Archive for the ‘Spiritual’ Category

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MSI Director & VP Present at Conference

16/09/2010

Assoc. of Experiential Ed

R. Richards and Bob Stremba, Ed.D, will be giving a presentation at the 38th Annual International Association of Experiential Education Conference on November 4th in Las Vegas, NV, USA.  The two will share MSI’s unique mission and how MSI blends the world of experiential education with practical spiritual facilitation.  Ther a number of presnetation categories, and the two are slated for a workshop during the conference under the Body/Mind/Spirit category.

The conference, bills itself as “Connecting Communities, Sustaining Educators” which brings together more than 900 experiential educators and practitioners for professional development and networking.

The title of the presentation, “Exspiriential” Education: Integrating Spirit with Experience, comes from the term coined by MSI Founder Richards, which combines Spirit and Experiential education.  The MSI website states: “We’re a hybrid organization – a cross between an experiential wilderness program and a holistic learning center, with elements of both experiential education and spiritual development.”

Stremba is a former board member of AEE, and continues to be actively involved in the association. He currently runs the Outdoor Pursuits program at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Richards has recently joined again as an individual member of AEE.

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November 4-7, 2010- Workshops

2010 Workshops (pdf)

2009 Workshops

2010 Workshop List (subject to change)


Adventure-Based Programming

3rd Annual Trends and Issues in Outdoor Education Programs Panel Discussion
Andrew J. Bobilya,  Tom Holman,  Betsy Lindley, John Gookin, Tim O’Connell, Nina Roberts, Bobbi Beale, Bob Stremba & Jay Roberts

Accreditation 101
Shawn Tierney

Adventure Education and Motherhood II; Are they Mutually Exclusive or Mutually Beneficial?
Erin Lotz

Building Respectful Learning Communities: Setting Positive Behavioral Norms through Adventure
Jane Panicucci & Larry Childs

Chiji Cards: Beyond Processing
Chris Cavert

Designing Skill-based Initiatives
Paul Nicolazzo

Developing a Self-assessment Study
Shawn Tierney

Facilitating Inclusion in Outdoor Adventure: Decisions in Management and Modifications
Alison Voight & Catharine Bishop

Girl, You Got it! Empowering Girls to Develop Technical Skills
Priscilla McKenney & Nadine Budbill

Good Judgment: The Ultimate Facilitator Skill
Chris Ortiz & Jim Grout

Into Thinner Air: More on Adventure Programming at Altitude
TA Loeffler

Intuition or Cognition: The Dual-Process Approach to Judgment and Decision-Making for Outdoor Leaders
Wynn Shooter & Nathan Furman

Leadership and Challenge Center ¡Lánzate! Empowering Agents of Change
Juan Carlos & Echavarría Flores

Outdoor Ethics – How AEE Members Can Easily Implement Effective Leave No Trace Education Programs
Catherine Smith & Sarah Folzenlogen

Project Venture – Evidence Based Prevention Programming
McClellan Hall, Bart Crawford, Neal Ferris & Heather Yazzie

Standards, Legislation, Regulations, Certification, New Technology. What Does This All Mean for My Challenge Course Program?
James Borishade & Bill Weaver

The Living History of Experiential Education
Tom Lindblade

The Ropes of Ecology
Shawn Moriarty

The Use of Emotional Rescue In Adventure Based Activities
Joel Cryer

Thematic Programming: Unifying the Experience
Patrick Torrey

What’s Nature Got To Do With It?
Jacquie Medina

Willi Unsoeld: Outdoor Education Philosophy and Practice From Risk Taking to Rites of Passage
Krag Unsoeld

Experienced Based Training and Development

A Foundation of Trust
Sam Sikes

Accountable Team Building in a Web 2.0 world
Jason Kipps

Alternative Mediums in Experiential Learning
Anand Upadhyay

Experience and Reflection to Inform Design:  Outward Bound and Professional Development for Educators
Billy O’Steen, Andy Mink & Jim LaPrad

Explore the World of EBTD: A World Cafe Experience
Marc Levy & Jonathan Clark

How To Hear What Is Not Being Said
David Kampfschulte

Is Team Building a Set Up?
Claudia Valle & Tim Arnold

Judgment and Decision-Making: How Our Brains Are Wired… and What We Can Do About It
Jeremy Johnson

