Current educational models are under pressure from multiple sources. The cost of college and graduate school has risen dramatically, students take on large amounts of debt that they are unable to pay back because well paying jobs are not easily available. New forms of online education are widely available, and the value of a traditional college education is being questioned. At the same time the pace of change has accelerated to unheard of levels, and the social and business environment is increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, chaotic and ambiguous. Large numbers of young people are seeking a different approach where they develop practical skills, make sense of life and find a way to earn a living that aligns with their values and serves the larger human and natural community
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The need for new forms of economic organization becomes more obvious as we see the increasing disparity in income distribution, and the inability of American society to fashion an adequate response to climate change. The increased prevalence of obesity, diabetes, cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as the high level s of depression and incarceration are clear signs of a society in trouble. Despite our material wealth our citizens exhibit high levels of unhappiness. Food provides a direct connection between nature and culture, and is a foundation for health and vitality.
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Our programs are attuned to the degradation of the environment, to western societies alienation from the natural world, and to the need to reestablish a more organic, regenerative relationship with the planet. Given the increasing interest in healthy food, and the fact that we have put more carbon into the atmosphere from our agricultural practices than from burning fossil fuels, it makes sense to work with the food system as a vehicle to remediate our relationship with the earth.
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Our Programs
Practical Education that infuses learning with awareness,
insight and compassion for oneself, others and the world
"As we struggle with the challenges that are our particular inheritance, we create the patterns for the solutions of the future. It happens in the present, with every thought and feeling we have and every action that we take. The responsibility we carry is no less than that."
- Peter Merry
Educational Approach
Program Components
The educational elements will be delivered in an experiential and contemplative context, built on a solid foundation of contemporary theory and empirical research in a variety of disciplines. This contemporary knowledge
will be woven together in a seamless whole with the deep wisdom resident in the great spiritual traditions, and presented in a format that utilizes the most effective approaches to create a transformative educational experience and to impart tangible skills. This approach will encourage participants to become highly effective in the world. The various streams of knowledge will be offered with an awareness of the inner and outer dimensions of human experience in mind.
An initial outline of the program content includes 4 modules that take place in the context of full time practical work experience and ongoing mentorship triads. The entire experience is bracketed by a comprehensive “storytelling seminar” where each participant retells their life story as it unfolds through past, present and future time as a part of the larger unfolding of nature, culture and human life.
The four basic modules include:
> Module 1 – Living Meaningfully, by Accessing Your Soul’s Full Potential through Practical Work Experience
> Module 2 – Creating a Socially Responsible Life with Integrity and Excellence: Making Decisions Together, Make a Living and Re-Generate the Planet’s Vitality
> Module 3 – Building Healthy Families & Relationships at Home and at Work: Communicating Effectively
> Module 4 – The Secrets of Vitality, Health and Longevity: Living Divided No More
Program Elements & Offerings
All of our programs weave together a series of elements into a single fabric that provides meaningful engagement for all those involved and supports personal evolution and creative social participation. This takes place through practical hands on work combined with experiential opportunities for reflection and learning.
These elements include:
(1) productive work in a socially responsible, creative business enterprise,
(2) personal, legacy mentoring by wise and compassionate elders,
(3) specific training in emotional and social intelligence,
(4) connection to nature and the ecosystem,
(5) effective citizenship education,
(6) a practical service project,
(7) communications and relationship skills,
(8) soul based career planning and
(9) hands on business training within
(10) a supportive community context and
(11) a practical education and work study environment for emerging adults (generally ages 19 to 29 and frequently recent college graduates)
These elements can be combined in a variety of different format offerings, each addressing a particular need and running for a particular length of time.
Our format offerings will include:
> a one week stand alone workshop or an “Alternative Spring Break”
> a two week residential intensive offered during mid term break in the 3rd or 4th year of college for two credits
> a six week summer internship program
> opportunities for extended internships
> a 9 month certificate program
> a 2 year Masters Program in Consciousness & Business (with various concentrations)
A planet friendly, profit making enterprise, is a part of each program format.
The educational elements will be delivered in an experiential and contemplative context, built on a solid foundation of contemporary theory and empirical research in a variety of disciplines. This contemporary knowledge
will be woven together in a seamless whole with the deep wisdom resident in the great spiritual traditions, and presented in a format that utilizes the most effective approaches to create a transformative educational experience and to impart tangible skills. This approach will encourage participants to become highly effective in the world. The various streams of knowledge will be offered with an awareness of the inner and outer dimensions of human experience in mind.
An initial outline of the program content includes 4 modules that take place in the context of full time practical work experience and ongoing mentorship triads. The entire experience is bracketed by a comprehensive “storytelling seminar” where each participant retells their life story as it unfolds through past, present and future time as a part of the larger unfolding of nature, culture and human life.
