Needs to check

Institution/NGO: New South Wales Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage, Australia, which includes the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

Beginning/End: Delivered over two years in 2010-2011.

Target group: It was a compulsory two-day training programme for all 3,000 or so employees of the NSW Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage, which includes the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (2,000 employees). 

Language: English

Teacher/Contact: The programme was delivered in most part by Aboriginal people, some were government employees, some professional trainers contracted to undertake the task.

Contact person: Steve Brown, Email: steveb.heritage@gmail.com

Method: The structure of the programme was developed by a professional training organisation. It had a systematic structure so as all participants gained the same range of learning. In the course I undertook, the person delivering it did not follow the course outline, but none-the-less, in my view, delivered the content of the programme in an effective way.

Materials: Not available

URL: No direct URL available. Agency: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Evaluation: In general the training was well received by staff members and some found it a huge and much appreciated learning experience. Largely this was an outcome of the skill and personality of the people delivering the course. The point here is to ensure programmes are consistently well delivered and by sufficiently skilled communicators.

Broadening Interpretation: Integrating Spiritual and Cultural Content into Interpretive Programs for National Park Staff Interpreters in the US – P1

Training module name: Broadening Interpretation: Integrating Spiritual and Cultural Content into Interpretive Programs

Is part of: Sacred Mountains Program with US National Park Service

Place: Haleakala National Park, North Cascades National Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Number of hours/days: Half-day to three days

Institution/NGO: The Mountain Institute

Beginning/End: 2004 to 2008

Target group: US National Park Staff Interpreters

Language: English

Teacher/Contact: Edwin Bernbaum – ebernbaum@mountain.org, Jeremy Spoon –  jspoon@mountain.org, jspoon@pdx.edu

Method: Presentation, Power point, interactive exercises, breakout groups

Materials:

1. Spiritual and Cultural Mountain Passages Handout
2. Site-Specific Spiritual and Cultural Mountain Passages Handout
3. Bibliography of Site-Specific Resources
4. Mountains and People, People and Mountains Handbook

URL: No longer current for this project, TMI URL is www.mountain.org

Broadening Interpretation: Integrating Spiritual and Cultural Content into Interpretive Programs for National Park Staff Interpreters in the US – P2

Training module name: Broadening Interpretation: Integrating Spiritual and Cultural Content into Interpretive Programs.

Is part of: Sacred Mountains Program with US National Park Service.

Place: Haleakala National Park, North Cascades National Park, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Number of hours/days: Half-day to three days, depending on cases.

Institution/NGO: The Mountain Institute.

Beginning/End: 2004 to 2008.

Target group: US National Park Staff Interpreters.

Language: English.

Teacher/Contact: Edwin Bernbaum – ebernbaum@mountain.org, Jeremy Spoon –  jspoon@mountain.org, jspoon@pdx.edu

Method:

1. Ice Breaker:  What is your most intense and inspiring mountain experience?
2. PowerPoint Presentation ‘The Heights of Inspiration: Integrating Spiritual and Cultural Perspectives into Interpretation at National Parks’
3. What is Culture? What is Cultural Representation? What is Cross-Cultural Communication? What is ethnocentrism?  What is Bias?  Cross-Cultural Communication and Diversity Awareness Role Playing Exercise
4. Introduction to Geographically Specific Materials and Resources
5. Breakout Groups: Integrating Spiritual and Cultural Content into Current ; Interpretive Programs; Interpretive Hikes; Evening Programs; Visitors Center Programs;
6. Roving Interpretation; Exhibits and Waysides; Other Products and Activities
7. Presentation of Group Proposals
8. Conclusion and Evaluation: The Next Steps

Materials:

1. Spiritual and Cultural Mountain Passages Handout
2. Site-Specific Spiritual and Cultural Mountain Passages Handout
3. Bibliography of Site-Specific Resources
4. Mountains and People, People and Mountains Handbook

A paper about this training was included in “Protected Areas and Spirituality. Proceedings of the First Workshop of the Delos Initiative. Montserrat 2006”. Learn more →

URL: No longer current for this project, the TMI URL is www.mountain.org

Nature, Culture and Management: University undergraduate course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Is part of: Environmental Management Undergraduate Course

Place: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Number of hours/days: 3 hours, one day a week.

Institution/NGO: Rio de Janeiro Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology – IFRJ

Beginning/End: Every year follows the same pattern: One semester from November to March. Next semester, from April to August.

Target group: Undergraduate students of the environmental management course.

Language: Portuguese

Teacher/Contact: Guilherme Cruz de Mendonça. Rua Senador Furtado, 121, Maracaña. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil –  email: guilherme.mendonca@ifrj.edu.br Tel.: 55 21 25355662 and 55 21 965583120 (mobile)

Method: The course is divided in three parts. The first part is dedicated to build a common ground on culture and cultural diversity. Considering that the students have different backgrounds and the majority is not familiar with cultural studies, is relevant to build a common language. Therefore, is this part one discusses what is culture, cultural diversity, arts and heritage. The students must look for examples according to their own interests.

