The Art of Hosting and Harvesting conversations that matter
What grows when we courageously imagine the future of education and learning together?
Thursday, October 17th -
Sunday, October 20th, 2024
Queens University
Biological Station - Elgin, Ontario
Connection. Dialogue. Co-creation.
Learn about, and leverage, the Art of Hosting as a practice and a set of tools to lead, engage and convene groups.
Connect with others who work in, or who are passionate about, education and learning communities in all different forms, and who are curious how we can reimagine these spaces.
The Art of Hosting and Harvesting Conversations that Matter (also known as the Art of Participatory Leadership) offers simple and powerful participatory practices, patterns and processes to host generative conversations that can lead to coordinated action and positive change.
These approaches have been used effectively in diverse contexts worldwide to harness collective wisdom, encourage compassionate leadership and collaboration, and create better social and environmental outcomes.
The Art of Hosting can be a valuable approach in education as it supports the creation of dynamic, inclusive, and engaging learning environments that encourage active participation, critical thinking, collaboration, and personal growth among students.
Are you interested in:
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Helping the transition towards more inclusive, just, responsible systems of education?
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Taking decolonization and anti-racism values into practice?
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Creating spaces for learning in your organization, community, home, in your home, in your school?
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Exploring the art of humaning, and what happens when we create the conditions so that all of us can step into our full capacity as humans?
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Strengthening your capacity to see existing and emerging strengths and leverage points?
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Discovering and sharing inspiring and accessible ideas and practices?
Together we will learn, experience and practice:
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Participatory dialogue methods that help tap into the collective intelligence of groups such as World Cafe, Circle, Open Space and Proaction Cafe.
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Tools for working with equity, difference and diversity while holding a participatory lens on leadership and collaboration.
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Personal leadership practices for increased self and situational awareness, clarity, and alignment.
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Theory and practice of working with complex challenges.
Investment
$1400 + HST - Standard Ticket
$1000 + HST - Reduced Ticket
We are offering a reduced ticket price with the intention of increasing accessibility and allowing more participants to benefit from this training who wouldn't be able to otherwise. As you consider your investment decision, we kindly encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your personal financial circumstances and select your ticket price accordingly. We find this infographic from a blog written by Alex J. Cunning's blog The Sliding Scale: A Tool of Economic Justice an excellent support for this exercise.
Payment Plans
If the cost of this training is a barrier for you we are happy to accept the payment over an extended period of time. Please reach out to reimaginingeducation@wildawakenings.ca to discuss a payment plan that will work for your situation, including the possibility of extending payments beyond the event.
Creative Tuition
Additionally, if a payment plan is still beyond your means, we will consider some tuition reduction where we are able in the balance of our overall budget. We ask you to consider what amount you are able to contribute for the tuition (the venue, meals, and materials are costs which are fixed and thus not adjustable) and we will do our best to meet as many of the applications as we can.
If you would like to explore this possibility please reach out to reimaginingeducation@wildawakenings.ca to set up a call so we can get to know each other and explore possibilities.
Cancellation Policy
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Full refunds are possible up until 6 weeks before the event, September 5th, minus a $50 administration fee.
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Between September 5th, and up to 14 days before the event, October 3rd, you will be eligible to a full refund minus a 10% event deposit.
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As of October 3rd you are welcome to offer your spot to a friend, and/or if we can fill your spot from a waiting list we will refund your full registration fee, minus a $50 administration fee.
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Should the event be cancelled due to unforeseeable circumstances you will receive a full refund.
What is included in the cost of this training?
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Accommodation for three nights, in cabins situated around the Station
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Three meals a day between Thursday dinner and Sunday lunch in the QUBS dining hall
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Three days of training and conversations with fellow practitioners and innovators in the realm of learning and education
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An Art of Hosting Practice Guide
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Access to the Art of Hosting global Community of practice
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New connections & Great campfires!
The Venue
This event will be taking place on the unceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory, where the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Nations have lived in relationship with the lands since long before today.
We will all gather at the Queens University Biological Station (QUBS) , located on Lake Opinicon in Elgin, Ontario, 50km North of Kingston.
We will be using the full station to host this event, taking advantage of all it has to offer, including the lake and local trails. Accommodations in rustic shared cabins and all meals are included.
What to expect
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QUBS is only accessible by personal vehicle - We encourage, and will help facilitate, car pooling where possible and coordinate shuttle pick ups from the Kingston train station.
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All meals between Thursday dinner and Sunday lunch will be provided in the QUBS dining hall - dietary restrictions will be accommodated
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Accommodations included in cabins situated around the Station
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Accommodation styles vary - some have bathrooms inside the cabin and others are a short walk outside the sleeping cabins (you can specify preference if you have one during registration)
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Facilities include flush toilets and heated showers
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Many of the cabins include bunk beds
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The majority of QUBS is on forest trails, gravel or grass; there is very little paved concrete
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We intend to spend a lot of time outdoors and weather can be variable at this time of year; please bring appropriate clothing and layers
Logistics & Schedule
Arrival and Check-In
Thursday, October 17th - between 5 and 6pm
Welcome Circle
Thursday, October 17th - 7pm
Event Close and Departure
Sunday, October 20th - 3pm
Photo Credit: Laura Wesley
You are responsible for your own travel to and from the station, but we’ll help you coordinate carpools and provide a shuttle from the Kingston Via Rail station if needed.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17th
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Arrival and check into accommodation
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Dinner
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Official Welcome Circle at 7pm
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19th
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Training: Systems Change Framework
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Storytelling and deepening projects
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Open Space Technology - Collective exploration of participants questions
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Participant Driven community building conversations and activities
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18th
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Training: Participatory Leadership Framework
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Sharing and mapping of projects and questions
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Collective inquiry activity on shared question
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Dialogue and sensemaking
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Participant Driven community building conversations and activities
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20th
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Training: Complexity Framework
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Dialogue on complexity, learning and education
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Co-creation and collaboration on participants' projects
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Collective insight harvest
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Closing circle
Jo Reynolds, Director Partnerships and Development, Social Innovation Canada
"The Art of Hosting with the Reimagining Education team was hugely valuable to the work that I do. Their capacity to bring us into the practice as an experience allowed me to embody the learning in a way that I can bring forward. I highly recommend the experience to everyone who works in teams and through collaboration. I am now fully committed to the Art of Hosting!"
Heather McGregor, Assistant Professor of Curriculum Theory, Queen's University
"Reimagining Education gave me the space, frameworks, and community I needed to reflect on my values as an educator. Being together with people who love making change and nurturing growth, even in the midst of the polycrisis, reminded me what solidarity means. Since attending, I have brought the Art of Hosting into my Bachelor of Education teaching and educational research designs. I’ve enthusiastically recommended Reimagining Education to all my colleagues."
Laura Wesley, Systems Strategist, Fractal Facilitation
"From the outset, it was participatory. We co-created the content with our stories, our bodies, our laughter and our tears. We shared our aspirations, hopes, fears and ideas. Seeing others show up to re-imagine the world as a better place gave me a feeling of confidence that we could do it."
