ABOUT THE EVENT

Join us for the Rekindling Connection Gathering at Manitoulin Eco Park, an event designed to reignite your deep nature connection and strengthen your ties to the natural world, yourself and each other.

Welcoming both experienced nature enthusiasts and those taking their first steps on this transformative journey. A gathering of friends and soon would-be friends, from far and wide, coming together in nature to resource, regenerate, and reignite our nature mentorship community. Enrich and inspire ourselves and each other through teachings, small group activities, and experiential learning facilitated by Jon Young and Shore Charnoe, and other amazing experts in nature connection mentoring and cultural design.

Moving in harmony with nature's rhythms, allowing you to slow down and fully experience the present moment. Warm your heart and ignite the embers within, carrying the experiences and connections with you on your journey. Here, you'll find a supportive community that understands your deep nature connection role.

Hosted on Manitoulin Island, known as Manidoowaaling,

ᒪᓂᑝᐙᓕᓐᒃ

... in the language of the Anishinaabeg people, where you'll be embraced by the Cave of the Spirit. This island is the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg peoples, including the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi, united as the Three Fires Confederacy for thousands of years. We honor their stewardship of this land which is recognized to be over 10,000 years.

The event taking place on Manitoulin Eco Park & DarkSky nestled in the breathtaking beauty of Manitoulin, the largest freshwater island, spanning 268 acres of tended land, forests, and endless skies. Discover a diverse array of plants, trees, birds, and animals, from playful chipmunks to majestic eagles and black bears. Secluded camping spots and communal group areas provide the perfect settings for connection and reflection.

You can choose to extend your 3-day immersion to take in the opportunity to explore the stunning attractions of Manitoulin Island, from Bridal Falls to Providence Bay's horseshoe-shaped beach, the captivating Cup and Saucer hike, and the pristine lakes and shoreline.

While in gathering, we will experience sustainable, regenerative living and discover a hopeful vision of community living that supports human, ecosystem, and community thriving. This gathering is built upon the time-tested model of Jon Young and other teachings that Shore Charnoe grew up with and learned that support people in connection, who will be leading their first public event since the pandemic. Join us to immerse yourself in their wisdom and expertise.

About the Event:

- Instruction and course materials provided throughout the week

- Onsite camping facilities

Please note that you must bring your own tent, sleeping gear, and camping supplies. A detailed list will be provided upon enrollment confirmation.

Program Dates:

- Arrival: Thursday, September 7th, after 1pm, for camp setup and leisurely island exploration

- Event Start: Friday, September 8th, 12:00pm

- Event Close: Sunday, September 10th, 12:00pm

Rekindling Connection is an invitation to rediscover your deep nature connection and forge lasting bonds within our vibrant community. Join us at Manitoulin Eco Park for a transformative experience that will leave you inspired and connected.

Resources informing and supporting this gathering include:

• Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature - Ellen Haas, Evan McGown, and Jon Young
• Last Child in the Wood - Richard Louv
• The Tracker - Tom Brown Jr. and all of his work
• Podcast with Jon Young and Shore Charnoe
• Repairing emotional isolation by reawakening deep nature connection | Jon Young | TEDxGrandPark - 
• Reconnecting to the Land by Shore Charnoe

During this experience you will learn the following skills, amongst others:

• Five needs: We all need to be Seen, Heard, Belong, Contribute, Be Valued
• Ten stones: Cultural regenerative practices
• Cultural elements
• Core routines and attributes of connection

Some of the Skills we will cover:

• Nature hikes
• Story catching
• Astronomy night
• Fires side story telling
• Expanding your senses - deer ears, owl eyes, dog nose, fox walk

Nature Observation and Awareness Skills:

• Wildlife Tracking
• Bird language, the baseline symphony of nature
• Healthy relational, family and community  dynamics, healing, condolence and peace tending
• and More!

Program Fee

We have various tickets available based on youth, adult and elder. Participants are responsible for their own meals and can eat together in community. 

Limited spots available, please book to reserve your spot.

To book your ferry to Manitoulin Island: https://www.ontarioferries.com/ms-chi-cheemaun/

If this price is a barrier to some who wish to attend we have sliding scale bursaries, work trade options and full scholarships for those who need it. Pleases complete this form.

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

If you have any questions please contact us via the chat box on the bottom right or the contact form on our homepage.

This program is brought to you in collaboration and cooperation with:

• www.manitoulinEcoPark.com Host site
• www.thecircleforchange.com Host program partner

ABOUT THE FACILITATORS

Shore Charnoe: BA (hons), ECE, BSW, RSW

Shore has had a private counseling practice since 1994.  As a traditional counselor, helper, and social worker, she has directed several community clinics and many highly-effective community helping programs. These programs have focused on at-risk youth and have included suicide prevention, apprehension prevention, parenting skills, lifeskills, adoption facilitation and short- and long-term foster care.  She has helped foster, raise and mentor over 100 children.  She is a mother of eleven adopted and biological children and a grandmother of six.  A number of her adoptive children were born with fetal alcohol syndrome and came from abusive homes where they were victims of severe abuse, neglect, and trauma. She has been a consultant for child welfare organizations.

Shore credits much of her effectiveness to the lessons she has learned from over 20 Indigenous Elders. To name just a few specifically:

• She studied for 10 years under the Odawa Medewin Elder Eddie King.
• She took her degree in Indigenous Social Work through First Nations Technical Institute under the direction of Banakonda Kennedy-Kish (Bell) , an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) Elder; Katsitsiase, also known as Betty Maracle, a Bear Clan Grandmother of the Mohawk Nation, Elder and Wisdom Keeper, and Ben Carniol, who was a Holocaust Survivor, social activist and author.
• Shore also studied language and traditional stories with Basil Johnson, an Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) Elder.

Shore’s unique gift and skill is her ability to make the lessons she learned from these and many other Elders accessible to others. She has a deep gratitude and love for all the Elders and their teachings.

Jon Young: Author, Village Builder, Nature Connection Mentor

For over 40 years, Jon Young has been a leader in the field of nature-based education, implementing vital advancements in the understanding and benefits of effective nature connection modeling. Jon is a deep nature connection mentor, wildlife tracker, peacemaker, author, workshop leader, consultant, inspiring public speaker and storyteller.

Jon Young has appeared as an expert in numerous documentaries concerning nature and ecology and travels to teach widely throughout North America, Europe, Australia and southern Africa. He has authored and co-authored several seminal works on deep nature connection and connection mentoring, including What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World (2013), and Coyote's Guide to Connecting to Nature (2007).

In 2016, he received the Champion of Environmental Education Award for his innovative work, which has inspired positive developments in the field, and fostered the growth of the nature connection movement on a global level. Jon appeared as a presenter at Notre Dame University’s Center for Social Concerns Sustainable Wisdom Conference (2016) and contributed a chapter to the text from the proceedings entitled Indigenous Sustainable Wisdom: First-Nation Know-How for Global Flourishing (2019).