Overcoming Language Barriers in Facilitation
Sarah Kauntz & Kathleen Day

Secrets of Successful Networking
Jeff Richardson

Spiritual Dimensions of Team
Al Wright

Using Personality Assessments To Become A More Effective Educator
Chris Gee

Facilitation/Processing

A Book of One’s Own: How to Make Books for Processing
Gretchen Newhouse Berns

Building a Sense of Community Experientially
Jeff Jacobs

Creating Transfer of Learning Through Intentional Program Design and Framing
Gregory Paninski

Dramatic Problem Solving
Steven Hawkins

Enhancing Flow in Classrooms Through Experiential Education
Marleah Blom

Focus Your Locus
Justin McGlamery & Mike Gessford

Going GA GA For Global Games
Rich Keegan

Got Tossables?  10 Team Building Games Using Tossable Props You Already Have
Michelle Cummings

Green Mentoring Program
Melinda Campbell & Maryam Davodi-Far

How to Turn Your Support Group from Mediocre to Magnificent
Lynne Downey, Jenni Jardine & Ian Prinsloo

Nature Experiences, Use Them or Lose Them
Francine (Frankie) Piela , Clifford E. Knapp & Mike Bingley

Raccoon Circles, 2010
Thomas Smith

Shifting the Paradigm: from Challenge by Choice to Conscious Choice – An Evolution in Ideology
Jody Radtke & Lizzy Slatt

Systematic Family Sculpting
Gary Hees

Team Interaction Mapping
Mark Rose

The Art of Experiential Group Facilitation & Teaching
Jennifer Stanchfield

The Assessing Matrix
Nate Regier

The Fine Art of Team Building
Adam Ames & Andrew Bordwin

Turbo-charging for Character
James Fish      

Mind/Body/Spirit

“Exspiriential” Education: Integrating Spirit with Experience

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Snatam Kaur MSI Fundraiser, A Success

03/09/2010

Snatam Kaur &....

We’ve just had an amazing Mountain Spirit Institute fund raising concert:  Snatam Kaur, Guru Ganesha Singh and Ramesh Kannan played at the Lebanon Opera House, New Hampshire, USA.

GuruGanesha Singh

Not only are we grateful for their music, but for who they are as people. We were fortunate that they made time in their schedule to come to central New Hampshire, and we responded with an enthusiastic audience, (301), and lots of willing volunteers who did everything from move gear, provide flowers, to cook wonderful meals. Thank you Snatam, GuruGanesha, Ramesh, Shanti, Sopurkh, and Japreet!

Snatam Kaur & Family/Band at Lake Sunapee/MSI

As we prepped for the fundraiser by printing brochures, prepping our booth, and coordinating volunteers, Snatam’s band rehearsed in our living room, here in Sunapee, NH, which was really tough duty for us, not.

I learned a lot about what music is meant to be, a spiritual communion – with good discussions about why Snatam and her band do what they do. Also I talked with Ramesh Kannan, and discovered that a book I’d bought in a Durango bookstore, is one of his favorites, on the treatise of the spiritual nature of making music. The book is called The Music Lesson, A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music.

Ramesh Kannan

Stay tuned for some wonderful footage, pending the band’s approval of course. Meanwhile here are some pix.  Again a BIG THANK YOU to all the volunteers, support team, Snatam’s family, band members, the Lebanon Opera House, and especially to our sponsors who made this fundraiser possible.

Randy Richards,
Founder
Mountain Spirit Institute

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Posted in Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Inspirational People, Leadership, MSI News, Music, Spiritual, Supporting MSI | 1 Comment »

Grand Canyon Tourists & Nature

05/08/2010

5 million people visit the Grand Canyon every year
This staggering figure is a cross section of a world population which doesn’t get out into nature as much as in generations past. (See Richard Louv’s book  Last Child in the Woods which addresses nature deficit disorder)  Yet, our observations of the people seen on the North Rim this day, people are enthralled with not only the Canyon, but the flora and fauna on the canyon rim. We saw people taking the time to read about the plants and animals, and in most cases, sit in nature, if even for a while.  Man, and Woman’s internal compass designed is to gravitate back to nature, despite the lure of technology. Mountain Spirit’s goal is to facilitate this process.

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Posted in 1- Video Posts, Environment, Experiential Education, Health, Spiritual, Traveling | Leave a Comment »

The Mountain Spirit

19/07/2010

Book Retroactively Inspires our Organization’s Name

Book inspires my mission

While house-sitting here in Durango, at fellow Mountain Spirit  board member Bob Stremba’s house, I ran across a book on his shelf entitled “The Mountain Spirit”. Naturally I was intrigued. It looked like an old publication, and indeed, it was published by Overlook Press in 1979.

