In the Heart of Nature - Rooting

​"How to reconnect to the Living? To your inner Nature and to what surrounds us? From inside to outside, from outside to inside, we propose to dive in a journey being touched by what is already there with a deep listening. In the Heart of Nature training course wants to open news doors to better understand yourself and the environment in order to build news abilities of being a youth leader with an embodied and empowered attitude."

Why? In today’s fast-changing world, young people face increasing challenges, including social exclusion, radicalization risks, and mental health struggles. In The Heart Of Nature responds to these challenges by integrating nature-based education and somatic practices into youth work. These approaches, supported by research on the benefits of nature and holistic well-being, enhance participants’ ability to support young people in finding balance, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging.

​ROOTING TRAINING COURSE

Rooting invites you to the encounter with yourself as an inseparable part of the living world. This training explores the interplay between the inner and outer landscapes, using nature and embodiment as mirrors to guide personal growth.

In this first training, participants are called to slow down, listen deeply, and rediscover the forgotten wisdom held in their bodies and the Earth. By stepping away from the clamor of daily life and into the rhythms of the natural world, we’ll awaken to what it means to be fully alive—rooted, embodied, and attuned to the intelligence of the more-than-human world.

The project unfolds in two phases, ROOTING and BRANCHING, each designed to distinct aspects of personal and professional development. 

This project will happen in the eco-village of the Oasis des âges, and we will have some moments during the training course where we will share with them community work (gardening, ecobuilding, etc...). We believe that this is fully part of the immersive experience of this specific training, in order to better understand the Living in alls its shapes, to move towards a more ecological way of living together, with this intention of being in connection with Nature through body, heart and mind. 

Keys outcomes:

• A deeper understanding of yourself, your emotions, and your connection to the environment.
• Tools to foster self-confidence and resilience.​
• Techniques for applying embodiment and nature-based approaches in educational and social settings.
• This phase lays a strong foundation for personal growth, enabling you to inspire  others with authenticity and empathy.

In this training course you will experience:

• ​Embodiment Practices: Learn to inhabit your body fully, exploring how movement, breath, voice and sensory awareness enhance your sense of self and your ability to be with others.
• Among these practices there will be Contact Improvisation, Authentic Movement, Community Singing, Scores for Improvisation, Playfight.​​​
• Nature-Based Exploration: Engage with guided activities that use the natural world as a mirror for reflection and growth. From solitary walks to shared group exercises, participants will explore their place within larger ecosystems​​​
• ​Personal Grounding: Work with simple yet powerful tools for centering and grounding, helping you navigate your inner landscape with clarity and curiosity.​​
• ​Meaningful Reflection: Through journaling, dialogue, and quiet observation, make connections between your experiences in nature and your personal or professional journey.​​
• ​Community work: Share moments with the community with gardening and ecobuilding to learn ecological processes and cultivate a joyful collective way of acting for the Living.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

ROOTING is distinctly designed as a personal development training course, providing participants with the opportunity to deepen their self-awareness and explore their inner resources in a setting that nurtures introspection and personal transformation. ROOTING focuses on cultivating the individual’s sense of self, emotionally, mentally, and physically, through embodied practices and immersive experiences in nature. The goal is not only to foster self-discovery but also to build a strong, grounded foundation from which participants can later engage with others more authentically and effectively.

The following training course (that will happen from 17th to 29th of September 2025) BRANCHING, will incorporate an extra layer of analysis and reflection on how to integrate these transformative practices into the youth work frame.

Who is this training for ? 

The training is designed for social workers, volunteers, leaders, teachers, and coaches. It aims to transmit skills for a strong connection between individuals, their bodies, and their environment to implement into our daily work as well as our personal lives and to the greater world

You can apply to this training if you are resident and traveling from (and to) France, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Greece and Germany. 

Participants must be over 18 years and must be able to understand and communicate in English, so they can participate fully in a program that will be held in English.

We expect you to participate in the whole program. It means coming later or leaving earlier is not allowed. Also, prepare for an intensive experience with at least 6 hours of activities every day!

IMPORTANT NOTE : A training course is not a vacation or a nearly cost-free spiritual retreat, nor is it a place for personal therapy sessions. The training course is meant to be dynamic learning adventure where you’ll immerse yourself in intensive growth, both personally and professionally. It’s about seizing the opportunity to absorb new skills and insights, ready to give back to the world with fresh perspectives and expertise.

This training is for you if you are willing to: 

• spend time outdoor, move, play, walk and dance.
• go out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. 
• improve your facilitator/trainer skills.
• acquire new tools and ideas for your job and your daily life.
• open yourself in order to share your own skills and learn new ones.
• commit to this work during the whole duration of the project, dissemination and follow-up included.
• empower yourself with the support and the care of the group.

Working methods

You will learn by doing ! This will be a collective experience in which everyone will have to invest. The course will be anchored in the sharing of ideas, opinions, experiences and practices. Joining us will be an opportunity to share and gain confidence in your own skills and experiences.

Also, bear in mind that previous experiences with dance and singing practices are not needed to attend the training.

FULL INFOPAGE