Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning

'Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning' Creative teachers, Facilitators and Group Leaders Courses

6 day trainings, shorter workshops and consultancy
Robin's Full Re-edited, Reformatted 3rd Edition Book

Now over 5000 copies sold
Robin's New Dynamic Groups Book Due for Release Mid 2016

Robin's partner Rob Clark has just produced a stunning flier about it
Brand New 'Permaculture Principles Card Game'

PLUS 'Creative Process Wild Cards'
Introducing ELFy The Magician to the World

DaDarrr! Mascot, champion and colourful jigsaw puzzle symbol for Dynamic Groups
'The Love Feast' Dynamic Relationships Retreat and Methodology

Shorter workshops and private couples sessions available

Dynamic Groups Course in March 2018 was a Great Success

A special silent process that took place during the course.

21 people from all over the world and all sides of the country gathered at Crystal Waters EcoVillage in SE Queensland to participate in Robin’s annual Crystal Waters ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ six day training. It was her first Dynamic Groups course since offering them across Europe and returning home last August.

March seems to have been a good time of year to offer this course with people attending as part of their yearly plan being put into action. Fortunately the persistent rain from earlier weeks gave way to mostly pleasant conditions so the campers were dry and sessions could take place outdoors. Good use was made of the beautiful EcoCentre, a purpose build training venue hired for the event.

Using ‘Large Scale Chalk Drawing’ as a process on the deck of the EcoCentre.

One participant made this statement about the course on their evaluation form. “Magic! This word defines my synthesis of this course. Something inside me that was shut down for a long timed opened up and feels very yummy!”

The next Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning course at Crystal Waters is scheduled for 17^th to 22^nd February.

Here’s a link to the poster with all the details.

Great Q&A Sessions and Consultancies and Book Discounts on Patreon

The Patreon Support Group, set up by Robin and Erin to assist in the art and design, editing and logistics for Robin’s next books is proving to be an exciting and beneficial adventure.

As well as benefiting Robin’s work it also provides many benefits for Patrons.

Book and Resources Discounts

Substantial discounts are being offered on existing books, card games and other creative facilitation, community governance or Permaculture resources. The discounts vary depending on the reward level people are on, starting with the $20 level.

10% for $20 Patrons
20% for $50 Partons
40% for $100 Partons
(postage though please)

Monthly Sessions on Zoom

There have been some great monthly Zoom sessions with either a ‘Q&A’ topic to explore every second month for all Patrons plus a facilitated ‘Brainstorm and Sharing’ session every other month for $10 and above Patrons. The Q&A’s are a forum for people to ask questions about the selected topic which everyone can contribute to. They are run like a face to face circle and begin with a brief ‘Check In’. The Brainstorm Sessions encourage people to throw in their ideas about how to turn a nominated problem into a solution or solve the problem in some way.

Most previous sessions have been recorded with an audio link available through the Patreon Feed and Erin has keep great notes and published them on Patreon for those who’ve missed the Zoom sessions.

Past Q&A and Brainstorm Sessions have included topics like ‘Group Agreements’, ‘Working with Large Groups’, ‘Group Facilitation Processes for Earth Connection and Self Centring without it being too WooWoo’.

The Brainstorm session on ‘Timing and Lateness’ will be rescheduled for later in the year.

Next Patreon Sessions

Q&A Topic and Date: Mentoring and Coaching (Mon 9 July 2018, 7pm Brisbane Australia time)
Brainstorm Topic and Date: Low energy or motivation in a group (Wed 8 Aug 2018, 7pm)
We’re trailing 7pm Australia Time sessions and will go back to morning or early afternoon sessions after these two. Please let us know times that suit you and also any topics you’d like to explore 🙂 THANK YOU 🙂 Patreon Page Header

Consultancies are Great Support

The three $100 Consultancy places were taken up very quickly and are proving to be very productive, helpful and interesting sessions for both the Patron and Robin. The $50 Consultancies are also working well for the people involved. Some of the areas covered are – Permaculture Design Course Programming and Session Planning, Course Design and Facilitation, Handout Note Evaluation and Creative Suggestions, New Business Start Ups, New Book Planning, a Life Plan… Robin has found her ‘Vision Tree Planning and Design Process’ useful at times in guiding people’s journey and needs for their project, course or interest. It’s all very exciting and valuable. There are still $50 places available that offer a consultancy every 3 months.

Thanks again to all of you who support Robin via Patreon and in every other way.

To join us on Patreon click here.

