Spiritual Formation in the Wild

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  • Instructor: Aram Mitchell 
  • Asynchronous Learning 
  • CEU Credits/Contact Hours: 2/20
  • Type: On-Demand
Course overview
This self-paced, on-demand course guides learners to connect with wild nature as a part of their spiritual formation journey. With guided practices at the center, learners will survey the benefits, history, and methods of nature connection as they deepen their own relationship with the natural world, and discover applications to support their personal and professional goals.
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CEU Certificate included
This certificate meets the Diamond Standard™ for 2 continuing education units (20 contact hours) and is adaptable for academic course credit with advanced notice.

Course Details

This course is entirely self-paced. There are four parts and each part will be released when the previous part is completed. Plan to spend 4-5 hours per part engaging the content, practices, and reflections.

I recommend that you make a commitment to your own pace, for example commit to one part per week for four weeks. Consider inviting friends or co-workers to register for the course as well, and organize a cohort of spiritual practice. Whatever you do, stay engaged and don’t lose your momentum!

Each part includes:
  • Video of Aram framing the particular theme.
  • Guided As You Go daily practice.
  • Reflection exercises to guide engagement.
  • Article, audio, and/or video to broaden perspective on the theme.
  • Guided Trailside Sitting or Strolling practice.
  • Audio meditation on the theme by Aram.
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Read the full course description here.
Learning Outcomes:
  • Deepen your personal relationship with wild nature while taking new strides on your path of spiritual formation.
  • Understand the history and methods of nature connection.
  • Learn how to sustain your nature connection practice beyond the course.
  • Learn how to plan a personal wilderness or nature retreat that is right for you.
  • Form a plan to apply the benefits of nature connection in your relationships and work.
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This is a great course for spiritual leaders—clergy, chaplains, seminarians, coaches—who are seeking continuing education units or professional development credits.

Educators, therapists, healthcare providers, consultants, small group leaders, nonprofit directors, and public servants of all sorts would also benefit from this course.

Note: This course is a prerequisite for the Spiritual Leadership in the Wild: Online Cohort coming Fall 2024!

About the instructor

Aram Mitchell

Aram is a Registered Maine Guide and Wilderness First Responder with a degree in Religious Studies from Chicago Theological Seminary.

In days gone by, he has helmed a nonprofit that offered wilderness programs for worn out care providers. He's developed programs that bolster spiritual leadership for a climate-changed world. He's served in a big church as a minister for children and families. And he's worked in a big city as an advocate for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness.

These days Aram lives near where the Charles River flows into the Atlantic. And he invites folks to experience the confluence of wildness and spiritual formation through retreats, courses, coaching, and writing.
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Testimonials

"Aram is a thoughtful and emotional mentor who has created a course with intentional structure that allows a flow of creativity, exploration, and contemplation to emerge from the content and his students. The course seeks to look at wildness as something to embrace, to examine, and to incorporate into your lives no matter the location (from dense forests to urban landscapes). This course will allow you to step out of some of your preconceived notions around faith, nature, life and existence and create a new appreciation for what is wild around you. I would recommend it for those who are stuck or drowning in the mundane or are swept up in the stress and hurriedness of life. It gives the student the ability to both energize and release what life is currently throwing at you."

–Al Whitehouse, 2021 Learner

"Under Aram's expert guidance and with his carefully crafted curriculum, the experience was nothing short of transformative. Aram skillfully cultivated a nurturing and inclusive atmosphere, ensuring that every participant felt valued and understood... Without hesitation, I would enroll in another workshop or seek further collaboration with Aram."

–Shannon Amidon, 2021 Learner