The four basic modules include:
> Module 1 – Living Meaningfully, by Accessing Your Soul’s Full Potential through Practical Work Experience
> Module 2 – Creating a Socially Responsible Life with Integrity and Excellence: Making Decisions Together, Make a Living and Re-Generate the Planet’s Vitality
> Module 3 – Building Healthy Families & Relationships at Home and at Work: Communicating Effectively
> Module 4 – The Secrets of Vitality, Health and Longevity: Living Divided No More
Program Elements & Offerings
All of our programs weave together a series of elements into a single fabric that provides meaningful engagement for all those involved and supports personal evolution and creative social participation. This takes place through practical hands on work combined with experiential opportunities for reflection and learning.
These elements include:
(1) productive work in a socially responsible, creative business enterprise,
(2) personal, legacy mentoring by wise and compassionate elders,
(3) specific training in emotional and social intelligence,
(4) connection to nature and the ecosystem,
(5) effective citizenship education,
(6) a practical service project,
(7) communications and relationship skills,
(8) soul based career planning and
(9) hands on business training within
(10) a supportive community context and
(11) a practical education and work study environment for emerging adults (generally ages 19 to 29 and frequently recent college graduates)
These elements can be combined in a variety of different format offerings, each addressing a particular need and running for a particular length of time.
Our format offerings will include:
> a one week stand alone workshop or an “Alternative Spring Break”
> a two week residential intensive offered during mid term break in the 3rd or 4th year of college for two credits
> a six week summer internship program
> opportunities for extended internships
> a 9 month certificate program
> a 2 year Masters Program in Consciousness & Business (with various concentrations)
A planet friendly, profit making enterprise, is a part of each program format.
Creating a Life that Counts
our initial one week program at the Hancock Shaker Village
Creating a Life that Counts is offered by the Institute for ReGenerative Learning at the historic Hancock Shaker Village, near Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The program provides an experiential learning environment that encourages emerging adults to clarify their life's purpose, to learn to set practical goals, to master a proven decision making model that has been taught to thousands of business executives ,(G.R.O.W. *) and to overcome the inner obstacles such as fear, doubt, and self-judgment that can sabotage our best laid plans.
During our week long experience you will:
> gather together in a community of thoughtful men and women
> work on the land and learn tangible skills
> discover your strengths and how to put them into action
> take a series of assessments to better understand yourself
> learn to prepare delicious meals of healthy food
> learn the critical skills necessary to sustain long term relationships
> strengthen your capacity to reach the goals that are most important to you
And you will do all of this in a beautiful setting, with time to socialize with others who share your passion to create a life that counts. The facilities and the location are a perfect venue for exploring one’s life purpose and developing practical skills. The former Shaker community became a museum and learning center in 1960. The Shakers were the longest-lived utopian community in American history, with a presence that spanned three centuries, beginning at the very birth of our nation.
You will consider the following questions:
> What do I love doing?
> What am I good at?
> What does the world need?
> What gets in my way?
> Where are my blind spots?
> How do I learn best?
Many of the practices embraced by the Shakers were well ahead of their time:
> women holding leadership positions equal to men,
> new ways to sustain health and vitality,
> applying the values of justice, equality, and tolerance in everyday life,
> a deep commitment to what we would today call “sustainability”
The Shakers brought a meaningful sense of purpose and a capacity for beauty and simplicity to agriculture, medicine, design and many other areas of everyday life at a simpler time in America. The knowledge and practical skills that we learn together will help participants step into a new level of leadership as highly conscious and capable young adults or conscious elders. This transformational one week program will combine in-depth study, experiential exercises, group discussion, inner reflection, personal mentoring, and hands-on work experience.
When you complete the program you will:
> Feel a greater sense of purpose
> Be better able to handle adversity
> Have more empathy for yourself and others
> Communicate more effectively
> Think more clearly, and
> Know the goals that truly matter to you
This unique educational experience comes at just the right time. It seems increasingly clear that the current systems and structures of American life no longer provide a clear path forward for future generations. Vast stores of new knowledge are available to help us forge solutions to these challenges. New approaches in how we relate to each other and to the planet are called for. When we pay attention, we realize that nature wastes nothing and that as old structures collapse, they become fertile ground for the next creative emergence. This ReGenerative principle applies to the personal, social
and environmental challenges that confront us all.
The future belongs to a new generation of emerging leaders who will know how to create a world that works for everyone.
