Of childless bears and gay monkeys

My teaching career in Vancouver was short-lived, as the global media star and spoilsport also brought this school to its knees. Eight months were planned at the Soaring Eagle Nature School, shortened to two weeks and one day. The adventure really lasted. The special thing about the Coyote Mentoring method is its simplicity, which I had intuitively applied before. With the help of nature, children discover, develop, and share their talents with the community. Whether a bisexual lawyer or a gay street sweeper, the main thing is that people find and live their passion. As a result, they become lively, creative, and responsible individuals. Being in nature to understand one's own nature. After all, there are homosexual monkeys, childless bear sows, and single parenting seahorse males. They all have their niche and are important for the big, functioning whole.

In Coyote Mentoring, the natural passions of children (hiding in the bushes, asking why and how questions, telling robber stories and stories about brave Indian women, singing the raven song, and discovering the glitter beetle) are used for learning. Sitting still in school benches and learning and regurgitating "theoretical" rules and examples definitely do not belong to the passions of children (nor to those of many adults).

I saw the joy in the children's eyes on my only working day, enjoyed their infectious liveliness, and marveled at their creativity. Nevertheless, working with children remains a tough job that often requires a cold beer in solitude and silence.