Volunteer Training with The Green Team
"The Green Team is a beautiful model of working with volunteers…they do it incredibly well. It takes a lot of work and effort, but they succeed in that. Volunteers make the programme; but only because they are held and supported by the organisation. They provide people with experiences that help them go off into the world in their own direction." Green Team Volunteer
Throughout the year, Green Team volunteers give their time, energy, skills and encouragement on our programmes across Edinburgh and beyond. Some lead practical tasks. Some quietly check in with a young person who's had a tough week. Others make sure the fire is lit and the hot chocolate ready.
And, while volunteers give enormously to the young people we work with, they tell us that they gain just as much in return. They speak of finding community, deepening their connection to nature, learning new skills and being part of something purposeful.
Volunteer Training – The Green Team Approach
Since 1995, The Green Team has been developing its volunteer training. We review and refresh along the way, finetuning and drawing on best practice from across a wide range of sources.
From the methodology of Outdoor Learning, to the principles of evidence-based Ecotherapy, we cover all bases.
We draw on tried and tested tools and frameworks such as the 8 Shields model, Heart Head Hand and Joseph Cornell's 4 stage Flow Learning (see below).
We also learn from and share great examples from across the environmental education sector including The John Muir Award.
Theory, practice and connection
For The Green Team, it is important for us to ensure our key principles of connection to nature, others and self shine through in all that we do. So, although our approach is informed and shaped by what we've learned from others, our volunteer training is unique to us.
In addition to the Green Team Volunteer Induction, we continue to provide training opportunities throughout the year. Our Training Programme ranges from essential courses in Safeguarding, Child Protection, Emergency First Aid and Mental Health Awareness to nature-focused gatherings to help deepen nature connection. And, of course, we enjoy seasonal social gatherings along the way – all great opportunities to come together, connect and celebrate.
We also balance the theory with practice and help ensure all our volunteers have a toolbox of nature-based games and activities to work with and feel confident to have a go! From Nature's Pictures and Self Portraits using only natural objects to Solo Sketching and 1,2,3 I am a Tree, there are many more to choose from!
As with all things Green Team, our Volunteer Training Programme continues to evolve and grow in response to the essential work we do.
Without our volunteers, The Green Team would not be able to do all that we do. We are not simply an organisation delivering programmes. The Green Team is a community, and our volunteers are at its heart.
More about training tools and frameworks
HEAD HEART HAND
The Head, Heart, Hand model developed by Patrick Geddes proposes that an experience-based programme of activity should encourage people to care, promote understanding and give opportunities for practical doing.
- Heart – develop strong feelings about nature or a particular place. People will care about it, want to know more, and want to do something to protect it.
- Head – understand and develop knowledge about nature and wildness, the interdependence of living systems, and the threats to wild places. This will encourage a sense of responsibility and stronger feelings.
- Hand – get actively involved and take action for a place or an issue. A sense of 'putting something back' helps people to enjoy and value the experience more.
8 SHIELDS (4 DIRECTIONS)
The 8 Shields model is a cultural framework developed by Jon Young and the 8 Shields Institute.
It takes inspiration from numerous land-based indigenous cultures from around the world, as well as patterns we see in nature.
The metaphor of the compass is used to describe a cyclical spectrum of phases, energies or archetypes linked to different cardinal directions.
For example, north representing winter, east representing spring, south as summer, west as autumn – Land in Curiosity 2022
FLOW LEARNING
Developed by Joseph Cornell, Flow Learning offers a 4 stage sequence for facilitation a simple framework that allows you to structure nature awareness classes for best effect. You can meet people where they are in interest and energy level, and then guide them step-by-step toward more meaningful and profound nature experiences.
- Awaken enthusiasm (discover)
• Focus attention (explore)
• Direct experience (conserve)
• Share inspiration (share)
ECOTHERAPY AND THE BENEFITS OF NATURE
- Contact with greenspace improves psychological health and mental wellbeing – Mind 2007
- Time spent in nature (“environments and physical features of nonhuman origins, ranging from plants to non-built landscapes”) increases both hedonic and eudemonic wellbeing – Capaldi et al., 2015
- Enjoyment of nature was associated with reduced ill health – Dean et al., (2018)
- Society’s loss of deep nature connection is associated with depression – Kidner 2007
VOLUNTEERING WITH THE GREEN TEAM
