A hub of nature and earth-based learning
Our society is moving further away from our earth-based ancestry into an increasingly digital, mechanized and isolationist culture. This disconnection and loss of community is causing stress, unhappiness and ecological destruction. For many, there is a feeling of being lost or adrift due to the separation from nature and our tribe.
Nature Connection School is a place you can go to unplug from the modern world in a supportive and nourishing environment. A place where you can remember what your body and what younger children already know – that we are inextricably part of nature.
When we connect with nature, our nervous systems relax and come into resonance with the natural vibrations and intrinsic aliveness. Nature is a place our bodies know so well and as we spend time with less outside influence, we start to feel safer and nourished at a subconscious level, creating a sense of wellbeing. Our role is to help you remember what most of us have forgotten or simply have not been taught – the joy of being alive and deeply connected to nature.
We’ll gather on Gumbayngirr Country for a full day of nature, connection and ancestral activities. We’ll share an evening around the campfire, telling stories, and feeling connected from our day – just like we have for thousands of years!
nature connection school
Upcoming Nature Connection School days
10am - 5pm, Saturday 5 April 2025, Northern NSW (extend your experience with camping under the stars by adding a camping pass below!).
In this workshop you will have the opportunity to reclaim the lost skill of ancestral fire-making - an essential skill for the survival of human communities.
Our ancestors revered and respected fire, regarding this elemental ally as a great teacher. There is so much we can learn here.
We are all descended from tribal earth-based cultures, these skills are in our DNA. Let’s wake up the power of your wild side, you will be surprised at how good this feels.
Guided by Lawrence, you will:
Learn how to create fire by friction using the hand drill technique 🔥
Craft a personal fire kit to take home 😁
Learn basic carving skills and knife safety✨
Why are we learning to make fire?
Fire reconnects us with our elemental self, reminds us that we are part of nature and hopefully helps us nurture our internal flame through a relationship with external fire 🔥
Fire is an integral part of our existence: the fire of the sun heats our world, fire cooks the food we eat, and the fire in our bodies keeps us alive 🔥
When there is no effort or skill, it’s very easy to take it for granted and become disconnected from one of the great sources of life on this planet.
Come and join us for a great day! The program will run as follows:
Opening ceremony - start our day together with intention, acknowledge Country and introduce ourselves to the Gumbayngirr land we will meet on.
Philosophy of fire: our ancestors revered and respected fire.
Learn the basics of the technique.
Discuss the plant materials that can be used to create fire.
Fire by friction: hand drill demonstration.
Make your own fire-making kit
Hand drill practice session: a direct experience of this ancestral skill in small groups.
How was this experience for you? A chance to share your experience with the group.
Closing ceremony - gratitude to the land and element of fire.
You will need to bring a fixed blade knife, with a sheaf, aprox 10cm blade. Please check in with me if you need to borrow one, limited available.
What is Nature Connection School?
Nature Connection School is a place you can go to unplug from the modern world in a supportive and nourishing environment. A place where you can remember what your body and what younger children already know – that we are inextricably part of nature.
Location: Locality of Diehard, 2370 northern NSW. 2 hours from Grafton and 50 minutes from Glen Innes. Directions to the site and further details will be supplied upon booking.
Children aged 0-8 years attend free! Please note all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and remain their responsibility.
Camping passes can be added below.
10am - 5pm, Saturday 8 March 2025, Northern NSW (extend your experience with camping under the stars by adding a camping pass below!).
Step out of the ordinary and awaken your wild side – join us for a transformative journey at Nature Connection School!
In a world shaped by comfort, convenience, and the pursuit of safety, it’s easy to forget that our bodies and minds were not built for suburbia, climate control, and concrete. Beneath the surface of our modern lives lies a primal, untamed wisdom—an inherent wildness that has been honed over hundreds of thousands of years. Do you ever feel like something is missing, a longing for a deeper connection with the world around you?
