"Our daughter has found her community here...such a beautiful offering."
-Amanda Armishaw
About this Series
Monthly Forest Sundays
An Immersive Outdoor Learning Experience for Children
Program Overview
Monthly Forest Sundays offers a unique nature-based educational program designed for children ages 7 to 15. This program complements traditional schooling by providing one day a month of outdoor learning in a community-supported environment. Children engage with nature as their primary teacher, guided by skilled mentors, embracing a holistic education that integrates nature, community, and personal growth.
TYPICAL DAY STRUCTURE
- Morning: Nature-themed games, morning circle with songs and gratitude sharing.
- Midday: Skill-focused guild activities like tracking, weaving, or bow making.
- Afternoon: Free time in nature followed by group games and reflective sit-spot time.
- Closing: Reflection and sharing of daily highlights and gratitude.
Educational Approach
Our nature based education is based on Connection with nature, people and self. Lead with the 8-Shields teaching model, developed by Jon Young.
- Fundamental life skills reinforced through nature-related activities.
- Creative expressions and physical agility fostered in natural settings.
- Understanding societal structures and musical exploration through environmental interaction.
- Nature-Connected Learning: Engaging with the outdoor environment in meaningful ways.
- Community and Respect: Building a culture of reciprocity and communal support.
- Hands-On and Child-Led Learning: Encouraging self-directed exploration.
Meet Our Mentors
Cari Burdett
Director / Lead MENTOR
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For over 18 years in the Quwut’sun’ Valley, Cari Burdett has been committed to fostering a diverse community based on connection through music, relationships with our local Coast Salish Indigenous Elders (ReconciliAction through community building, music and service), and most recently, a dedication to mentoring all ages in the importance, healing and profound joy of Deep Nature Connection.
As the Founder of the Lila Music and Nature Center and mother of three older children, Cari brings with her over thirty years of professional training, degrees, intensives that focus on the healthy development of children and adults, with special focus on Anthroposophic & Waldorf pedagogy trainings, music therapy, pre and perinatal trauma work, plus communication models including Non Violent Communication and The Way of Council. Most recently, she has added to her skill set all she has been learning from Deep Nature Connection (including ceremony and rites of passage training) from her course immersion in Wisdom of the Earth, Thriving Roots, with ongoing Mentorship with Sal Gencarelle and the Helper’s Mentoring Society. Cari’s warmth and dedication shines through as she welcomes these diverse, yet richly connected elements to the Wilderness Programs.
Megan Farquhar
Lead MENTOR
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Since growing up in the woods of Vancouver Island, Megan has been involved in Deep Nature connection. Twenty five years ago Megan was on the original council that started Firemaker, an earth skills family gathering that is still running today and she is still involved. Megan has training in survival skills and earth based philosophy from the world renowned Tracker School in the US, and has completed a ten month Wilderness Living Skills program with Earthwalk Northwest in WA. Megan has a love of working with wood and has helped build a log cabin while striving to live with few modern technologies.
For her continued commitment to revillaging, reculturing and connection with self, others and nature, Megan has attended The Art of Mentoring at WAS , through Wisdom of The Earth Nature School on Saltspring Island as well as Coyote Mentoring through Thriving Roots, both of which she assisted with. More recently she has embraced the teachings of the Helpers Mentoring Society, adding layers to her understanding of what it means to support life, through Rites of Passages, and other ceremonies. Megan is excited to continue this journey of mentoring youth in nature beginning in September in the Quw’utsun Valley.
Aaron Salmons
APPRENTICE
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Aaron Salmons is from Cowichan Bay. He went to Thriving Roots at the EcoVillage for three years and then started apprenticing at the Lila Nature program in 2024. He is 16 years old and has a love of the wild. One of his favorite things to do is wander the woods and learn from the wildlife. He has a deep love of music and song and likes to write ballads. He also enjoys building firers with a bow drill and recently did a Firequest in May of 2025. He loves working with children and volunteered to help the younger grades at the Grove Collective Nature program.