The second part is dedicated to the cultural values of nature and in the other hand how nature is appropriated by these cultural categories. Again, the students must look for the examples.

The third part of the course includes field work. Depending on the budget, students visit several protected areas in Brazil, but also cultural institutions and cultural heritage areas where the students can observe, feel and learn in practice these relationships between nature and culture.

One of the field trips is dedicated to the city of Rio de Janeiro, which is an opportunity to see the relationships of diverse ethnic/social groups with nature, in their own hometown.

Material: There is an open list of readings. Movies, music, literature, photos and other artistic languages.

URL: The course itself has no website (the teacher thinks this is a wonderful idea and will try to created it!). The institution website is www.ifrj.edu.br

Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas: University course for Master students in Madrid, Spain. (Valores culturales y espirituales de los espacios naturales protegidos)

Is part of: Master Programme on Protected Areas from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad de Alcalá & Universidad Complutense (since 2012)

Place: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain

Number of hours/days: 4 hours (plus additional inputs on this topic from other classes)

Institution/NGO: Fundación Interuniversitaria Fernando González Bernáldez in collaboration with EUROPARC-Spain

Beginning – Ending: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,….

Target group: Students enrolled in the Masters Programme: usually between 30-70 people, of which ca. 60-70% are Spaniards and 30-40% Latinamericans.  Most students expect to work in protected areas, some are already working in protected areas, often in governmental agencies.

Language: Spanish

Teacher/contact: Josep-Maria Mallarach – mallarach@silene.es

Method: Standard lectures with PPT presentation + Q & A.

(every year some  students choose to do their Master Thesis on this topic, either in protected areas of Spain or Latin America. In 2005 two Master Thesis are being completed on this topic: Paisaje Protegido Sierra de Santo Domingo, Spain, and Reserva Nacional de Tambotata, Peru. The teacher is the director of the project.

Materials: Summary, recommended readings, PDF of the PPT.

Main reading:  El patrimonio inmaterial: valores culturales y espirituales. Manual para su incorporación en las áreas protegidas. Download →

URL: https://www.uam.es/otros/fungobe/master.htm

Trail of leisure and insight: Nature experience trail for visitors in Rugen, Germany. (Pfrad der Muse und Erkenntnis)

Is part of: Independent activity developed by Steffi Deickert. Combined with other environmental education activities, workshops and conferences held at the nearby International Academy for Nature Conservation of the island of Vilm, of the German Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundersamt für Naturschutz).

Place: Nature Reserve Goor-Muglitz  (80 ha deciduous forest area), located in the core area of the Reserve of Biosphere South-East Rugia, Germany.

Number of hours/days: 3-5 hours, depending on the group or the day.

Institution/NGO: Michael Succow Foundation (private foundation)

Beginning / End: It was established in 2007 and has been operating since then.

Target group: General visitors, student groups, some times participants of the workshops held at the island of Vilm,  etc

Language: Usually German (or English if it is required)

Teacher/Contact: Steffi Deickert, email: s.deickert@natur-beruehrt.de

Method: Guided walk, ca. 5 km long, including practices of silent mindfulness, contemplation and meditation to develop empathy towards nature, particularly towards forests and trees and wilderness. If weather allows it is suggested to walk bear foot. Includes sallow walks and times of stillness. It is based on the emotional and spiritual dimensions.

Materials: Brochure, stations in the field including light markers. Short paper included in “Spiritual Values of Protected Areas of Europe. Workshop Proceedings” 2012, BfN

URL: www.succow-stiftung.de/philosophy.html

Integrating cultural values into protected area design and management training course for conservationists, Global.

Is part of: FFI’s Cultural Values and Conservation Programme. Material developed for a two-day workshop at the Society for Conservation Biology Congress in Auckland, New Zealand in 2012.

Place: Auckland, New Zealand.

Number of days: Two days.

Institution/NGO: Developed for Fauna & Flora International (FFI)

Beginning/End: The 2012 Congress was the only time the course was used in full. The author did an assessment and made some modifications to respond to comments and discovered issues. Mark Infield has used components of the course in short sessions since then.

Target group: Conservation practitioners; 8 young professionals who signed up to the course; multiple nationalities.

Language: English

Teacher/Contact: Mark Infield – mark@infield.nu

Method: Facilitated workshop with sessions covering a range of subjects relevant to culture, values and protected areas; workshop programme included short lectures, discussions, participatory sessions, and a role play.

Materials: A PowerPoint presentation, Facilitator’s’ notes, programme notes. All material is available at the web site of FFI.

