Why I bother
On most days, it seems to me that we are all very hard at work, contentiously destroying all other forms of life sharing this planet with us.
But there is a movement. Some talk about rewilding, about functioning landscapes and nature restauration and recovery. Others invite biodiversity back on their piece of land and call it extensive agriculture or punk-gardening. There is a movement of humans making space for nature. It’s here, it’s growing and it’s deliciously irresistible.
Going wild, seriously is a cog in that movement. It helps people nurture their will and capacity to act for nature restauration.
Let’s walk together
In practice, it is a walk. You, me and other people, walking together. As we progress, we make time for joyous and serious breaks: simple interactive moments of learning, reflection and creation.
In very short | Objectives | ||
0 | You’re here! | We gather for a small talk | • Make everyone feel welcome
• Explain the flow and set expectations
• Set the tone |
1 | It’s happening | 3 little tactile group games throw us into the heart of biodiversity loss, a complex, emotional and somewhat distressing topic.
A gloomy stage is set, but as we continue the walk, the tension will unravel and a lot of space will be made for hope and to build capacity to act. | • Disorient participants: throw them directly in the heart of the topic. Show that things are genuinely bad … and getting worse.
• Absorb high level orders of magnitudes on biodiversity loss. Show that it is real, ongoing, getting worse and worrying.
• Also realise that humans have always had an impact on nature. |
2 | Gut feelings | In a tactile way, participants are invited to share how they feel about these (new) facts and insights about biodiversity loss and nature destruction.
In doing so, they reflect on their intuitions and emotional reactions and connect with the others in the group. | • Uncover and voice our personal connections to the topic - “This entire thing makes me feel good/bad/stressed … or leaves me indifferent”
• Create an emotional bond between participants - “We’re in this together in a sense, I know how other people feel and I know them better”
• Releases some of the negative emotions that might have built up following the first interaction - “OK, I’m not the only one that is lost, confused or frustrated here” |
3 | We all agree, right? | Through a collaborative (and difficult) card classification game, we discover to which extent our lives very literally depend on functioning natural systems and biodiversity. We are embedded in them and depend on them, just to survive.
At the same time we realise that we might hold different and partially conflicting priorities when it comes to combating biodiversity loss: do we want to save species? or individuals? Should food be as cheap as possible? Or maybe, the most important thing is to protect our cultural landscapes?
In the wrap-up, we explore how these different priorities translate in tangible actions. | • Understand how our lives are connected to biodiversity and natural systems
• Realise that “saving nature” means different things to different people
• Start mapping some of the numerous nature restauration options we have at our disposal |
4 | The nature of nature | We start by observing nice photos of sceneries and landscapes.
This leads us to realise that the places we call “nature”, those who inspire us, bring us to contemplate or trigger a sense of wonder … are almost always heavily marked by human intervention.
The beauty we find in nature is not a beauty untouched by humans. | • Break the hopeless vision that we have lost paradise, that humans are destroying a virgin territory. Humans just like any other living being (and the forces of nature) shape nature, sometimes violently. That’s what nature is
• Putting aside blame and despair by showing that nature can be recovered, if we let it |
5 | Nature is back | We are invited to start their own nature restauration project … on paper, for now.
Using creativity and a few hints, we rewild and bring nature back by drawing on pictures. | • Learn about the basics of rewilding and nature restauration, about natural processes
• Realise that it can be quite simple and applies to different scales
• Learn about the drivers of biodiversity loss and how they can be fought |
6 | Recoverable earth | Nature restoration and rewilding are as ambitious as they are effective. How does it look like, in practice?
We build up our capacity to act by watching inspiring videos and 7learning about those at the forefront of these innovative land use practices. | • Realise that nature restauration is practical, already happening and a real solution to nature degradation
• Showcase positive and pragmatic stories of hope |
7 | You can’t unlearn this | Instead we close with a pointed question and by handing over takeaways to help everyone continue their learning journey. | • Express gratitude
• Give an impulse and the tools to continue the learning experience |
Raising awareness is useless
No kidding, simply raising awareness about an issue is not enough to make a change.
That’s why Going wild, seriously is heavily inspired by the principles of transformative and experiential learning.
Participants are not taught. They are not expected to simply absorb new facts and act on them, like rational machines. Instead, they update their assumptions and attitudes through a process of self-discovery and exploration.
This happens through different steps:
- Experiencing an unusual situation: the workshop doesn’t stick to the participant’s usual idea of a workshop.
- Critically assessing assumptions: we invite participants to critically reflect on their existing knowledge, through personal questions and interactions.
- Acquiring new knowledge: by interacting with their peers and through authentic stories, participants gain access to new information that helps them update their prior knowledge.
- Exploring options for new roles: the playful and cooperative experience helps participants show vulnerability and opens the possibility for change.