The program is for you if:
> you are a college or high school graduate wondering what to do next
> you are interested in making a difference in the world
> you want to be part of a community of like-minded individuals
> you are looking for meaningful work where you can earn a good
> living and love what you do
> you are interested in working on the land or connecting with nature
> you love food and the art of eating
> you want to find and keep a meaningful intimate partnership
> you want to develop satisfying personal and professional relationships
> you want you to feel energized and motivated when you wake up in the morning
As a participant you will:
> Understand how to achieve and sustain high performance over time
> Learn a simple, proven model (G.R.O.W.*) for decision making
> Understand how to set and achieve S.M.A.R.T.** Goals
> Clarify your life’s mission and purpose
> Learn to transform difficult emotions such as fear and doubt into positive energy
> Tame your inner critic
*The G.R.O.W. model was created by Graham Alexander, John Whitmore and Alan Fine arising out of their work with Tim Galway and the Inner Game. It has been taught to tens of thousands of leaders all over the world and is featured prominently in Whitmore’s bestselling book, Coaching for Performance. It stands for Goal/Reality/Options/What will you do.
**S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym which stands for Specific/Measurable/Attainable/Relevant/Time-bound. This process of setting goals is also well known to business leaders.
During our week long experience you will:
> gather together in a community of thoughtful men and women
> work on the land and learn tangible skills
> discover your strengths and how to put them into action
> take a series of assessments to better understand yourself
> learn to prepare delicious meals of healthy food
> learn the critical skills necessary to sustain long term relationships
> strengthen your capacity to reach the goals that are most important to you
And you will do all of this in a beautiful setting, with time to socialize with others who share your passion to create a life that counts. The facilities and the location are a perfect venue for exploring one’s life purpose and developing practical skills. The former Shaker community became a museum and learning center in 1960. The Shakers were the longest-lived utopian community in American history, with a presence that spanned three centuries, beginning at the very birth of our nation.
You will consider the following questions:
> What do I love doing?
> What am I good at?
> What does the world need?
> What gets in my way?
> Where are my blind spots?
> How do I learn best?
Many of the practices embraced by the Shakers were well ahead of their time:
> women holding leadership positions equal to men,
> new ways to sustain health and vitality,
> applying the values of justice, equality, and tolerance in everyday life,
> a deep commitment to what we would today call “sustainability”
The Shakers brought a meaningful sense of purpose and a capacity for beauty and simplicity to agriculture, medicine, design and many other areas of everyday life at a simpler time in America. The knowledge and practical skills that we learn together will help participants step into a new level of leadership as highly conscious and capable young adults or conscious elders. This transformational one week program will combine in-depth study, experiential exercises, group discussion, inner reflection, personal mentoring, and hands-on work experience.
When you complete the program you will:
> Feel a greater sense of purpose
> Be better able to handle adversity
> Have more empathy for yourself and others
> Communicate more effectively
> Think more clearly, and
> Know the goals that truly matter to you
This unique educational experience comes at just the right time. It seems increasingly clear that the current systems and structures of American life no longer provide a clear path forward for future generations. Vast stores of new knowledge are available to help us forge solutions to these challenges. New approaches in how we relate to each other and to the planet are called for. When we pay attention, we realize that nature wastes nothing and that as old structures collapse, they become fertile ground for the next creative emergence. This ReGenerative principle applies to the personal, social
and environmental challenges that confront us all.
The future belongs to a new generation of emerging leaders who will know how to create a world that works for everyone.
The program is for you if:
> you are a college or high school graduate wondering what to do next
> you are interested in making a difference in the world
> you want to be part of a community of like-minded individuals
> you are looking for meaningful work where you can earn a good
> living and love what you do
> you are interested in working on the land or connecting with nature
> you love food and the art of eating
> you want to find and keep a meaningful intimate partnership
> you want to develop satisfying personal and professional relationships
> you want you to feel energized and motivated when you wake up in the morning
As a participant you will:
> Understand how to achieve and sustain high performance over time
> Learn a simple, proven model (G.R.O.W.*) for decision making
> Understand how to set and achieve S.M.A.R.T.** Goals
> Clarify your life’s mission and purpose
> Learn to transform difficult emotions such as fear and doubt into positive energy
> Tame your inner critic
*The G.R.O.W. model was created by Graham Alexander, John Whitmore and Alan Fine arising out of their work with Tim Galway and the Inner Game. It has been taught to tens of thousands of leaders all over the world and is featured prominently in Whitmore’s bestselling book, Coaching for Performance. It stands for Goal/Reality/Options/What will you do.
**S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym which stands for Specific/Measurable/Attainable/Relevant/Time-bound. This process of setting goals is also well known to business leaders.
One week programsComing soon
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Alternative semester breakComing soon
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Summer apprenticeshipComing soon
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9 month certificateComing soon
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2 year masters programComing soon
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