RDNA Essentials Program
Now accepting applications for 2012-13!
It's a wild world, and you're part of it! The RDNA Essentials curriculum is designed to reconnect you to the natural world, enhancing your ability to manage environmental systems in a healthy and regenerative way - learning to tend and regenerate the landscape for the future generations.
You will deepen your relationship to the natural world through core routines of awareness, bird language, survival skills and inner tracking. We channel this deepened connection into community action: applied permaculture skills, solutions-based activism, leadership skills, cultural mentoring, tending the land and peacemaking. The village-based learning environment creates a rich culture for stimulating curiosity and activating learning.
RDNA Fundamentals begins with a 2-week permaculture design intensive taught by Penny Livingston and special guest instructors. This intensive is required for all incoming RDNA students. With documentation of a previous permaculture design certification, this intensive is not required, but is strongly recommended.
For more information, visit one of our open houses.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Curriculum
The core curriculum of the RDNA Essentials program includes four major areas of focus:
Regenerative Design
Nature Awareness
Ecology of Leadership
Eight-Shield Cultural Mentoring and Core Routines
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Regenerative Design
Regenerative design acknowledges the many relationships that make up life and the interconnections between them. We look for ways to enhance those relationships to benefit the present and future generations, while also honoring generations of the past. We consider humans as a keystone species, and as such the lines between human settlements and the natural world begin to fade.
The blend between nature awareness and regenerative design is a natural and imperative fit! Nature awareness teaches us to connect deeply to living systems, and creates the framework for an advanced permaculture training. Throughout the year, you will learn about and implement the following regenerative design practices:
• Growing annual and perennial fruits, vegetables and medicines
• Building soil
• Composting
• Maintaining onsite fertility
• Water harvesting
• Making medicines (salves, tinctures)
• Using ecological farming techniques
• Restoring watersheds, bio-engineering, erosion control
• Designing greywater systems
• Choosing and constructing natural buildings (earthen plasters and finishes)
• Site planning
• Designing
• Bee-keeping and animal systems
• Wild crafting
• Nutritional cooking from the garden
• Wild crafting
• Nutritional cooking from the garden
• Applying permaculture practices
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Our senses, minds, and bodies have developed in rhythm with the natural world – and we need continual primary contact with nature to be healthy and happy.
In RDNA, we emphasize nature awareness through direct sensory experience. With daily experience of this kind, you can form deep connections with the natural world. You will feel roots form on an emotional level, creating space for a sense of peace, curiosity, and wonder. At the same time, a network of new neural pathways in your brain will begin to form – your consciousness literally expands to encompass the rich variety of textures, scents, sounds, and images of nature. You will form lasting memories during this type of deep sensory immersion.
Through both the visceral (hands-on, sensory learning) and the technical (lecture, journaling and research), you will not only increase your understanding of the natural world, but begin to feel like an integral part of the natural community. Read more...
Some of the skills, topics and techniques you'll be immersed in:
• Naturalist inventory skills
• Sensory awareness expansion and applications
• Journaling and researching
• Awareness of hazards in nature
• Using curiosity as a mentoring tool
• Mammal track identification and natural history
• Low growing plants, identification and natural history
• Basics of ecology and ecological indications and keystone species
• Heritage species
• Woody shrubs and trees, identificaiton and natural history
• Earth living skills – shelter, water, fire, food
• Understanding the language of birds and basic bird identification
• Experiencing and exploring baseline behaviors, tracking and recognizing concentric rings
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Study in the Ecology of Leadership
The more our leadership sources from our connection with the earth, the more effective we will be as leaders. Only you can change the world, and RDNA helps you cultivate the leadership skills you need by building an intimate relationship with the natural world and yourself. By integrating these elements, participants will begin to experience leadership as a dynamic process that translates your awareness and insights – about yourself and the owrld around you – into effective action towards your intended personal and professional goals.
Our "inner ecology" influences how we show up in our lives and our communities. In the RDNA program, we explore how our thoughts, mental models, beliefs, and the stories we tell – both about ourselves and those around us – affect our life and our ability to make a difference in our family, community, and chosen work in the world. As we understand and evolve our inner ecology, we become more effective at manifesting our dreams.