It’s an anthology with authors Georger Steiner, Galan Rowell, Dogen, David Roberts, Evelio Echevarria and Jeff Long and more.  Some of the chapter titles are: A History of Imagination in Wilderness, The Isolated Mountain, Alaska and Personal Style, Cairns, Modesty and the Conquest of Mountains, Bouldering: A Mystical Art Form, and Mountains in Early Taoism.
From the book’s back cover:
” The past few years have seen an extraordinary growth of interest in mountaineering all over the world, especially in North America. Until now, there has been a marked tendency among writers to concentrate on only the sporting aspects of mountain climbing.

The Mountain Spirit is the first work to explore the spiritual realm of mountains and mountain climbing in a philosophical, poetic, and even religious context. Bringing to the reader the excitement of heights and distant perspectives i, this book presents original material from an eclectic writing community and a unique approach to the aesthetics of the mountain experience”.

Reading through the pages, I was to see the book giving more expression to what I already felt but up till now, hadn’t expressed in the mountaineering aspects of this book. I’ll be ordering my copy today, and will see what I can do to get extra copies to fellow board members.
Our organization was founded on the idea of helping people to connect to themselves, each other and the environment. Mountaineering, and being in the power of mountains, is a natural ingredient in spiritual growth. We hope you’ll check out this book, and come with us on an adventure of the spirit in the mountains.

D.R. Richards, Founder
Mountain Spirit Institute

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A Children’s Yoga Adventure

17/07/2010

Snatam Kaur offers ‘Shanti the yogi’ – A yoga adventure for children in Lebanon, NH

Discover how much fun Yoga can be for your children with Snatam Kaur. Through imaginative stories, songs, mantras in motion and Yoga exercises especially for children, Snatam takes kids on a Yoga adventure. Magically woven into the adventure, Snatam conveys basic yogic principals to give kids the tools to be peaceful inside, and in their lives. Parents are welcome. Begin your child`s Yoga practice today.

Mantras for children

Wednesday, September 1st, 3:30 pm at the Carter Community Building, 1 Campbell Street, Lebanon, NH.
Cost is $10 per person. Parents, Kids’ Yoga teachers and children of all ages are welcome! Pre-registration is requested.

• Create a Fun Experience of Yoga for children
• Teach children mantras and songs for self esteem and happiness
• Teach basic yogic principals for a peaceful child and future leader of tomorrow.

A yoga adventure

The workshop is modeled after Snatam’s children’s yoga DVD “Shanti the Yogi – Mountain Adventure” and features music from Snatam’s newly released children’s album “Feeling Good Today!”  Snatam Kaur takes you on an adventure of Yoga, singing, and play with Shanti the Yogi. Snatam Kaur’s story-telling is woven through with beautiful illustrations, a Yoga and movement class and her joy-filled music. This is a children’s yoga adventure that parents are sure to love too! This is the first time that Snatam Kaur’s children’s Yoga workshop is held in New Hampshire.

Space is limited so pre-registration is requested.

To find out more or register, please contact us at Mountain Spirit Institute
Tel:  603-763-2668 or Email:  Amanda@mtnspirit.org

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Posted in Books, Experiential Education, Film/DVD, Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Music, Spiritual | Leave a Comment »

Individual action IS possible

22/06/2010

We are not powerless to what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf of Mexico

Dr Masaru Emoto is the scientist from Japan who is well known for his research and publications about the characteristics of water. Among other things, his research revealed that water physically responds to emotions.  Many people have the predominantly angry emotion when we consider what is happening in the Gulf. And while justified in that emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly pray the prayer that Dr. Emoto, himself, has proposed.

Let’s give energy of love and gratitude to all the living creatures in Mexico Gulf by praying like this. To whales, dolphins, pelicans, fishes, shellfishes, planktons, corals, algae and all creatures ion Gulf of Mexico

I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you.

Masaru Emoto
May, 9th 2010

We are not powerless. We are powerful.  Our united energy, speaking this prayer daily…multiple times daily… can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening.

We don’t have to know how…we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any other power active in the Universe today.

To read the article published by Dr Emoto, go to

http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/dr.emotos_message_2.html

Posted in Animals, Blogs, Climate Change, Conservation, Environment, Health, Holistic Living, Indigenous Wisdom, Inner Work, Leadership, Power of Place, Spiritual, Traveling, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Snatam Kaur and Guru Ganesha Singh

21/06/2010

‘In Snatam’s voice there is purity, clarity and love' - Ram Dass

Mountain Spirit Institute is delighted to announce a benefit concert featuring Snatam Kaur with Guruganesha Singh. The Sacred Chant Concert will be at Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon NH on 1st September 2010. Tickets on sale now at
http://www.lebanonoperahouse.org/event.php?id=777

Snatam Kaur is one of the most popular New Age artists of our time, selling over 75,000 albums a year. An international favorite with fans across the globe, including North America, Europe, Asia, South America and the South Pacific, Snatam Kaur performs at over 100 venues each year, from the Bahamas to Singapore.

