Robin’s decision this year to run her annual ‘Dynamic Groups’ training at Crystal Waters EcoVillage much earlier in the year turned out to be a popular choice with participants.
In light of this the course for 2019 will be in February from 17th to 22nd.
It promises to be a great course and there are still a few places so best to jump in and confirm before the ‘Silly Season’ arrives.
Both Robin and her partner Rob attended the annual Joining Gathering in September.
Robin facilitated a powerful and transformative workshop entitled ‘Supporting Each Other to Shine’ and was able to contribute in a much lesser way than usual in the Ceremonies having mentored and guided other younger people to lead the Ceremonies, and lead they did so brilliantly. Both Robin and Rob were on the panel discussion about ‘Relationship’.
A highlight of the event was Rob and Robin stepping up together in the Closing Ceremony to hold the energy of Staff and Basket holder for the next gathering. This means they care for the sacred objects that symbolize the Masculine and Feminine and together with a big circle of other wonderful people, organize the next ‘Joining’ for 2019 on the Spring Equinox weekend, held over 3 days.
The venue and exact dates will be announced very soon for ‘The Joining Retreat 2019’
Here’s a photo of the beautiful Basket and Staff that are symbols of the Masculine and Feminine Energies. 
It’s now possible to watch snippets of the Main Presentations at the International Permaculture Conference in Hyderabad, India late last year.
One of the sub themes was ‘Women as Agents of Change’ so Robin initiated and was then invited to led a panel of Women in Permaculture, especially emphasising Social Permaculture. She asked the question “Are Women Leading the Change?” and “What areas of change are you active and successful in and what qualities do you feel support this?” Women joining Robin on the panel included Vandana Shiva, Starhawk, Rowe Morrow, Robina McCurdy, Padma Koppula and several others.
There’s a few seconds of the panel at 4.27 and a shot of all the presenters to begin with. Enjoy.
Testimonials that come ‘Out of the Blue’ are very rewarding for any business, social enterprise or undertaking. Here’s a few that have popped in since the last eNewsletter.
This one from Anne Gibson is very honouring and gratefully received, especially as Anne is an outstanding and very well respected speaker and presenter at Expo’s, Events and Workshops these days.
“Attending Robin’s ‘Dynamic Groups’ course was one of the most valuable investments I’ve ever made in my presentation skills. Not only was the course thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining, but I gained an incredible teaching toolkit that has enabled me to engage my students and audiences when speaking and delivering workshops in an entirely new way. The group processes challenged my thinking and opened up a whole new world of creative possibilities to enhance learning outcomes. Robin’s teaching aids, processes, gifted teaching style and group work are testament to her exceptional facilitation skills. Robin has an outstanding talent for leading and coaching individuals and groups and I am so grateful to have learned from a master educator.”
Anne Gibson
The Micro Gardener
“I love Robin Clayfield’s work so much. I use techniques I learned from her in every second of my teaching. And daily life xxxxx. Thank you Robin”.
Tamara Griffiths
Permaculture Teacher, Victoria
“Dynamic Groups Dynamic Learning was one of my fav routine courses ever – it was pivotal! I’m creating workshops now based on similar principles”
Natasha Blok (UK)
How often do you take time to review and renew your course design, your session plan that you work from to present regularly, your meeting agenda design or your event program? Do you tend to repeat the same session over and over or use similar processes to deliver the content you’re working with? Or do you challenge yourself to try new things, throw out the routine curricular or procedure, swap a standard process for a more creative one and dance on the edge of growth and expansion with each new challenge you give yourself?
Do you get bored with what you offer to your groups? Are you tired of doing things the same way? Do your
participants seem bored or disengaged? Or are your groups, meetings, events and sessions fun and exciting, receiving great feedback and motivating participants to thrive and shine. Do you complete and celebrate a job well done and feel empowered and energized while knowing your group and each individual involved felt the same?
We all work in different ways and I find the way I work best is on the edge of my comfort zone, planning well, designing each session especially for the group I’m facilitating and gathering the appropriate resources, then, always trying something new. I design in the new and then also, having the solid foundation of a session plan, I’m able to throw out some aspects of it, or all of it if need be, to fully meet the needs of the group or any situation that may arise.
The ‘Creative Process Wild Cards’ are a playful and dynamic way to challenge oneself to use a new process,
to spice things up or introduce other ways of working which stimulate the group, generate creative ideas while growing teamwork and group energy.
So my challenge to you now is to pick 3 ‘Creative Process Wild Cards’, either out of the set you may already have (or purchase online here) or out of the list of 20 I’ve placed here after drawing them randomly form the set. I’ve written them in a list, in the order that I picked them, so you can now close your eyes and point with 3 of your fingers and then look and see which processes are listed closest to your fingers.
I challenge you to then design an activity or session for your next group, class or meeting which uses all three of the processes to present the learning content or agenda item or session, whatever you’re doing next with a group. Remember to design it as an interactive group session where people are ‘Speaking and Doing’ if possible.
I’d love your feedback and sharing about which cards you picked, what you designed and how your facilitation went.
Here’s some cards to pick from. Remember to close your eyes.
Here’s a wonderful example of one woman living and breathing the challenge of ‘Dynamic Groups’ by using the ‘Creative Process Wild Cards’ and many of the learnings and processes from the ‘Dynamic Groups’ course and integrating that with her existing programs and group work. Thanks Shannon for such a rich offering of your work and stepping up to the challenge.
“Robin’s Dynamic Groups Creative Facilitation course has inspired and energised me to deliver even better training and professional development for the Aquatic industry. I present courses and professional development and have always done things a bit “differently”, for example cross crawling and playing my ukulele. The creative processes we learned throughout the course have grown my toolbox exponentially!
Each time I run a course now I consider how I did it last time and which processes I can use to engage the
participants and really involve them in their own learning. I pull out my trusty deck of Wild Cards and go over the notes and reviews I made from the DGCF course. I use mind maps or lists to brainstorm learning objectives and the process that will work for each and the group. I then create a plan showing how we move from one activity to the next (and the glue processes 
involved to get there). Eg pictures attached.
The groups I facilitate often comment on how engaging the session was, the fact that they get to talk and share their passion rather than being lectured at, the joy of being involved and that the learning was fun. I love to see them engaged, for me starting off with a good icebreaker really sets the tone for the entire session.
I review the presentation (more of a facilitation these days) and processes used, considering the “plus, minus and interesting” of each, I make notes on my plan as to how I would change it next time round.
The creative learning processes are gold! I love to bust out the wild cards and aim to challenge myself as facilitator to use one of the more obscure processes each time…for example I have a First Aid mandala in the works.
Thanks Robin, I feel inspired and energised by the Dynamic Groups Creative Facilitation course. I believe the way we learn needs to change and love pushing the boundaries for myself and participants so we all get the most out of each learning experience.”
Shannon Townsend
Aquatic Centre and Gymnastic Manager
Robin’s annual and much appreciated creative teachers, facilitators and group leaders six day residential intensive course will be held from 19th to 24th May and will be a little warmer than the mid-winter course last year. The fire will still be going when needed and …
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Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning Dynamic Courses, Books, Resources and Tours for Healthy Groups, People and Culture with Robin Clayfield