URL: http://www.fauna-flora.org/initiative/cultural-values/

Nature and Spirituality, activities offered to the general public in Catalonia, Spain. (Natura i Espiritualitat)

Training module name: Nature and Spirituality (Natura i Espiritualitat)

Is part of: Activities offered by a House of Spirituality managed by a Benedictine (Catholic Monastic) organisation.

Place: Protected Area El Miracle, located in central Catalonia, Spain. Includes a harmonious mosaic of pine forests and agricultural fields located at about 800 m of altitude.

Number of hours/days: Four sessions, one per season, of 2 or 3 days and nights each, a total of 10-12 days.  Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.  Participants are supposed to arrive on Friday evening and leave on Sunday or Monday evening.

Institution/NGO: Casa d’Espiritualitat del Miracle (House of Spirituality) a dependency of the Benedict Monastery of Montserrat.

Beginning/End: 2008-2016

Target group: General public interested. No more than 25 participants are allowed. Several officials related to protected areas of Catalonia, such as the Head of the Parks Service, have participated.

Language: Catalan

Teacher/Contact: Josep-Maria Mallarach, mallarach@silene.es The other team members are: Vicenç Santamaria ,Ramon Ribera-Mariné and Roger Canadell.

Method: Contemplative style, mostly silent, based on the existential immersion on the correspondences between natural cycles: year, moon, day, life, and related attitudes, virtues and symbols. Most activities are done in natural settings, at different times of the day or night, and the rest in different places, including chapels, megaliths, and the house of spirituality itself, where the facilities are located.  Each session includes two hours of participatory poetry reading and interpretation.

Evaluation: An impact evaluation of the course is being done in September 2015 for those that completed it, over 70 people.

Materials: A dossier of 20-30 pages for each session is given to the participants. Each dossier includes a selection of sacred texts, short philosophical texts, poetry, and musical references.

URL: http://www.santuarielmiracle.com/

Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas, course for international master students at the university of Madrid and Cantoblanco, Spain. (Valores culturales y espirituales de los espacios naturales protegidos).

Is part of: Master Programme on Protected Areas from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad de Alcalá & Universidad Complutense.

Place: Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain.

Number of hours / days: 4 hours.

Institution/NGO: Fundación Interuniversitaria Fernando González Bernáldez.

Beginning year: 2012.

Target group: Students of the Masters Programme between 30-70 people (70% Spaniards, 30% Latin-Americans).  Most students expect to work in protected areas, some are already working in protected areas.

Language: Spanish

Teacher/contact: Josep-Maria Mallarach, email: mallarach@silene.es

Method: Standard lectures with PPT presentation + Q & A. (Some students choose to do their Thesis on this topic)

Materials: Summary, recommended readings, PDF of the PPT.

Main reading:  El patrimonio inmaterial: valores culturales y espirituales. Manual para su incorporación en las áreas protegidas. Download →

URL: https://www.uam.es/otros/fungobe/master.htm

Vision Quest and dancing with Pueblo Saraguro for the general public in Susudel, Ecuador.

Is part of: Zhurak pamba.

Place: Susudel, Ecuador. Similar practices are offered in several American countries, including México, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, as well as some European countries such as Spain.

Number days: Around 15 days, including preparation and closing. The days of the actual ritual may vary from 4 to 13.

NGO: Zhurak Pamba. Fuego Sagrado de Itzachilatlan del Mayab (FSI). Vision quests in Zhurac, are led by Saraguros indigenous leaders from South Ecuador.

Beginning/End: Usually are organised around the equinoxes and solstices.

Target group: the general public or professionals. Children, youths, adults, and elders may participate. People from very different professional background, including officials from environmental administrations participate in some countries.

Language: Spanish / English.

Teacher: Taita Alejo Valdivieso, tel. 0991196230.

Contact: María Augusta Almeida Ferri, Geographer, Msc. Management of Protected Areas, Email: augustaalmeidaferri@gmail.com, Skype: augustaalmeidaferri

Method: It is a traditional practice which combines ancestral knowledge with the sacred dimension of life. The four main values to acquire are humility, will, sincerity and integrity.

Vision quest includes fasting of water, food and talk for 4, 7, 9 or 13 days, depending on the personal process. Duration varies: It normally lasts 4 days the 1st year; 7 days the 2^nd year, 9 days the 3^rd year and 13 days the 4^th year.

Dancing is done with water, food and talk fasting, even when dancing all day and night.

Materials: 365 tobacco prayers, 7 wood sticks, 7 flags (red, yellow, black, white, blue, green, purple) plus additional 52 tobacco prayers.

URL: https://www.facebook.com/zhurac.pamba | http://fsimayab.blogspot.mx/p/busqueda-de-vision.html