What do all the great “stewards of the earth” have in common? John James Audubon, Roger Tory Peterson, Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall – they all spent A LOT of time outdoors! Join us in giving the young people of our community a chance to continue their legacy: embark on the “Sit Spot Challenge“. (“What’s a Sit Spot?“)

The Sit Spot Challenge begins on Saturday, October 15th (you can continue to find sponsors through out your challenge period). Our goal is to raise $15,000 in scholarship funds to offer children from low-income families the opportunity to get outdoors and into the woods with Primitive Pursuits!

Launch a Sit Spot Challenge!

Already know how?

Set a goal for yourself. You can commit to a 10, 20 or 30-day Sit Spot Challenge – choose your own adventure! How much money would you like to raise? What amount would make your effort meaningful to you? Once you’ve decided on your challenge and fundraising goal, you’re ready to find sponsors. We encourage you to ask each person to donate $1 a day (a one-time donation of $10, $20, or $30). The more sponsors you get, the more money you will earn for each day you are out there. You will set up a fundraising page where your sponsors can donate and find updates about your challenge. Each time someone pledges to sponsor you, you’ll let them know how to find your blog and make their donation. If you take on a 20-day challenge and decide to keep going for 30 days, you can continue seeking new sponsors while updating those who are already supporting you. (How it Works)

Make sure you’ve found a spot that works for you before the challenge begins – you’ll be spending lots of time there! You also may need to convey to your sponsors just how challenging this can be, and having done it first might give you some stories to tell. Your sit spot is also a great place to practice your sales pitch. Remember, you are not only doing this for yourself, but also to provide awesome nature experiences to kids who otherwise might never get the chance.

Any amount you bring in will contribute to life changing experiences for urban and low-income kids from Tompkins County, and will bring smiles to many faces. Just as importantly, this is also your chance to make a direct change in the world – just by letting people know how important the world is – to you and all the kids out there.

Make a stand for nature, for yourself, and for our community! Best of luck!

According to the Wilderness Awareness School, “There are 2 basic requirements that every sit spot should have 1) It needs to be close to your house and 2) you need to feel safe while there. It is ideal for it to be wild, have a water source, be abundant with wildlife, have a view, and a whole slew of other things. While those are nice to have, they are not essential. The best sit spot is one that you go to!

Find one place in your natural world that you will visit all the time and get to know it as your best friend. Let this be a place where you learn to sit still – alone, often, and quietly — as well as playfully explore beyond. This will become your place of intimate connection with nature.”

The Best Teacher is One Place
by Jon Young

People who know me well have heard me give this same answer to many different questions – not because I am losing my train of thought, contrary to what some might say, but because there is truly only one good answer to the many questions about the deep learning of naturalist skills. The foundation is the same for all:

- What makes a great naturalist?
- What makes a great tracker?
- How did they become “natives”?
- How did they become good teachers?
- How did they become good storytellers?
- How can we become great outdoor instructors?
- How can we learn to understand the language of the birds?

In one way or another, my answer always contains something of the following:

Find one place you can get to know really, really well. This is the most important routine you can develop. Know it by day; know it by night; know it in the rain and in the snow, in the depth of winter and in the heat of summer. Know the stars and where the four directions are there; know the birds that live there, know the trees they live in. Get to know these things as if they were your relatives, for, in time, you will come to know that they are! That is the most important thing you can do in order to excel at any skill in nature. Nature and your own heart are the best teachers, but your body, mind and spirit all have to attend the class, and do the homework. There is no replacement for this experience!

One of the most critical elements in the routine of visiting a single place and getting to know one area well is really just taking the time to listen to the wind, to check in with your heart – that is, your feelings – and allow yourself to just be.

From Kamana 1: Exploring Natural Mystery by Jon Young, page 98.

What is the challenge?
In a world where we travel through the landscape in metal boxes at 60 mph and schedule our days by the minute, carving out time to connect with nature does not come so naturally. The experiences we can gain by doing so are priceless, but the simple act of giving ourselves this time often takes a great deal of willpower. Thank you for considering joining us on this simple but powerful challenge.

By visiting your Sit Spot for 20 minutes or more daily you will come to understand the natural world in ways that are hard to describe. Your Sit Spot is a restful place in the outdoors, away from the traffic of other people’s lives, where you can observe the ever unfolding stories of nature all around you. You’ll gain insights into yourself and the richness of the natural world and all the while you will know that you are supporting Primitive Pursuits on our greater challenge – sharing the power of nature connection with each new generation.