Leadership and Nature

As the group had decided to continue the program, it was important to write a letter in behalf of  Amazon Summer School team and participants with details and feelings regarding Bryans’ accident. So, the day began with the whole group splitting to either write the letter or do a painting activity that Isabel offered. At the end of morning the group gathered again to collectively improve the letter and make a final version.

To read the letter, click here.

The afternoon started with Karina Miotto’s class. Karina had been with the whole group since the first day and she was ready to kick off her part of the course.  Karina is master in Holistic Science at Schumacher College.

After the classroom session she led an activity in the forest. Arriving at the trail, she asked the group to collect a “ piece of life” (any item from the forest) as they were walking. Once they reached the heart of the forest, the group was divided into pairs. One was blindfolded! The pair without the blindfold guided the other through the trail, offering her/him some pieces/places to touch or smell. The blindfolded person was then led to a tree and asked to explore it in detail with all their senses except sight.  The person was led back to the path, had their blindfold removed, and was asked to find their tree. Amazingly, everyone could! There were moments of joy and delight as each encountered their tree.

Back in the classroom, Karina asked the group to drawn their piece of life, describe it and reflect upon the piece of life’s connection to leadership. She presented the idea of gaia theory, the great mother that gives birth to everything, and invited participants to offer a dance to the Mother Earth. While Bia was playing the drum, Karina was guiding a meditation.

The day finished with a quick feedback session about Karina’s class.

That night was also a party night. In a neighborhood community fifteen minutes by boat, there was a Rio Negro party and almost all the Amazon Summer School and Tumbira people attended.

It was an opportunity to explore riverine community culture and informally  transition to the next module - Care for People. Music and dancing brought smiles back to many faces.

Outcomes

Tangible

●  Introduction to holistic science

●  Introduction to gaia theory

●  Consideration of personal and global disconnection with nature

●  Observation of nature in silence and blindfolded

●  Reflection about what is the link between nature and leadership

Intangible

●  Built trust with partners in forest exercise

●  Connected with the forest

● Came together as a group through ritual song