The Art of Questioning And Nature Observation

ReWilding Conversations: Episode 2

Download Episode mp3

How To Teach Nature Observation Skills By Asking Good Questions…

Have you ever heard of a mentoring technique called the Art of Questioning?

Let’s say you want to unlock the highest potential of a person to think critically & creatively, to make astute observations and form accurate conclusions about the world…

Do you think it works better to cram information into their brain?

Or to gently stimulate new insight and curiosity by engaging in an intelligent dialogue?

You can probably guess which method I would choose!

One of my biggest goals whenever I’m sharing nature awareness skills like tracking, bird language & naturalist techniques is to thoroughly stimulate the brains of my students.

…And asking questions is truly one of the best ways to stimulate the human brain.

In this episode of ReWilding Conversations, Dave and I discuss how nature based mentoring can be enhanced with The Art of Questioning.

There are literally hundreds of different ways you can use questions to dramatically increase your impact while connecting people with nature… Kids, adults, and even yourself.

We went really deep into different ways of using questions as a mentor before, during, and after your adventures in nature. ​

This was a really great episode filled with lots of amazing insights you’ll be able to apply in your own teaching & mentoring routines… whether you’re working with others, or even looking for your own deeper growing awareness.

Topics covered:

• The difference between asking questions outside versus asking questions in conversation.
• How questions affect awareness & perception in the human brain.
• Strategies for using the art of questioning with family, students, and with yourself.
• Why questions are an essential technique of effective mentoring.
• What are “sensory questions” and why are they important?
• What are the “layers of nature” and what role do they play in the art of questioning?

This episode builds upon what we discussed in episode 01 about the benefits of creative nature play.

Stay tuned for future episodes. Next week we’ll talk about storytelling!

We’d love to get your feedback… please share your comments and spread the word to other parents, grandparents, teachers & mentors who would benefit from listening.