Conscious role modeling plays an important part of the Cultural and Art of Mentoring philosophy. In our programs, we do our best, for example, to show greater interest in nature than the children. Additionally, we role model curiosity, inquiry, humor, peace, comfort, gratitude, patience, silent observation, a zest for life, awareness, respect for plant and animal, safe play … and so much more. When we realize that children are picking up how to behave from us - adults, teachers, parents, mentors, etc. - we must also realize that they are exposed to behaviors that even we are not aware of, for good and bad. This requires us to be as aware as we can to who we are, and calls each one of us to be upright minded, good with our words, and truly walk our talk.

 

 Why is one person afraid of spiders and not another? I can say accurately that it was my dad’s fault! Seriously, though, my father was afraid of spiders and “gifted” me his fear. I don’t have the fear I used to have and I recognize where it comes from. I also recognize my father’s influence on my love for nature, peaceful places, good music, and my temperament and I am thankful for both my parents and the way they I was raised.

 

 Within the context of the outdoors, experiencing and learning about nature, how each of us approaches it will influence how our children approach it. Just the other week, a student and I were about to enter a pool of (cold) water. He nudged me and said, “you first.” And here the rubber met the road. I had to ask my self what kind of role model I would be if I chickened out. And if I squealed like a little girl when I hit the water, what kind of man am I being? What does it even mean to be a man? And where are all the good men and women role models?? This student loves nature and loves water. I remembered that Mentoring is a two-way street, and that I could learn a lot from his affinity with water. With great courage and grace I leapt into the air and into the water. Wow, was it cold! But I did it a number of times and he and I now share a bonding-experience that we can talk about for years, one that I almost missed. And that was invaluable.

 

 Every experience we have with others is necessarily a cultural one. Cultural Mentoring and the Art of Mentoring take this into account and we use it to our advantage in our programs (and at home) to teach children about nature, themselves, and community. We use it to immerse children in a cultural model as old as humans. This cultural basket is a complex model gleaned from studying primitive cultures with the eye of a tracker. If you would like to learn more about it please drop us a line at Info@CoyoteRoadSchool.com.

 

 Written by David Wilson

Comments or Questions may be directed to Dave@CoyoteRoadSchool.com

Role Modeling

Behavior Worth Imitating