- Articles
- April 12, 2012
- Kamana Dan
- 20 comments
30-Day Sit Spot Challenge
Save the Date: May 2013
Congratulations to all 2012 Sit Spot Challenge Participants. This year we had over 400 official participants from all over the world!
The 30-Day Sit Spot Challenge is a powerful way for you to connect with the natural world through one spot in nature. The Sit Spot is the core routine of the Kamana Naturalist Training Program. You do not have to be a Kamana student or a member of Kamana.org to participate. Anyone can join and it’s free to participate! We want as many people as possible to experience this amazing routine.
During the challenge you will receive daily emails with questions, challenges, and inspirational support. There will be optional activities designed to increase your awareness and hone your senses. The synergy of hundreds of people going to their Sit Spots will be phenomenal!
What is a Sit Spot?
The Sit Spot is the practice of going to one spot in nature over a period of time. You make observations, connect with nature and self, and learn to see with Native Eyes. There are 2 basic requirements that every sit spot should have 1) It needs to be close to your house and 2) you need to feel safe while there. It is ideal for it to be wild, have a water source, be abundant with wildlife, have a view, and a whole slew of other things. While those are nice to have, they are not essential. The best sit spot is one that you go to!
How Does it Work?
Starting May 1st, go to your Sit Spot for at least 20 minutes every day. Your challenge is to do this for 30 days straight!
How can I meet other people interested in learning about nature?
This year Kamana.org will be using our Facebook page as a place where folks can come, connect with others, and post their Sit Spot stories. Make sure to “Like” us on Facebook!
Why Should I Sign Up? Can’t I Just Do it On My Own?
You can do it on your own, but when you commit to something with other people involved, it changes your perception. In our experience, those who sign up are MUCH more likely to finish the challenge. You will also receive daily reminders and inspiration. You’ll be able to communicate with others through our forums, as well.
Want more information about the sit spot?
Jon Young Video: Top 3 Reasons to go to your Sit Spot
Click here to download a flyer that you can send to your friends!
20 responses to this article
Where do you go to sign up?
Hi Dan
You can sign up in the big green box just above these comments.
Thanks Kamana Dan. I didn't have the green box – I imagine my Noscript add-on for Firefox was blocking it. I see it now that I've switched to Internet Explorer. Thanks again.
No worries. I figured something like that was going on!
How does one get on the forum?
I'm also still awaiting the Day 1 E-mail before I head on out., although I can probably treat my Day 1 blog post as a follow-up to last year. ;-D
Hi Kiril (and anyone else who didn't get their email yet),
If you haven't gotten your email yet here are a couple things to do:
1) Check you junkmail folder
2) Make sure that you click the link in the first email that was sent to you after you signed up
If you still don't find it after that email me at director (at) kamana (dot) org and I will look and see if you are on the list.
Thanks everyone!
Alright! Getting the e-mails now, but still don't know how to join the Forum discussions, or comment on peoples sit spot logs.
lets see, day one through three! red tail hawk nest, w/ hawks! cougar scratch! lots of bird action, first shooting star wildflower and lots of tiny tiny sprouts! water level in the creek is dropping fast, at least 6 inches in three days! oh, and the turkey vultures spiraling on the first warm breeze this morning.
Awww man I missed it. I'm gonna go sit solo..
Don’t worry Sam. We’ll do it again!
My green box signs me up via Facebook, however, I don't want to use Facebook. How do I sign up for email only?
Hi Sue (and CJC),
Just to be clear, are you saying that when you enter your email in the sign-up box (in the announcement above) that it signs you up as a Facebook member?
I just entered my email and I was signed into Facebook and it sent me to another page letting me know that I need to check my email to confirm my subscription. Then an email was sent to me.
Is that not the progression that happened for you?
Echoing Sue – is there a way to sign up without using Facebook?
Please see my comment above.
Thanks,
Dan
I wish to confirm my subscription. Not sure if this happened when i clicked on the link. Can you verify?
Hello! This is a new experience for me, and perfect timing as I am about to begin Kamana One. I have two places I regularly spend time and I am wondering if one might be better over the other for a sit spot. (I love them both equally!) One is in my woods right at the edge of a steep hill. There is a good view of many things, a stream at the base of the hill, lots of fallen trees, and many animals, birds, etc. One drawback is that at times I can hear cars driving by. There is also a coyote that passes through now and again. The other spot is through the same woods, across the stream, up the hill and to a pond. It's a beautiful spot, herons, wood ducks, geese, lots of birds, not as many animals such as fox, turkeys, etc. I sit there for hours sometimes. It is more open, although I sit in a thicket right at the edge of the pond. The drawback here is that it is in a state park and now and again (not very often) folks wander by and I also cannot visit at night. So, the drawbacks are very small for both. I am wondering which environment might be better for a wider experience of wildlife, etc. Thank you so much for any insight.
I'd choose the one that would allow you to visit at anytime of day or night – that way, no matter what happens in a day, you can get out there! Ultimately you want to pick something that you'll actually go to. I say pick one, go for it, and learn all you can!
Peace,
Kat, Kamana.org Specialist
Great. I'll stick with my own woods and stream. I can still head over to the pond
I'm really looking forward to this!
Hi Everyone–The timing of the 30 Day Sit is perfect for me. The last time I turn in assignment was November 2004 (Kamana 3.3)! I have let life interfere. I have moved several times. The last time into a passive solar, strawbale house I helped to build (or should say still building!) in a mountainous, pine forested area.
I have spent a lot of time outdoors doing a combination of caretaking of an aging forest, fire migration work and restoration of damaged caused by building the house/driveway, etc., so I have learned a lot about the area. But doing sits most days this past week, I have learned a lot more (with of course, some unanswered questions, too), which I knew I would. I am really excited about finishing the rest of Kamana. Doing this commitment with others is great support to get going again. I am looking to hearing everyone else's stories. Pam
Thanks for doing this. I have a great sit spot this time around. Last fall I moved to a house in a heavily wooded suburban area, so now all I have to do is slip my shoes and coat on and step outside my bedroom door. I see deer out there all the time. Hopefully I'll learn to sit mindfully enough that they'll come hang out while I'm sitting. Today I saw a pair of Western Scrub Jays. I suspect they have a nest in one of our laurel trees. I also saw a large crow messing with something on the neighbor's roof. It started drizzling while I was out there – kind of a light mist on my skin. I'm glad for May.