Nurtured by Nature

Workshop: “Seeing the Forest Through the Eyes of the Native American” 

Join Mark for an interactive hike through the woods as the familiar will be elevated to the unique. You will explore the use of wild plants as food and medicine while beginning to understand the abundance native cultures found in the pre-columbus landscape. These are resources that we can still find today if we know where to look and take the time to do so. 

Bio:

Mark Warren is an award winning author, environmental educator, historian, and outdoorsman. In 1980 he designed and taught Georgia’s first statewide environmental education workshops for public schools. That year Mark was named Georgia’s Conservation Educator of the year by the National Wildlife Federation. Since that time he has spent his years helping kids, adults, and communities connect with nature and learn about all the outdoors has to teach. Mark owns Medicine Bow Wilderness School in the Southern Appalachians of Dahlonega, GA where he teaches primitive skills, nature connection and the history of the Cherokee people. Mark has extensive knowledge on all of these subjects, including western frontier history, and writes for different publications while also touring the country for speaking engagements. We are very excited to have him as our Keynote Speaker and presenter. 

Workshop: “Nature and Emotional Regulation”

Nature is a powerful source of connection and grounding. When we foster a relationship with nature and make it a priority to spend time in nature, we are healthier and happier humans. Join me on a journey to understand emotional regulation, what it looks like when someone is dysregulated, and how time in nature can help you stay regulated. You will deepen your understanding of emotions, participate in experiences that allow connection to nature, and walk away with knowledge and tools to support yourself and others in the work you do. 

Bio:

Rebecca Drage has worked with children and families for over 20 years in schools, camps, and community-based programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development and a master’s in Special Education. Rebecca is a nature enthusiast who has spent her life outdoors. She describes nature as a source of connection, meaning, and healing and is passionate about helping others to deepen their relationship with nature. For the past 10 years, she has completed various nature-based trainings and is certified as a forest educator through the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools. In 2020, Rebecca developed and implemented a forest kindergarten program for a private school in Roswell and established a multiage nature-based program of her own in 2022. She now resides in Cedartown, Ga where she is working to bring nature-based education to her community through her work with Kindred Nature Foundation. We are excited to have Rebecca as a presenter and host for this conference!

Workshop: “Teaching with Fire and Storytelling” 

Fire has been an important part of human civilization for millennia and has meant many different things to people along the way. Beyond cooking, we can use fire to help others ground, connect to nature and connect to themselves. Fire provides warmth, but it also inspires a sense of safety, which is a great place to teach from. Come and join us as we learn how to build a fire while talking about the importance of this element. While doing so we will also tell some stories (what is a campfire without a story). Stories were our first teachers and continue to be some of our best teachers. From social and moral teachings to mathematics, literature, and science, the uses of a good story are infinite. We will discuss the many benefits of storytelling, varied techniques and some resources for you to utilize in your work and everyday life. 

Bio:

Warren Lee is a farmer, educator, storyteller and designer. Warren has 14 years of experience working with kids as a camp counselor and in the classroom. He has a masters in Sustainable Design with additional certificates in various farming practices and design disciplines. The importance of connecting to the natural world around us is a theme that runs through all of Warren’s teaching, farming and design philosophy. Currently a farmer near Rome, Ga he is always thinking about how best to connect kids and communities to nature. Warren believes stories play an important part in this connection, helping us connect to nature, ourselves, and our community while providing important lessons and insights for living. We are excited to welcome Warren as a presenter and host of the conference!

Workshop: “Using Yoga to Understand our Connection to Nature”

Nature is our greatest teacher, and through yoga, we learn to listen to the natural wisdom of our body and breath. This session will explore how the practice of yoga mirrors the lessons of the natural world—teaching us awareness, balance, and connection. Together, we’ll dive into practical techniques for integrating these teachings into daily life and educational settings. Explore how to use yoga to engage the senses, calm the mind, and inspire a sense of wonder across a variety of ages. Join us for this hands-on journey of self-discovery and harmony, as we bridge the wisdom of yoga and nature to nurture ourselves and those we guide!

Bio:

Andrea Laubstein is a holistic educator, yoga teacher, and teacher trainer. She developed a children’s yoga teacher training course in collaboration with ‘Yogapoint India’, which she facilitates internationally and online. She has studied and taught yoga in India and the US for the last 10 years and spent two years teaching kindergarten at Roong Aroon School in Bangkok, Thailand.  Andrea and her husband, Camden Vancil, now run “Roots of Life, Where Living is Learning,” a holistic and nature-based program for homeschool children ages 4-12 in Carrollton, GA. Andrea also teaches yoga and dance for children and adults at the Carrollton Center for the Arts and we are excited to welcome her to the conference!