We Immersion
WHAT IS THE WE IMMERSION?
The Weaving Earth Immersion is a nature-based journey into the core practices of Relational Education.
The WE Immersion has three main goals for participants:
immerse participants in nature-based experiences that remind them of the interrelationship of all life
educate participants on how to more effectively interrupt unjust social systems that have pushed communities and ecologies to the brink of collapse
Take actions that meet the imperative to care for both people and the planet
WHY DOES THE WE IMMERSION EXIST?
Human domination of the Earth is inextricably linked to cultural systems that value separation and domination. As shorthand, we are calling these interwoven systems supremacy culture, recognizing that each strand has specific dynamics. U.S. supremacy culture includes extractivism (oppression of the Earth), ableism, ageism, anti-immigration, anti-Semitism, cis-genderism, colonialism, fat-phobia, heterosexism, Islamophobia, nationalism, racism, religious persecution, and sexism. We view climate change as a result of supremacy culture.
Education shapes our perceptions and beliefs, both through what is taught (content) and how it is taught (context). The institutions in mainstream U.S. society, including education and mass media, foster profound ignorance about how supremacy culture shapes belief, behavior, power, and opportunity. Supremacy culture is pervasive—we can’t choose whether to participate. But we can choose how to participate, which is key to systems change.
The intention of the WEI is to learn how to change “the how,” supported by a community of practice in which participants and staff explore, make mistakes, and grow through human-to-human-to-nature relationships. The ten core pillars of Relational Education (RE) are featured below. Click any of the photos to learn more about our Core Curriculum.
Using the educational tools above, we aim to critically deconstruct inherited stories of separation and domination, and at the same time responsibly recollect a deeper human inheritance: stories of interrelationship, belonging, dignity and respect. We believe this orientation supports the conditions for systems change so needed at this time.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
- Foster direct personal connection to nature
- Support responsible sharing of skills, stories, and information
- Support the vitality and resilience of living systems
- Teach responsible tending, harvesting, and use of essential natural resources
- Broaden and deepen awareness of the relationships within and between ecosystems
- Provide experience in holistic leadership and mentoring
- Respect and honor cultures and lineages of learning
- Deepen rootedness in personal and systemic stories of ancestry and lineage
- Enable more skillful navigation of interpersonal human dynamics
- Expand understanding of your individual role in interrupting systems of oppression
- Liberate creative, accountable and authentic cultivation and offering of your personal gifts
- Support integration of these tools into your lives and communities of practice to catalyze your individual and collective change in the world
Through the practices of relational education, we aim to critically deconstruct inherited stories of separation and domination, and at the same time responsibly recollect a deeper human inheritance: stories of interrelationship, belonging, dignity and respect. We believe this orientation supports the conditions for systems change so needed at this time.
WHO IS THE WE IMMERSION FOR?
Activists, educators, entrepreneurs, naturalists, systems thinkers and changemakers (ages 18+) who are interested in experiential learning, nature connection, social justice and systems change.
Over the years, we have seen firsthand the value of intergenerational learning environments. While the majority of our participants are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, we have also been fortunate to work with participants in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. We treasure the diversity of perspective and wisdom that these additional decades of life experience can bring.
HOW DOES THE IMMERSION WORK?
The Immersion is a dynamic learning environment that is shaped by the interests and energies of each participant and member of the teaching team. This relational fluidity is an important part of how the program responds and evolves — like nature, the Immersion is emergent. Also like nature, there is an operating system underlying the dynamic, relational experience. See our Core Curriculum and Relational Education pages for more information.
One essential part of the Immersion eco-system is layered participation. Students have the option to participate for one, two, or three years, which generates opportunities for leadership development, facilitation training, peer mentoring between the years, and ongoing opportunities to practice embodying the curriculum. These years are not hierarchical — they are ecological.
The Beyond Boundaries (Year 1) track is about exposure to the curriculum/container and the beginnings of embodiment. The emphasis in Year 1 is “going on the ride.”
The Beyond Boundaries track of the WE Immersion is designed to introduce participants to the basic elements of Relational Education, with an emphasis on imparting a deeply embodied experience of the core curriculum. First year participants are invited to join in a multi-year container, learning alongside 2nd and 3rd year participants, which offers the opportunity to engage in a form of “intergenerational transfer” and peer-to-peer mentoring across program years. All aspects of the program are aimed at enhancing awareness, skill building, cultivating the self, and strengthening connection. It is a transformative journey focused on reinvigorating the tools and practices needed to help ensure a resilient and equitable future for all.
