Key facilitator for Mind of the Mentor, and Bird Language
Jon Young
Author, Presenter & Cultural Repair Design Specialist
Jon Young is a deep nature-people-self connection researcher, mentor, naturalist, wildlife tracker, author, workshop leader, consultant and storyteller. Jon has been mentored in deep nature connection by his own grandmothers, Tom Brown, Jr. and a host of elders and experts.
As a leader in the field of nature-based community building over 40 years, Jon’s research into the impact and significance of nature on mentoring, human intelligence, spirituality, well-being and development has influenced tens of thousands of people worldwide.
Jon has authored and co-authored several seminal works on nature connection and connection mentoring, including What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World (2013), and Coyote’s Guide to Connecting to Nature (2007).
Jon has appeared in numerous documentaries including The Animal Communicator (2012). In 2016, he received the Champion of Environmental Education Award for his innovative work, which has inspired positive developments in the field, and fostered the growth of the nature connection movement on a global level.
Sarah Fontaine
Wildlife Tracker, Interspecies Communicator, and Nature Connection Facilitator.
For over 25 years, Sarah has been practicing ways of deepening connection with self and nature through psychoeducation, neuroscience, somatics and energy awareness. Her work is informed by over 20 years as a professional Massage Therapist and Bodyworker, with studies and practice include Interpersonal Neurobiology, Polyvagal Theory, Somatic Trauma Integration, Emotional Clearing, Craniosacral Therapy, Chakra-work, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Five Elements theory.
She has studied wildlife tracking through Shikari Tracker Mentoring with Jon Young and Josh Lane, and Tom Brown Jr.’s Tracker School. She is a graduate of the Kamana Naturalist Training Program, and studied Interspecies Communication with Anna Breytenbach and Wynter Worsthorne.
Sarah currently offers Wildlife Tracking courses and pathways for applying neuroscience and energy awareness to nature connection practices.
Key facilitator for “Connection as a way of life”
Sal Gencarelle
Cross cultural bridge builder
Salvatore Gencarelle is a cultural bridge between traditional healing ceremonies and the modern world. He is the founder and director of the Helpers Mentoring Society, an organization dedicated to supporting the return and preservation of connective cultural practices. For 28 years Salvatore Gencarelle has been a bridge between traditional cultural practices and the modern world. His experience includes intensive mentoring as a ceremonial guide, creator, and singer under the direct supervision of a Native American healer. His journey continues as he now carries universal connection, relationship, and healing wisdoms from around the world.
Salvatore’s immersion into a lineage of deep healing has helped him to understand the universal aspects of advanced connection practices that reach across cultures and time.
Salvatore is also an artist, photographer, freelance writer, a musician, and a healer working both the traditions of the Lakota and the modern world. He currently travels around the world teaching and helping others learn from his experience. To read more about his life you may wish to purchase his autobiography “Man among the helpers”, or visit his website by clicking here.
Australasian facilitators:
For each of the events we present we call on folk from the nature connection community to bring and share their considerable experience in facilitating nature connection and village building events in their own communities. They bring understanding of the use of tools from 8 shields and other paths of wisdom, and how to apply them in an Australian context. This team work approach creates opportunity for powerful village based learning at its best.
And as always we know that there will be plenty more of you joining us for the workshops to share your wonderful skills, knowledge and experience that will enrich this village experience.