Core Routines: Expanding the Senses, Mapping, Questioning and Tracking
Skills Practiced: Focused observation, visual memory, guiding language
Ecological Indicators: Plants, terrain features, insects, color patterns
Qualities Fostered: Curiosity, Awareness, Joy in Small Things
Directions (Shields): East (Inspire), Northeast (Reflect), South (Focus)
Suggested Age Range: 6+ (fun and accessible for all ages)
Timing & Energy Level: Gentle yet playful—great warm-up or quieting game (Northeast/East)
Set-Up & Materials:
- Blindfolds
- Partners (one photographer, one camera)
- Any outdoor setting with rich detail
Description:
One person acts as the “photographer” and gently guides their blindfolded partner (the “camera”) to a special scene in nature. When ready, the photographer squeezes the partner’s shoulder—“click!”—and the blindfolded person opens their eyes for 3–5 seconds, then closes them again. After a few shots, roles are reversed. At the end, participants describe their “photos” to each other in vivid sensory language.
Coyote Mentoring Tips:
- Ask: “Can you find beauty no one else would notice?”
- Encourage quiet walking and trust between pairs
- Invite detailed storytelling afterward—not just “a tree” but “red veins on yellow leaf”
Variations:
- Create “nature galleries” by sharing photo descriptions in circle
- Use sketching or journaling to “develop” the photos later
- Try in different seasons or times of day
Debrief Prompts:
- “What was your favorite photo?”
- “What did you notice in just a few seconds?”
- “How did it feel to be guided through someone else’s eyes?”
Story Seeds:
- Stories of sudden beauty or hidden gifts
- Moments of unexpected vision or discovery
- Reflections on what it means to “see”