3 Free Tools to Create a Vision of Your Future

This year it has taken me longer to finally get to all my visioning for the year. Usually I get this done between October and December, but here we are. In this post, you will find 3 ways to vision. I am using this approach right now, and already I am manifesting my dreams. It’s kind of miraculous.   Over … Read More

It Takes a Smile to Build a Village

I have so much reverence and awe for Thierry Vrain and Chanchal Cabrera and the way they foster a village at Innisfree Botanical Garden and Farm. This photo of me and Thierry doesn’t even compare to the teeth-filled grin, shoulder’s raised, smile from his soul that I get, off camera, EVERY day, yet I bet you’ve seen how he lights … Read More

Jamie’s published thesis: The Hummingbird Approach; A Case Study of Guided Discovery Learning for Children in Nature

Or read below for more specifics. This case study examines a group of 10-11 year-olds participating in a nature-based educational role-play adventure program called Wild Craft Play. The facilitative approach used mirrors some of the characteristics of the hummingbird, and thereby is affectionately referred to within these pages as The Hummingbird Approach. In this approach, once the facilitator has set … Read More

Book Jamie Black

Jamie Black MA Play Specialist, Earth Advocate, Guide, Consultant, and Producer (aka HummingBard).  Jamie has been educating and guiding people since 2000 in many walks of life. Identifying as Jamie/she/them, Jamie specializes in play, storycrafting, entrepreneurship, running outdoor programs, digital story production, and igniting Wild Craft Play for people. Scroll down to see a list of topics, or simply reach … Read More

#CuratingCleanerWaters

A small group of youth and adults are producing digital stories to solve the plastic problems in the ocean. Wanna join? CLICK HERE to email Jamie.  At the Spring Beach Cleanup on Denman Island in 2022 with and for the Association of Denman Island Marine Stewardship Society, and Ocean Legacy. We are searching for 2 different types of people to … Read More

Presentation – Connecting Youth to the Earth by Jamie Black

Watch this presentation by Jamie Black about Connecting Youth to the Earth to Protect Old Growth Trees: My intention is, ultimately to share some light on this topic and also to engage in conversation and to add to the movement. I have an MA and Environmental education and community and communication. I barely cracked open the can of consumerism, capitalism, … Read More

Drum Stalk for Youth Mental Health

I feel so blessed that I had the opportunity to take a group of youth on a drum stock. My name is Jamie black. I am a Behaviour Interventionist, a Consultant, an Artist, Musician, and the Founder of Wild Craft Play School. It’s my mission to build regenerate resilience in youth the way nature intended. It was an honour and … Read More

My Experience at Fairy Creek Blockade – May 29th

So you might have come across this post because you saw that I wanted to share the story of my time spent at Fairy Creek yesterday, May 29. With the one big day, this big invitation of many people showing up, I want to share my story, because there are teachings, there are misunderstandings, and there are new understandings that … Read More

Guided Drum Journey with HummingBard

4 Week Online Guided Drum Journey with Hummingbird (aka Jamie Black) Sundays from 11-1:30 pm Register and Donate by emailing Jamie HERE CLICK HERE to find a Sunday Start Date that works for our next intake, space is limited. Thank you for considering donating. For this first experience, we will be ironing out the kinks of online journeying.  Any feedback … Read More

Drawn by Nature

Welcome to SoLe Adventure Bike Club with Jamie Black Wednesdays, 10am to 12:30pm = 2.5 hrs Starts July 14, 2021 Ages 10 and up Cost $200 per youth for 4 sessions Pre-registration 1 month in advance required We require 6 youth to run this Locations: Nanoose Bay Rd. & Englishman River Falls Covid Protocol: Pick up and drop off socially distanced, … Read More

Sometimes you just need to take yourself on an Adventure

Sometimes, when the going gets really tough, and you feel like you don’t have someone available to go with you, you just have to say yes to an invitation to go on an adventure.  That’s what I did this past week and I am so grateful I did. My heart is swelling, and my body still feels like it is … Read More

Archery breeds Philanthropy in Nature

What a gift it was to go out into Nature with this extraordinary new friend, Conan.  I was blessed to be taken to his favorite spot in Nature, and we camped out and did archery, then had sausages with home-made sourdough. Mmmmm.  While out on this adventure many things happened, including deep conversations about what I am doing on this … Read More

What is unconditional love?

