Mindful Outdoor Guide Certification, Level 2 Aligning with Nature

Created for Level 1 graduates, this exceptional journey is designed to deepen your confidence and practical ability to guide mindful outdoor experiences with reverence, reciprocity, and a true sense of belonging. This advanced training introduces the five great elements of Ayurveda—space, air, fire, water, and earth—through nature meditation, ancestral skills such as friction fire, shelter building, and water sourcing, along with immersive connection practices. Off-campus expeditions invite you to work with the distinctive energy of each landscape, supporting both your own relationship with the living Earth and the experiences you offer others.

After successfully completing KSMOL Level 1, you are eligible to register for Level 2, with no additional application required.

What You Will Learn

• Indigenous wisdom and history
  Your teacher is Shawn Stephens, KSMOL Faculty, Co-Director of the Alliance for a Viable Future, and a member of the Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohicans, as well as a musician, storyteller, and language keeper.
• Elemental meditations
  Explore the Great Elements of space, air, water, earth, and fire as pathways into meditation, connection, and relationship with “the more than human world.” Early morning fire, water, and earth meditations help bring the full learning experience into one integrated practice.
• Bow drill fire birthing
  Discover the ancient and sacred practice of creating fire through friction.
• Fire meditation
  Learn how to weave fire into your mindful outdoor experiences, both as a focus for meditation and as support for carving your own wooden tools and utensils.
• Forest tea and foraging
  Learn to gather easy-to-identify tree species and prepare nourishing teas to include in your mindful outdoor experiences.
• Shelter building
  Find out how to create a safe, dry, and cozy shelter using only materials gathered from the forest—a vital skill for strengthening confidence and deepening connection with the outdoors.
• Home project and mentoring
  In Level 2, you present the results of your Home Project from Level 1. You also receive mentoring for your solo-led, 1-hour mindful outdoor experience.
• Places of power
  Take part in two days of off-campus excursions to explore places of power and refuge in the Berkshires. This is a chance to experience the qualities, personalities, and unique aspects of different landmarks we can relate to as mindful outdoor guides. From a sacred canyon and a mysterious mountaintop to a rich and diverse wildlife sanctuary, these two days expand awareness of the power of place.