As an RDNA participant, you will develop skills, habits, and mindsets to improve your effectiveness in:
• Inner tracking
• Designing your life / ideal scenes
• One-on-one mentoring
• Facilitation and presentation skills
• Spiritual healing
• Effective communication strategies
• Making and honoring commitments
• Project management
• Gaining support for your vision from others
• Using your time effectively
• Bringing all aspects of your life into harmony
• Peacemaking and non-violent communication
By integrating these elements, participants will begin to experience leadership as a dynamic process that translates your awareness and insights – about yourself and the world around you – into effective action towards your intended personal and professional goals.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Eight Shields Mentoring and Core Routines
Nature – and the indigenous elders from around the world that have stewarded nature's wisdom – are amazing sources for restoring balance in our communities and ecological systems. In Eight Shields, Jon Young and his team have incorporated wisdom from these generous sources to develop a mentoring model over the last 25 years.
Learning objectives in each of the four branches of the RDNA curriculum – Regenerative Design, Nature Awareness, Ecology of Leadership and Cultural Mentoring – are achieved through Eight-Shields Mentoring and a series of Core Routines. The RDNA Core Routines help RDNA participants create a lively, rich and fun learning village.
Some of the primary core routines are listed below:
• Observation
• Storytelling
• Tracking
• Research and journaling
• Sensory awareness
• Peacemaking
• Mapping
• Bird language
• Deep listening to the land
• Art of mentoring
• Art of questioning
• Applied cultural technology
• Ceremony
• Creative arts & improvisation
• Design
• Practical skill building
• Permaculture principles
• and many more
Back to Top
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
RDNA Essentials Program Schedule
The RDNA Program starts in September and runs weekly through mid-May, with six breaks.
RDNA Essentials begins with a 2-week Permaculture Design Intensive taught by Penny Livingston & special guest instructors. This intensive is required for all incoming RDNA students.
The course typically meets one evening and two full days each week – 7pm Wednesday through 5pm Friday. There is a required weeklong Bird Language Intensive in April (Week 23). Additional days each week are dedicated to research, extracurricular study and project implementation.
RDNA 2012-13 Schedule will be posted soon...
RDNA 2011-2012 Schedule
Week 1 & 2: PDC Sept 2–17
~ Equinox Break ~
Week 3: Sept 28–30
Week 4: Oct 5–7
~Gaia Orientation Break~
Unless enrolled in Gaia, RDNA participants will have the week of Oct 12-14 off
Week 5: Oct 19–21
Week 6: Oct 26–28
Week 7: Nov 2–4
Week 8: Nov 9–11
Week 9: Nov 16–18
~ Fall Break ~
Week 10: Nov 30–Dec 2
Week 11: Dec 7–9
Week 12: Dec 14–16
~ Winter Break ~
Week 13: Jan 18–20
Week 14: Jan 25–27
Week 15: Feb 1–3
Week 16: Feb 8–10
Week 17: Feb 15–17
~ Late Winter Break ~
Week 18: Feb 29 – Mar 2
Week 19: Mar 7–9
Week 20: Mar 14–16
Week 21: Mar 21–23
Week 22: Mar 28–30
~ Spring Break ~
Week 23: April 21–27, Weeklong Bird Language Intensive
Week 24: May 2–4
Week 25: May 9–11
Week 26: May 16–18
Week 27: May 23–25 Graduation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Requirements
Participants must be 18 years or older, have a desire to be outside in a group learning environment, and a willingness to explore new boundaries. RNDA Essentials is our suggested first step in the RDNA learning journey.
Application and Deadlines
To apply for the RDNA Essentials program, please fill out an online application and make an online $45 application fee payment. If you would like a downloadable version of the application, contact the RDI office.
Click here for the online application and to pay $45 application fee.
Early bird Essentials registration:
Apr 20 Applications due
May 4 Acceptance announced
May 18 Registration and payment complete (tuition must be paid in full)
Essentials registration:
Jun 1 Application due
Jun 15 Acceptance announced
July 29 Registration and payment complete
We will continue to accept applications after June 1st as space in the program permits.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tuition
RDNA 2011-12 Essentials
Includes 2-week Permaculture Design Certification
$ 9,950 Early bird tuition – paid in full by June 29
$10,450 Full tuition – full payment or first of three payments due on June 29
Tuition Payments
Once accepted into the RDNA Essentials program,
please register online and pay tuition via credit card or check.
Early bird tuition payment must be paid in full by May 18, 2012.
Tuition payments (full or payment plan) must be received by June 29, 2012.
For questions or additional information, contact:
415-868-9681 or email us
Course Cancellation Policy
Cancellation policy is outlined in the Financial Agreement document included in the online registration form.