Social Permaculture Course in Canberra a Great Success

Here’s a couple of photos of the Social Permaculture weekend led by Robina McCurdy and Robin and hosted by Samantha Hawker and Frank near Canberra after the APC (Australasian Permaculture Convergence) in April.

Participants got a lot out of the workshop and went home with much inspiration and many tools for applying to their local groups and course environments.

One example of applying the Principles of Permaculture to social design and group work.

Robina’s Holistic Goal Setting Mandala laid out with materials found nearby.

Robin’s Fabulous Adventure in Italy

Francesca, Robin’s host and event organiser in Italy.

In July it will be a year since Robin was in Italy offering her ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ six day course and a Wise Women’s Weekend. This time last year she was in Germany with her sights on Switzerland.

Italy was a delightful adventure which saw Robin divinely hosted by Francesca Simonetti and John Button (of Nature Designs), up in the mountains behind Domodossola. She began her visit there, entranced by all the stone buildings, and also had some time off there at the end to relax after the courses. She was joined and supported by Kym Chi from Canada as her assistant for three weeks which gave more ease and grace to the trip.

The venue for the Dynamic Groups course.

A theme that emerged during the Dynamic Groups course, which was held at an old abbey, now a community, in Northern Italy, was supporting refugees and cross cultural communication. Ironically there were three Australians, one Canadian and one American in the course while five participants worked with refugees in Italy in some way, three of them as a teaching team.

Some of the ‘Dynamic Groups’ course participants in a ‘Sticky Carpet’ process.

The Women’s Weekend was organised by Francesca and hosted by Ellen at her beautiful family home named Edan Sangha. It’s 1000 meters up in the mountains was a flowing stream and rock pools tumbling wildly through the property. With Kym Chi’s help the pair made a beautiful ceremonial spiral labyrinth for the women to walk and use as a sacred space throughout the weekend. See the last eNewsletter for a photo.

Kym Chi and Robin at the Wise Women’s Weekend

After the two events Robin and Kim spent five days at Damanhur Community, famous for its magnificent and much visited underground temples and extraordinary art, glass, sculpture and mosaic work below and above ground. Another feature of Damanhur are it’s many above ground spiral labyrinths and the sacred forest which is considered an outdoor temple. This was a dream come true for Robin, to finally visit Damanhur. As a spiritual community, a ‘Federation of Communities’ and an EcoVillage it leads the way for anyone wanting to explore another way of living in harmony with the land, with each other and with new ideas and research. Here’s their website.

‘Dynamic Teaching and Facilitation’ Book Update and Book List Snippet

The first in a series of Robin’s Mini books, entitled ‘Dynamic Teaching and Facilitation – The Foundations’ is almost ready to go to several proof readers before then being updated and finally making its way to the Editor.

The reference book list is complete and ready to add to the appendixes.

A briefing with the artist for the structural design of the book and artwork is imminent.

Two pertinent questions will be sent out to over 200 of you who have done either of Robin’s ‘Dynamic Groups, Dynamic Learning’ courses, any of the versions (TAA or BSZ) of the CERT IV in Training and Assessment or the original Skye and Robin’s ‘Advanced Permaculture Creative Teachers Facilitation course. The questions will be aimed at what really worked about the course and its content and where you’ve used, grown and developed the gifts from the course. Many of the responses will be used in the book with acknowledgement of your name and ‘title’/work/profession (with your permission of course). If you don’t get an email from Robin about this in the next two months and would like to comment please email robin@earthcare.com.au

Thanks to the many of you who are giving financial, physical and moral support to this huge endeavor.

Here’s a snippet of the Book Resources and Reference List – the section on Dynamic Groups, Group Dynamics, Group Work, Facilitation, Teaching, Planning, NVC, Problem Solving, Communication, Governance

Social Permaculture is Online Globally with Sustainable Living Guide

Robin will be amongst the presenters for the Sustainable Living Guide’s Global Summit from 21^st to 24^th of this month. Robin’s 30 minute audio presentation is a Q&A interview by the Guides’ creator Lisa Pavati and focuses on Social Permaculture and Robin’s life journey with Permaculture, groups, education and empowerment.

See the Facebook page and links to some of the presenters and several beautiful Promo clips.

Join the Summit on this link.

Robin will then be offering nine presentations and workshops as part of the Sustainable Living Guides’ program over months to come. It is envisioned that they will be offered regularly and will have a project based outcome to integrate all the learnings towards the end of the nine sessions.

Keep an eye on the website for further details or to sign up to receive more information about offerings by Robin’s and other great Presenters from around the globe.