Gord McGee
Lead MENTOR
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Gord McGee has worked many years as a children’s nature-based educator and wilderness guide in south-western BC, running outdoor summer programs and working as a kayaking, canoeing and hiking guide and instructor. His love of the teaching and grounding power of nature and community building with youth and adults has led him to complete a 1 year adult immersion in nature based education with the Wisdom of the Earth Wilderness School where he is apprenticing in his second year as a mentor. Gord loves story telling, ancestral skills with our hands that link us in reciprocal relationships to nature and the passing on of deep ecological values that help in navigating the wild world we live in.
For the past 13 years Gord has also worked for four First Nations governments on the Central Coast of BC as a facilitator and negotiator in the creation of a network of marine protected areas from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert. He holds a Masters in Resource Management and Collaborative Planning from SFU, and is close to completion of a Masters in Counseling Psychology. He is based on Saltspring Island.
Gallery
Testimonials
Course Information
Monthly Program
DATES (2025-2026)
One Sunday per month, 9:30 am – 2:30pm: Sept 14th, Oct 5th, Nov 9th, Dec 7th, Feb 1st, March 1st, April 12th, May 3rd, June 7th.
LOCATION
Lila Music & Nature Centre
COST
Total for 9 sessions: $585, plus Gst $29.25
A $100 deposit is required at registration to secure a spot.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Easy Monthly Payment Plans Available: Choose a plan that works for your family — available for both weekly and monthly program options.
• Use Your Homeschooling Funds: Lila Nature Programs are approved for homeschooling funds.
• Indigenous Student Scholarships: In the spirit of reconciliation and reparation, all Indigenous students accepted into our programs automatically receive a scholarship, independent of financial need.
Lila Music & Nature School Policies
Cancellation Policy
Payment Policy
Conflict Resolution and Communication Policy
Activities Include:
Exploring Animals in the Wild
- Identification of animal tracks and signs.
- Locating wildlife based on track and sign.
- Deciphering stories left by wildlife.
- Deepening connection to animals.
- Identifying bird calls and understanding their meanings.
- Animal processing, respectful trapping, archery, and hide tanning.
Our Forest Ecosystem
- Identification of flora and fauna in our ecosystem.
- Land stewardship and caretaking.
- Nature journaling and direct observation.
- Natural intuition and awareness training.
- Fostering ongoing relationships with place.
- Experiencing nature as a friend and teacher.
- Identification and sustainable harvest of wild foods and medicines.
- Observation and communication with plants.
Wild-Crafting Skills
- Forest shelter building, friction fire, and natural cordage.
- Traditional cooking and food preservation.
- Natural crafting: weaving, pottery, and jewelry.
- Primitive bows
- Tanning animal hides and making fish skin leather
- Foraging herbs and medicine making
- Candle making
Interpersonal Skills
- Tools for positively working through challenges.
- Interpersonal skills for group work.
- Strengthening community and culture through music, storytelling, and council.
- Practicing gratitude.
- Celebrating unique gifts.
- Honoring experiences as opportunities for growth.
- Expanding comfort zones and embracing challenging experiences.
- Participating in Rites of Competence and Rites of Passage.
- Developing resilience, personal growth, and self-knowledge.
- Communication skills, deep listening, and speaking from the heart.
Connection to Elders, Land and Place based learning
- Fostering and Deepening relationships with our local Coast Salish, Quwut’sun Elders.
- Learning Hul’qu’minum through Elders teachings, songs and stories.
- Respecting First Nations culture, traditions, and history.
- Exploring our role in decolonization and reconciliation.
- Utilitarian and cultural uses of plants.
- Learning plants, animals, trees and other nature elements in Hul’qu’minum
Registration
2024- 2025 Youth Nature School
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Cari is an amazing teacher who shares from her heart. She is an absolute blessing to our children. I'm grateful for her.
Sarah Macmillan, parent of youth nature program.