Let’s venture back in time, rekindling the skills and senses our ancestors relied on to thrive in a world far more unpredictable than our own. Imagine moving silently through the undergrowth, every sense heightened as you search for food while remaining alert to danger. What would it be like to experience the world in such an instinctual, visceral way?
As you tap into this ancient awareness, you’ll unlock the rich, timeless wisdom embedded in your DNA—a treasure trove of survival skills and natural instincts passed down through generations. This workshop is your opportunity to rediscover that profound connection, to feel alive and in sync with the living world around you 🌿✨
What to Expect:
Opening Ceremony: We’ll begin our day with intention, acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land—the Gumbaynggirr people—and introducing ourselves to the sacred ground we are meeting on.
The Living World Philosophy: We’ll explore the contrast between a Western/colonial mindset and an earth-based cultural way of being. Learn how to reorient your perspective to one that honors the interconnectedness of all life.
Nature Connection Practices: Through guided practices, you’ll reawaken your innate ability to connect deeply with nature, expand your awareness, and rekindle your joy in the living world.
Earthing: Feel the earth beneath your bare feet, grounding yourself. You’ll not only experience the tactile sensations of the earth but also align your body’s electrical charge with that of the Earth itself.
Animal Mindfulness: Learn to quiet your mind and sharpen your senses, experiencing the world as other animals do.
Fox Walking and Wide-Angle Vision: Our modern environment has tamed the way we move and perceive the world. Rediscover the art of fox walking and wide-angle vision, techniques that allow you to move silently in your surroundings with heightened awareness.
Reflection and sharing: Throughout the day, you’ll have ample opportunities to reflect on and share your experiences. What did you notice? What did you learn? These moments of sharing will deepen your understanding and reinforce your connection to the group and the land.
Closing Ceremony: We’ll conclude our journey with a closing ceremony, offering gratitude to the land, our ancestors, and the wild nature within us all.
This workshop offers more than just a day in nature—it’s an invitation to reconnect with the ancient wisdom within you, to remember who you truly are in the context of a living, breathing planet.
Whether you’re seeking to deepen your connection with nature or simply yearning for a break from the demands of modern life, this experience will leave you feeling rejuvenated, inspired, and profoundly aware of the wildness that still pulses within us all 🌿✨🔥
What is Nature Connection School?
Nature Connection School is a place you can go to unplug from the modern world in a supportive and nourishing environment. A place where you can remember what your body and what younger children already know – that we are inextricably part of nature.
Location: Locality of Diehard, 2370 northern NSW. 2 hours from Grafton and 50 minutes from Glen Innes. Directions to the site and further details will be supplied upon booking.
Children aged 0-8 years attend free! Please note all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and remain their responsibility.
Camping passes can be added below.
at nature connection school You’ll experience:
Nature connection practices
Skills that reawaken your ability to connect deeply and easily with nature, expanding your awareness and enjoyment of the living world.
Sit spots
Time spent at a spot in nature in observation and curiosity about the natural world.
Fox walking
Imitating a predator or prey, moving silently and with awareness of everything around you.
Earthing
Spending time barefoot, feeling the sensations through your feet and earthing your electrical charge to be aligned with the Earth.
Tracking
Observing animal tracks, hoping to understand who made them, where they were going and why.
Bird language
Learn to understand what the birds are saying. They can tell you so much about what’s happening around you in nature, all animals listen to them!
Ancestral skills
We are all descended from tribal earth-based cultures. These skills are in our DNA, and as you start to wake them up, you will be surprised at how much pleasure they can bring. Learn to make fire by friction, fiber craft and basket weaving, and bush shelter building.
Nature-based games and importantly – a lot of fun!
Wild awareness practices
Discover levels of awareness far beyond what the modern world believes is possible. Learn how to quieten your mind and focus your awareness on nature to experience the world the way other animals do.
Plants are amazing!
Learn about how plants can help us live, thrive and survive. A deeper understanding of the plant world can change our perspective and increase our connection to nature.