Hello, this is Hummingbird and this blog post is a recording and transcribed account of an aha moment I had yesterday about myself and my relationship with unconditional love.  Enjoy! This podcast has been transcribed below for those of you who prefer written text. I need to preface that the end of this podcast did not turn out the way … Read More

Faith across Canada – January 2018

Sometimes one must take a leap of faith and stretch one’s comfort zone by driving across Canada in January, yup it’s crazy, and TOTALLY worth it! I didn’t drive across Canada because I wanted to see the country in the snow, it wasn’t about the scenery…  For me, January is a time of ending and new beginnings and I needed … Read More

A journey to Toronto Outdoor Education School

A journey to Toronto Outdoor Education School turned out to be fruitful. Throughout my research, there were a number of people who told me about the Toronto Outdoor Education School, and recommend I connect with them, as they were a leading role model across Canada for being the most advanced and effective outdoor education program that ensured that the students … Read More

Time for Integration @WildCraftPlay’sCool

It’s time for Integrating the lessons of the year @WildCraftPlay. Sending big thanks to all of our teachers, mentors, guides, ancestors, children and Nature for all of the gifts provided this year.  This has been a whirl wind of incredible creation, completion, change and integration.  Now it seems a good time to go within and allow the dust to settle. … Read More

The story of the Wild Craft Play Nov 4th Special Day

The story of the Wild Craft Play Nov 4th Special Day For those of you who missed this extraordinary day You will find highlights below Of Ogre’s tales, youth sharing skills And archery in the snow. Navigate downwards And pleasantly you shall find Stories that require, imagination And an open mind. Gratitude (in the Northeast) Thank you, to all of … Read More

Letting Go and Trusting the Process

Now there’s a loaded statement “Let go and trust the process.” Right. Just let go.  That sounds easy enough.  Am I the only one who has a hard time letting go? Yet, once I let go of trying so hard, and finally give in to trusting that things will work out as they are meant to, **Bing, I get a … Read More

Stories of Week 1

Here are the stories of week 1. Enjoy! Our first day at Wild Craft Play ‘sCool Drawn by Nature on Tuesdays: 10am to 2pm For youth ages 11 – 17 Where youth came into their own potential through a Guided Discovery Learning process called The Hummingbird Approach, founded by Jamie Black. For youth who thrive in uncertainty and minimal, if not … Read More

What you eat matters!

I believe that what we eat matters… don’t you? What we choose to consume determines our future, our health, the health of our children and relationships.  Doesn’t everyone want to live a vibrant life? Recently I have been having many conversations about food security, and what I find even more important is the nutrition density of the food we consume… … Read More

He walx like a fox.

Yep, you read it right. He walx like a fox! Today was such an inspiring day, I had to write a post about it.  I feel so privileged and blessed to be an Adventure Interventionist with trust and permission from family and education system to get a child outside every week!  For over 5 years, I have worked with the … Read More

Hummingbird Guides Training – coming soon!

Hummingbird Guides Training is coming soon! Thanks to The Nature of Play Conference – Hosted by the Nanaimo Child Development Centre – Oct 5, 2016 It was a real privilege and pleasure to attend this highly educational and professional conference this weekend.  I knew it was going to be motivational and educational because Hilary Leighton and Dave Segal are incredible people … Read More

Jamie Black as a child in nature: An autobiography

Jamie Black as a child in nature: An autobiography. “Why can’t we build a fire here?” I would ask mom. “Good question!” she would reply, and then provide space for hands-on learning to ingrain the awareness and the knowing that my actions have consequences, and that nature needs to be protected.  Being nature aware is second nature to me because … Read More

Facilitating Storymaking

Tonight I just had an epiphany about my role as a facilitator.  I thought I was a storyteller, but it turns out I am a facilitator of storymaking. I am in the midst of my data analysis for my Masters Research.  I have been working on this baby for over a year now, and in the last three months I have been … Read More

Stuck In The Mud

For one so young, there is no thought as to what may happen after acting on an impulse. To a young girl, a ditch full of thick, wet mud looks like a great deal of fun; but what happens after the fun? Out for a walk on a cloudy day (I added this: with the Wild Craft Play group and … Read More

Gratitude for Community Storytellers

Saturday, December 12, 2015 was our VERY FIRST Community Quest and it was EPIC! It was an epic adventure for many reasons. One can only assume it was due to the new experiences, the familiar faces, the curious merchants, the real gold, the quests, the storyteller, and of course the wind, the rain, and the community engagement of businesses and … Read More

Tell us your vision for your children

Welcome to the first post for Wild Craft Play.  Thank you for taking the time to read and follow us! We would like to know your vision for your children. I have been studying children in play for over 15 years, and now, as I finish my Masters Thesis in Adventure, I have just come across a Ted Talk from the … Read More

This day couldn’t get any better

“This day couldn’t get any better could it?” asks 8 year old Paula, as we walked barefoot in the rain in the woods in October.  Then she says “or could it?” Just then I hiked up my skirt, and said “let’s run!”  She let out a gleeful squeal, igniting my inner child and we splashed through the puddles in our bare feet.  There … Read More