Discussion Courses

Discovering a Sense of Place

Wendell Berry, America's best-known bioregionalist, says, "if you don't know where you are, you don't know who you are." The more we are familiar with our local environment, the sooner we act to protect it. Discovering a Sense of Place helps participants focus on knowing and protecting our place. You discover a sense of community and pride for where you live, work, and play. By strengthening our connection to where we live, we strengthen our connection to one another and to the place that we call home.

Length of Course: Seven sessions
Course Book: Hard copy

Number of Participants:

Participant Actions:

NWEI’s self-led discussion courses are designed to spark shared learning, shared stories, and shared action. Each course book also includes tips and guidelines to help facilitators organize a course.

A detailed list of articles and resources included in the Discovering a Sense of Place course book are available in the Table of Contents.

Participants read each week’s material (which may include brief articles, book excerpts and/or links to online content) on their own. During each session, group members take turns facilitating by leading others through discussion questions provided in the course book.

“I loved the course! It gave me so many new concepts, I got to know my bioregion better, and my new consciousness has increased my sense of responsibility. The course has encouraged me to take local classes on bioregion topics and buy more locally produced food. It has given me a lot to be excited about and has helped me develop more constructive attitudes about change on the planet.”

– Course Participant, Grants Pass, OR

Sample Discussion Questions

Aldo Leopold says, “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” Does that state your view?
Do you tend to identify more with land areas defined by political boundaries or areas defined by natural features?
In the area of empowerment, are feelings of optimism and pessimism important factors in your motivation or ability to take action? How do you deal with pessimism?