Mindfulness and Nature Connection Practices to Support System Involved Youth with Self-Regulation

Ursula Elsa

Training Description

Young people are naturally curious, especially about nature. Unfortunately, many settings do not allow for system involved youth to experience the power of the natural world. This training teaches engaging and innovative ways to integrate nature-based practices and connect system involved youth with our greatest mindfulness teacher - the natural world. It will provide skills and tools for system-involved youth to cultivate practices and self-regulation skills they can develop and practice from home and in the outdoor space in proximity to where they live. These practices will support system involved youth and their families in managing stressors using nature in an urban setting to help foster a sense of belonging and co-regulation with the earth.

Learning Objectives

· Participants will be able to identify at least 2 ways that nature-based mindfulness can be supportive and culturally relevant for system involved youth

· Participants will be able to identify at least 1 mindfulness-based strategy for co-regulation for system involved youth, using the natural world

· Participants will be able to identify at least 2 activities for integrating nature connection practices in an indoor setting to improve outcomes with system involved youth.

Agenda

10:00-10:20am Welcome, Housekeeping, and Intros

10:20-10:45am Mindfulness Practices + Self Reflection

10:45-11:00am Introduction to Mindfulness and Nature Connection Practices

11:00-11:15am Sit Spot Practice

11:15:11:30am Sit Spot Debrief & Adaptations for Youth

11:30-11:45am Nature Expressive Arts Activity

11:45am-12:15pm Break (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

12:15-12:30pm Mindfulness Practices

12:30-1:00pm Nature Based Expressive Arts Activities

● Breathing in - Breathing out Art and Writing Exercise

● Soundscape

● Nature Art / Mandala Making

1:00-1:15pm Facilitating Resourcing and Co-regulation in an Outdoor Space

1:15-1:30pm Using Nature as Guide Activity + Demonstration Lessons

1:30-2:00pm Closing and Feedback

Meet Our Trainer

Ursula Elsa (they/she) was born and raised in the beautiful land of the Bay Area, Ohlone Territory. She has been teaching mindfulness and nature connection to youth in the Bay Area for 8 years and is currently leading rites of passage and nature connection programming for Gaia Passages. Ursula is passionate about creating programming for LGBTQI+ and neurodiverse communities. She is also a trained doula and an advocate of parent’s rights in the birth community.

This course meets the qualifications for (3.5) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.