Reconnecting with Nature Retreat – Wendy Foden

“The world grows smaller and smaller, more and more interdependent…
today more than ever before life must be characterised by a sense of Universal Responsibility,
not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.”
– His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama

Those working to care for nature face a distinct suite of challenges. Love of nature is the foundation of what we do, but we’re often behind computers, confined in cities, and grappling with the day-to-day decline of the places and creatures we love. How do we find ways to nurture ourselves, rekindle our passion for nature, and continue our work with vitality and joy?

Programme

Our weekend retreat is for anyone who feels the need for rest, reconnection and recharging. In the beautiful setting of the Tara Rokpa Centre, we’ll spend time tending to ourselves through meditation, mindful movement, quietness, eating delicious and healthy vegetarian meals, chatting round the campfire and walking in the beautiful Groot Marico veld. Through self-reflection and group sessions, we’ll explore some of the shared and individual challenges Environment Carers face, as well as how we can reconnect to nature’s fundamental elements. We’ll have the opportunity to explore our personal missions, strategies for nurturing ourselves and finding the support that each us needs.

Through the rest, care, good company and time in nature, we aim to help you to recharge your batteries. We also hope the time together will help you to build support and connectedness within our growing Environment Carer community. While the beautiful Groot Marico environment makes feeding a love of nature easy, we hope that it also creates ongoing momentum for you to tend to yourself with care, and to thrive in your valuable work.

The Facilitator

Dr Wendy Foden is a Conservation Biologist and Senior Researcher at the University of Stellenbosch. She chairs the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Climate Change Specialist Group. In addition, she teaches Conservation Leadership at the University of Cape Town. Wendy’s experiences, including 7 years in the NGO and academic sectors in Cambridge, UK, led to strong personal and observed experiences of burnout and fatigue, as well as of vitality, passion and dynamism. She leads this retreat out of a strong desire to help others to care for themselves as well as for nature.

Wendy Foden has recently presented “Reconnect with Nature to Tackle Climate Change” in a TEDx talk. Click here to view.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead.

Food: delicious and healthy vegetarian food is provided.

Bring: swimming costumes; walking shoes; sunhats and sunblock; beer, wine or other beverages for around the camp fire.

Cost: covers food and accommodation costs for the weekend, and travel cost for the facilitator. Donations for the teaching are welcome and will go to the Tikologo permaculture project.

Single room with shared bathroom: R1740
Double en suite: R1520 per person
Twin/double with shared bathroom: R1300
Dormitory: R1080

For general retreat information, please click here