A (theoretical, unfortunately) Curriculum to Be Initiated Upon a Group of Unsuspecting Schoolchildren
This would be most effective with apathetic, unsatisfied victims of suburbian boredoms and maladies, inattentive children with various degrees of cultural dependencies (i.e. electronic devices, processed synthesized "food", sugar, guns, etc.)
It proceeds thusly: A group of unsuspecting children are suddenly abducted to the forest, perhaps the Olympics. It is spring. Cars are abandoned. The awareness-enhancing, magical consciousness explosion ensues. The idea is to reconnect to senses, to experience the glorious magnificence of the Temperate Rainforest, to plunge into the enlivening that comes with attentiveness of the immediate, to create a safe place for everyone to feel.
First would be the establishing of intention, the affirmation and gentle demand for collective respect for everyone whose home we were visiting. This sounds potentially unrealistic, but is ultimately possible given enough creativity, engagement, and charisma.
A hike to recover from time spent in rapid-transportation death-boxes. A friendly introduction to why plants are the coolest beings of all time. "Guess what will happen if you eat this plant?" Sampling of wild foods. Games such as Pala-pala.
Burial. Everyone is instructed to find a special place in the forest, a place just for them, away from their friends,to lie down. Teachers make rounds gently covering the students with nearby pieces of forest: dirt, leaves, branches, whatever. The idea is to say nothing, to lay on one's back and simply observe. Observe with all senses. Observe feelings, thoughts, and breath. Be silent. Do this for a while. After long enough, everyone gathers together in a circle and shares their experience.
More movement. An introduction to stalking, or moving silently in the forest. Walking on the balls of the feet, with the legs bent, silent, and aware. How to freeze in mid-step. Other such incredulous and attainable feats.
Uh-oh - what's this? Johnny needs to use the bathroom? Wonderful. Activity: How to properly and responsibly excrete bodily wastes in the forest. EVERYONE should know about this.
Once these basics have been addressed, the day would be crowned with a hearty game of silent capture the flag, in which the idea is to move as silently and gracefully as possible, where all players attempt to embody their surroundings, or let their surroundings become their bodies.
Farewell and departure, for those who wish to return, shelter, fire making, and other aspects of indefinite wilderness survival for the willing...