The Fire Tenders (Year 2) track is about circle leadership and service to the community.
The second-year training is a carefully held individual and group process intended to support the unique leadership expression of each person in the circle. Second year participants help create surface area for learning, working side-by-side with the first year group, supporting their learning journeys, asking good questions, offering stories, and facilitating some curricular pieces. As participants step more fully into their unique leadership, they often encounter their learning edges. Our well-trained staff are practiced in helping individuals meet this growth in healthy and productive ways. Second years arrive early and stay late to support this process.
The Bridge Builders (Year 3) track is about dirt time, holistic tracking, continued circle leadership development, and deeper support from staff on how to apply this training to future endeavors.
For those who are called to more fully embody these teachings, to further apply the learning in their lives, and to take this model out and share it with others, the Bridge Builders track adds a definitive layer to the WE Immersion journey. The third year is an individually designed combination of deep nature-connection experience, real-world service learning opportunities, and distinct, personalized mentoring. The Bridge Builders are stretching the edge of awareness for the rest of the circle with the stories they gather from the land. They are also the camp leaders, who are anticipating needs before the arise, practicing the skill of putting their gifts and awareness to work, and looking out for the greater good of the whole.
Students have the option to participate for one, two, or three years, which generates opportunities for leadership development, facilitation training, peer mentoring between the years, and ongoing opportunities to practice embodying the curriculum.
WHEN AND WHERE IS THE WE IMMERSION?
When
March through December. The program is comprised of:
12 multi-day in-person sessions
4 group Zoom calls
6 Personal Mentoring Sessions
Fire Tenders and Bridge Builders participate in one additional multi-day session at the start of the year to prepare for beginning with the full group.
Where
Sonoma County, CA on Southern Pomo territory, with additional off-site field trips
Time
Unless noted otherwise on the calendar, all weeks begin with dinner at 6:00 pm Wednesday evening and end no later than 5:00 pm on Sunday. Second and third-year participants have a slightly different schedule that will be discussed in-person with each group. The 4 group calls are on Monday evenings from 7-9:00pm, and Personal Mentoring sessions are set up individually with participants. Additionally, there are a number of intensives throughout the year that follow a different time pattern. See Calendar for details.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
SLIDING SCALE:
$12500 – $25000
COST:
Tuition includes catering, camping, and admission to all special events, unless otherwise noted in the calendar. Because some people have more financial means than others, we have created a sliding scale fee system to accommodate a range of financial realities. We ask you to self-assess the price point that is appropriate for you. The high-end of the scale reflects the value we believe the program holds, and the low-end offers a more accessible entry point while ensuring we cover all costs. By choosing a higher price point you are helping make the program more accessible to others for whom the low-end may be cost-prohibitive. We also recognize that the low-end might be cost prohibitive. If this is true for you, please be in touch to begin the conversation about financial assistance.
In addition, we have a Reparations Fund to support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) participants to attend the Immersion. We offer these reparations with a prayer toward collective liberation. Given our collective inheritance and its relationship to displacement/disconnection, we do not want BIPOC participants to have to pay for the reclamation of connection to land/nature/place. Please see our Commitment to Reparations for more information.
*Weaving Earth is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our federal tax ID number is 83-1110798. Anything you choose to pay beyond the entry level price point can be assigned as a tax-deductible charitable contribution on your tax forms.
In addition, we have a Reparations Fund to support Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) participants to attend the Immersion. We offer these reparations with a prayer toward collective liberation.
ARE THERE PAYMENT PLANS?
Payment plans, financing options and financial aid are available. Contact info@weavingearth.org for details.
WHAT DO WE EAT?
All regular weeks of the Weaving Earth Immersion are catered by Carin Mckay of Culinary Magic This includes dinner on Wednesday, breakfast, lunch and dinner from Thursday to Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Certain special events within the WE Immersion are non-catered. Details about non-catered events are listed on the calendar page.
HOW DO I APPLY?
2019 applications are closed. To stay current with applications for the 2020 Immersion, join our mailing list below.
For more information about this program, please contact will@weavingearth.org to set up a conversation with one of the Immersion staff members.