Philosophy of the living world
Learn a different and freeing perspective. At school we are taught we are separate from nature – even our language “going into nature” suggests this. Our perspective is this: we are inextricably part of the living world, children of mother earth, made of stardust (literally!). When this part of us is ignored, we can feel lost and adrift, looking for something we don’t have a name for. Maybe it's time to come home 🙂
Digital detox
Take a break from the modern world through limited phone reception and a shared agreement to turn devices off for the weekend.
We’ve all seen the increased reliance on the digital world over the last 10-15 years, causing further separation from nature and mother Earth. We understand the need to use technology in our modern world. But what’s not being offered or even really talked about is tech addiction, and how to provide opportunities for people – especially those under 25 – to have a break.
It’s so much easier to take a tech break when you’re doing something amazing, like learning new skills and connecting with nature and others. This time away from screens might even translate back into your regular life and shift the technology-nature balance a bit!
I am a father of four daughters, I get it! I’m also an addiction and recovery coach, and a nature connection instructor. I have the skills to help in this area.
When you take the time to connect and play with like-minded, supportive humans, you feel amazing, and an ancient, very wise part of you starts to wake up. A light in your eyes and a childlike wonder returns. You may even look years younger!
All of this magic happens on our beautiful property on Gumbayngirr country, northern NSW, surrounded by national parks and state forests.
50km’s from the nearest town, nestled in a beautiful mountain valley. Our only neighbors are the local wildlife – kangaroos, wallaroos, wallabies, echidnas, bandicoots, platypus, goannas, endangered ring-tailed rock wallabies, abundant birdlife, microbats, and so much more! It’s an incredibly diverse region, with rainforest pockets to rocky escarpments and over 8km of river frontage.
important information
Location
Locality of Diehard, 2370 northern NSW. 2 hours from Grafton and 50 minutes from Glen Innes.
Age
Nature Connection School is open to everyone: adults, families and children. Children under 16 must have an accompanying adult. Activities are designed for adults and children above the age of 8. Children under this age are welcome but remain the responsibility of parents. Often we’ll end up with a few kids playing together! We’re creating a mini village and children are very much a part of this too.
Food and facilities
Camping areas, flush and bush toilets, drinking water, and a small camp kitchen are available. These days/weekends are self-catered so please bring enough food for yourself and family for the entire duration.
Accommodation
Please bring your own tents and camping gear. You are welcome to arrive on Friday evening through to Sunday for an additional small fee. Enjoy an evening or two around the fire and really drop into the land that holds us!
Weather
Our property is in a beautiful high mountain valley. In the summer we enjoy hot days with cooler evenings.spring and autumn are beautiful. In winter we see lovely, clear skies Cold at night but awesome round the fire! Beautiful, starry skies all year round. No light pollution and elevated altitude – a great combo!
The importance of Indigenous connection and respect for the land
We are located on Gumbayngirr Country, not far from the border of Ngoorabul Country. At the head of a valley which sits just below the tablelands, traditionally this valley was one of the main access points for travel from the coast to the tablelands. As such I am told that it was considered a meeting place due to its geographic location and – depending on the time of year – would have had plentiful food supplies, making it a good place to stop during travel or meet for ceremony.
All the land we are on is Indigenous land. For me to live and offer programs on this land, it has been essential to spend time building relationships with members of the Indigenous peoples.
Through these relationships, I hope that what I offer is in alignment with the principles of the Traditional Custodians.
I am inviting people into a deeper relationship and connection with the land. Helping people to remember they are part of nature and belong here. I believe this helps people feel respect and gratitude for the living world, which I feel is a step in the right direction. As a mentor of mine used to say, it's about “doing things in a good way”.
Pricing
Nature Connection School (daytime only)
Adults (17yrs+)- $100 per day
Children (9 - 16yrs) - $50 per day
Younger children (0 - 8yrs) - free
Family price - $225 per day
All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and remain their responsibility.
Camping
$20 per person, per night
Younger children camp free
Family price - $50 per night
bookings
Or fill out the interest form below if you would like to connect for a chat first. Directions to the site and further details will be supplied upon booking.