Guides for Outdoor Program Leaders We have been collecting cool resources and clips over the years in our private Wild Craft Play 'sCool Community Facebook page. When you visit, you wanna go to "Guides" at the top and have a look at our plethora of resources. https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildcraftplayscool

We have many skills, and can offer support in many ways, but instead of putting it all out thereWhat do you need support with? And if you don't see an option in the poll, go ahead and share below.

We’re so glad you’re here. Come on into our comfy room, take a seat, would you like a cup of tea? ;) This is a safe place for people who believe that fun can change the world. Inside this community we are exploring how play, nature, creativity, and imagination can help build resilient youth, thriving communities, and a deeper connection to the Earth. Whether you are: 🌲 Starting an outdoor program🧭 Learning how to lead adventures 🎭 Becoming a Certified Wild Craft Play Facilitator 🤝 Supporting youth and community initiatives 💡 Or simply curious about what we’re building here ... you are in the right place. Here you’ll find: ✨ Practical training ✨ Ideas you can actually implement ✨ Support from others doing similar work ✨ A growing movement of people who believe fun is powerful 👋 First Things First Introduce yourself below and tell us: 1️⃣ Where you're joining from 2️⃣ What brings you here 3️⃣ One fun activity you love doing outdoors We can’t wait to meet you. Let’s build something amazing together.

Whether you're leading a forest school, running a nature program, guiding youth through wilderness, or simply showing up week after week for kids who need the outdoors, you are doing some of the most important work there is. And yet, so much of what you carry as a leader, you carry quietly. The uncertainty. The hard days. The parent who questions your every move. The kid who pushes every boundary. The moments when you wonder if you're doing it right, or if you even want to keep doing it at all. Earth Guides exists because you deserve a place to put that down. A Community Built for People Who Lead Outside This is a private, members-only space for outdoor educators, nature guides, camp leaders, and anyone who takes others, especially young people, into the wild world. Our content is rooted in youth programming, but the wisdom here is deeply transferable to anyone who leads in nature, at any age, with any population. We are inclusive, welcoming, and real. All walks of life. All experience levels. All the questions you've been afraid to ask out loud. Who Brought This to Life Earth Guides was founded by Jamie Black, outdoor guide, mentor, behaviour interventionist, and someone who has spent over 27 years in the field leading people through wilderness, water, caves, forests, and the beautiful mess of human development. Jamie holds a Master's degree in Environmental Education and Communication and has worked with youth across a wide spectrum of learning styles and life circumstances, including neurodivergent populations. The work behind Earth Guides isn't theoretical, it's lived, tested, and hard-won. What We're Exploring Together Think of Earth Guides as going down the best kind of rabbit holes, the ones that make you a better leader, a more grounded human, and someone who actually sustains this work long-term. Topics already in the mix (and growing every week): - Self-confidence in the field - owning your role, even on the hard days - Leadership comfort - feeling at home in your authority without performing it - Burnout and tap-out prevention - because the land needs guides who last - Letting go of assumptions - about your participants, your parents, yourself - Self-care that actually works - for people who are too busy caring for others - Navigating adult dynamics - how to hold your ground with adults who challenge or undermine you - Talking to parents - with confidence, clarity, and care - And so much more - this list grows weekly, shaped by what you bring to it

Welcome Earth Guides! Thank you for being here. It is an honor and privilege to be working and playing on traditional unceded territory of the Ligʷiłdax̌ʷ people. We also recognize that we operate within the traditional, treaty and unceded territory of the We Wai Kai First Nations. We have an online community of support for Earth Guides since 2023. Welcome to the new Skool platform. We think this will suit our community better. Thank you for your patience as we finish all aspects of this resource, and once we have at least 10 subscribers, we will upgrade to the next level to have better access to more things in this online forum. A little background on Earth Guides. Our founder, Jamie Black, guide for over 27 years is wishing to help more people connect others with the Earth. Yes, there is a rabbit hole here, and Jamie will share this whole story soon. Earth Guides was born from a deep dive through the winter of 2023, when Jamie pondered "How can I be truly helpful to the Earth?" Many guided drum journeys lead Jamie to a deeper knowing that a Community of Support, and access to resources, tutorials, guidance and coaching is what makes the most sense. It has been an interesting journey, battling the brain drain of Zoom calls over Covid, and the burn out everyone is feeling here, so our wish is to produce bite size, edible resources that actually works. So please let us know how we can be truly helpful to you. If you have any resources, ideas or questions, feel welcome to share them, and we will build a community of resources here for people around the world to connect to the Earth. Welcome, we are glad you found us. Will you introduce yourself? Help us understand why you are here, and how we can support you?