Nature-Based Leadership

Catalog description

This interdisciplinary course provides an overview of and immersion in the emerging field of nature-based leadership. In a world in which people are increasingly disconnected from the healthy, generative and renewing ways of nature, this course offers a framework and strategies by which to apply nature’s lessons to enhance one’s life and career. Nature-based leadership is inherently collaborative. It differs significantly from current mechanistic and hierarchical leadership models and is a way forward to restore a healthy and dynamic balance between people and nature. The course recognizes and builds on contributions from ecology, indigenous wisdom, environmental studies, systems theory, complexity, biomimicry, ecopsychology, conservation psychology, and place-based education. Nature-based leadership draws on these and other disciplines to nurture leadership in all aspects of society, with the aim that people in all relationships-with themselves, others and the Earth itself-contribute to a healthy, peaceful and regenerative present and future. The course takes a hybrid approach to instruction, including nature-based experiential activities in the outdoors, classroom discussions, online readings and commentary, and personalized projects. Participants will leave with strategies for incorporating principles of nature-based leadership in personal and professional settings, including, and not limited to, home and family environments as well as business, education, non-profit organization and health sectors.