Urban Rewilding Course

Are you longing to experience a deeper sense of connection to the place, plants and animals where you live? To feel a sense of belonging to a wild community – even in the city? 

Join experienced facilitator and Rewilder, Claire Dunn for a deep dive into Urban Rewilding. The Urban Rewilding course is an 8 week program exploring the skills, practices and philosophy of Rewilding and deep nature connection. There will be an opportunity to deepen your own ecological literacy and learn ancient skills of survival including foraging, tracking and fire making.

The Urban Rewilder invites us to experientially explore skills and practices that cultivate a sense of intimacy with the ‘wild’ within an urban context.  In this ‘age of separation,’ it is our important that we return to a more meaningful connection with the wider natural world, especially for the majority of us who live in the city. 

You will gain access to effective and ancient techniques and knowledge in order to enable a profound connection with nature, ourselves and with each other.

The course will be delivered at CERES and will include excursions to Westerfolds Park, Darebin Parklands and Point Cook Coastal Park. 

You can book the 8 week course or separate days as workshops. See links in the session information

Session Outline

Session 1 Deep Nature Connection Practices

An introduction into the core routines of deep nature connection including natural movement, wide awareness, sensory expansion and sit spot.

Session 2  Coastal foraging

Guest facilitator Christine Rockley, a self-taught expert on edible seaweeds, will takes us on a delicious mystery tour of Melbourne’s edible coastline. 

Session 3 Holistic tracking

An introduction to the art and science of holistic tracking during an excursion to Westerfold Park

Session 4 Traditional earth skills – Fire-by-friction and coal-burnt spoon whittling

Learn the art of ‘hand-drill’ fire making and whittling and burning a spoon from your first fire.

Session 5  Wild edibles

A wild foraging wander for native and introduced edible plants. Session include sharing a foraged wild lunch. 

Session 6 Wild Mind

An introduction to the philosophy and practice of eco-psychology 

Session 7 Natural Crafts – Basket Weaving

Begin your own traditional hand-woven basket using natural materials and learn the principles of the ‘honourable harvest’

Session 8 Urban Rewilding Adventure Challenge

A grand treasure and challenge adventure to celebrate and test your newfound rewilding skills!

A certificate of participation will be issued upon completion of at least 75% of the course.

What to expect

• Expert CERES Facilitators providing hands-on practical experience balanced with theory covering a variety of rewilding and eco-psychology topics.
• Practices cultivating sensitivity to the land and ecological literacy such as bird language, sit spots, natural movement and awareness, tracking and foraging.

• Introduction to natural crafts and traditional earth skills such as fire-by-friction, cordage, basketry, whittling, plant and animal knowledge etc.
• Dedicated space at CERES to put learning into practice.

What to bring

• Comfortable enclosed shoes/boots
• Appropriate weather gear eg sunhat
• 3 Inch non-serrated whittling knife
• Binoculars (optional)
• Pen and paper
• Lunch
• Enthusiasm to learn