Snatam Kaur, whose father was a manager for the Grateful Dead, has an amazing ability to transform traditional chants into a contemporary sound that appeals to the modern ear yet awakens an ancient yearning in the soul. Ram Dass, celebrated author of Be Here Now, says that “in Snatam’s voice…there is purity, clarity, and love.”

Snatam’s CDs Prem, Shanti, LIVE In Concert and Liberation’s Door are setting the industry standard for excellence in New Age sacred music. Snatam Kaur embodies the Sikh message of strength through inner serenity. She brings music, yoga and meditation to the communities she visits, as well as to hospices, juvenile detention centers, and schools she visits along the way.

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Global Meditation to Heal Waters

07/05/2010

If Group Meditation reduced violent crime in Washington DC, what could a massive healing meditation do for the world’s waters?

Startling & Postive Results

Below is a writeup on the now-oft quoted meditation event in Washington DC.  Then read further, about a worldwide meditation event scheduled for May 18th at 15:38 EST to send healing prayers to the world’s waters.

From alltm.org
A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Social Indicators Research reports on one of the most dramatic sociological experiments ever undertaken. Researchers predicted in advance that the calming influence of group meditation practice could reduce violent crime by over 20 percent in Washington, D.C., during an 8-week period in the summer of 1993.

In fact, the findings later showed that the rate of violent crime–which included assaults, murders, and rapes–decreased by 23 percent during the June 7 to July 30 experimental period. The odds of this result occurring by chance are less than 2 in 1 billion. Rigorous statistical analyses ruled out an extensive list of alternative explanations, according to John Hagelin, (more…)

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Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Service, Spiritual, Sustainable Living/Communities | 2 Comments »

MSI Adds 2nd Peru’10 Program

12/04/2010

Tai Chi, Huaraz, Peru

We’ve decided to add a second program headed to Peru for August. If you’d like to learn more about the program, dates and cost, visit our webpage. The program will focus Cusco, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca. This is our twelfth year leading educational programs to Peru.  Before that, R. Richards was guiding high altitude summits.
“It’s not about tourism and snapping images” says founder Richards. “Like all our programs, it’s about learning from the culture, giving back with service, a smile and learning the language, and of course stepping out of your comfort zone.”
We will also be working more with Jorge Martel in the Cordillera Blanca on the range’s east side. Stay tuned to see images of this  region. If you’d like information please contact us.

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Posted in Experiential Education, MSI News, Peru, Service, South America, Spiritual, Sustainable Travel, Traveling | Leave a Comment »

Inbox: Ho’Oponopono Works

08/04/2010

Hopono'ono (Sp!)

Ho’O What?
Old Hawaiian system of communication and engaging with the universe that actually works to make a better world.

I’ve been meaning to write about  this book for a while, and a recent email prompted me to follow through. On one hand, while the cover, and some of the book’s precepts are a bit hokey, such as getting the woman and car you want, I doubt I’d be married to the wonderful woman that’s my wife, had I not actively engaged the universe and actually asked for what I want. I was using this technique during the summer just before we met. I was leading a mountaineering course in Alaska at the time, and while in the mountains, practiced the technique about 30 times per day. This book illustrates a technique that has quite a track record and impressive story behind it. Below is an email from a good friend to whom I recommended the book and technique.  As Tolle says, “Are you polluting the world or cleaning up the mess?” This technique helps you do your part to clean up the mess.

Hi Randy,
I really enjoyed our conversation today.
Shortly after our conversation, I Googled some reviews of “Zero Limits” as well as several pages of the book itself in the form of a preview. In it are perhaps the most potentially life changing ideas I have ever encountered. I thank you very much for introducing it to me. I am going to order copies for several friends and myself.
Thanks
J.M.

Dear J,
Yes, this technique of simply saying “I love you, I’m sorry, Please forgive me, Thank you”, is still working wonders in my life. It’s time to raise the bar for all of us, isn’t it.
Thanks for the link to Meninger. I’ll check it out.
Looking forward to seeing you.
Warmest regards,
Randy

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Posted in Books, Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Leadership, MSI News, Spiritual | Leave a Comment »

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