Posts by Brennan Gillis

Want to help your kids, friends, and yourself deepen your sense of place? The Sit Spot is one of the most powerful tools you can use to develop that connection. In our active lives, it might feel strange to sit and do nothing for 7 minutes. However, giving our brains a chance to slow down…

The night sky has been the source of stories and inspiration throughout history. Creating and telling stories is a great way to learn about your kids and your community, their inspiration, what they find funny, and how they relate to their surroundings. Here’s a great way to engage your community with the night sky while…

Getting restless come sunset? Play a game with your kids or community! At Canyonlands Field Institute we find that games are one of the best ways to learn about ourselves and the natural environment. Here’s a great game to learn more about one of our favorite animals, the bat, and it’s night time adaptations! Great…

Feeling creative? Don’t have a creative bone in your body? Either way, take a look at this inclusive activity that inspires artistic genius through natural everyday objects!

Journaling can be a great way to relieve stress, collect and express feelings, or simply take some time for one-self. Here is a journaling prompt you can use to inspire yourself and others within your quarantine community:Leaves come in endless sizes, colors, smells, and textures, and therefore Botanists have a delightful diversity of words to…

Journaling can be a great way to relieve stress, collect and express feelings, or simply take some time for one-self. Here is a journaling prompt you can use to inspire yourself and others within your quarantine community. Write about an outdoor adventure you’ve had using each of these 5 words at least once. Ancient, Rustle,…

“Yes! And..” is one of our favorite games at CFI. It’s a fun activity that gets the creative juices flowing while also promoting active listening and public speaking. We often use it to help students feel comfortable speaking in front of the group while also giving everyone a good opportunity to laugh and learn more…

Stuck inside? Here’s a quick game that’s sure to promote healing through laughter.

Sound Maps are a great way to expand your senses, slow down, and observe your world in a different way. This is a fun activity no matter your age. We love this lesson because it helps students immerse themselves in nature, open their senses, and practice active listening. Try the sound map lesson at one…

As families re-emerge from COVID-19, uncertain, frustrating, and isolating are just a few of the words that could be used to describe what life is like in our homes and communities. During this time, bringing your families together to create an environment of positive communication will help to weather the storm. On Canyonlands Field Institute…