What happened at "Let's guide for our Mother Shores" Oct workshop

Grateful and awed by the tremendous turnout for October's talk and workshop! So many amazing people making time to come together to share and learn about our Mother Shores. Glad that they are the first to get the Mother Shores pamphlets!

I had fun and learned a lot. Hope everyone did too! Looking forward to the field sessions in the coming days.

I'm repeating this series in November, with a larger room. More details soon.

I am touched that so many people made time to attend. They came from all walks of life, different affiliations covering such a broad spectrum: not just biodiversity but also cultural and faith groups. This made for very rich discussions. After the talk, so much sharing of different viewpoints. I learned a lot about work being done by others, and glad to see intense networking afterwards as well! 

The participants came from a broad range of experiences too. This made for lively small group discussions during the Guiding Workshop. With newbies raising great questions, veterans sharing from their deep experience.

The Guiding Workshop is 90% small group discussions. Where participants shared what the messages they want to pass to participants. And brainstormed ways to do this so both guides and their visitors have a fun and meaningful visit. So delighted to see everyone quickly getting into the spirit of sharing. Coming knee-to-knee, taking serious notes and yet having fun too!

The highlight is the role-play session. Where participants worked out ways to deal with situations they earlier identified as challenging. From interfering know-it-alls, teenagers who are bored and glued to their phones, grandmas quietly collecting things in a plastic bag, children poking everything. Then role-played the hilarious but thought-provoking approaches; complete with representation of animals. We learned stories and approaches to try. Even in difficult situations like a visitors saying they don't care about nature, and don't want to take actions. Grateful to the veteran guides who facilitated the sharing. I certainly learned a lot, as I always do. Particularly from such a large and diverse group who so freely shared their thoughts and experiences. Thank you!

I was delighted that so many groups took large quantities of pamphlets to give out to people I could never reach on my own: Young Nautilus, The Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore), A Rocha (Singapore), Earthlink NTU, RHIB Rides (Singapore), Republic Poly. With many others taking some to give out to friends.  And also glad the little stuffies found new homes!

I absolutely couldn't have done it without the support of these Angels, who are always in the background looking after everything. Lon who came early on both days and figured out the AVA, which stressed me so much beforehand. Jason who summarise the small group discussions, managed all the computer transfers and took photos too. Asher (who came both days) and Nadya for managing the reception, packing up pamphlets and being the friendly face at the venue. All the Angels also mobilised participants to help rearrange the furniture, carry up pamphlets to the venue and all the many important logistics that I just didn't have the bandwidth to do. Thank you everyone!

I'm repeating this series in November, with a larger room. More details soon. Please come if you missed this one, and share with your friends!