Building Capacity for a Regenerative Culture
Come explore a nature-based framework
that can help any kind of group to thrive:
families, workplaces, communities of practice, gatherings, short-term events, or long-term projects.
We’ll introduce key elements, tools, and practices
of the Connection 1st™ (formerly 8 Shields) framework
that are building blocks for a regenerative community.
This is about the bedding of a community,
the soil from which it will grow...
What nutrients are needed
to create a rich & nurturing environment
that will encourage the budding community to flourish,
allowing it to emerge in a vibrant & healthy, abundant way!
Whatever your mission & values, this is the (common) base,
a cultural framework for a thriving community!
Learn to navigate with the 8 Shields compass,
explore the key elements, tools & practices
that form the roots to grow a regenerative culture!
In cooperation with GAIA Education ❤️
What can you expect?
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Easy ways to attune to yourself, others, and nature.
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How to begin building resilience in yourself and your groups.
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Support stepping into transformational and shared leadership.
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Deepening your awareness of connection to the living world and natural cycles.
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Practices and skills to anchor and embody this knowledge.
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Cultural elements and practical tools to incorporate into your daily life.
Course starts October 2026
Live weekly sessions • Online experiential format • Global community forum
Whether you’re part of a long-term community, an organization, or a circle of changemakers, Connective Roots offers a practical, powerful path to grow a more connected culture.
“I expected to learn practical exercises
I could pass on,
instead I got a whole map of transformation”
Adrian Harris, “Art of Mentoring” UK
Wat is 8Shields?
What is Connection 1st (formerly 8Shields)?
Connection 1st is an organization founded by Jon Young. From a young age, Jon was mentored within traditions in which a deep and living connection with nature was central. Later, he visited various Indigenous communities where the social and cultural fabric remains strong and intact, such as the San Bushmen of the Kalahari.
Throughout his journey, he explored which elements are essential for a healthy, resilient culture. By weaving together ancient Indigenous knowledge with insights from modern ecology, he developed a series of core routines. These help people restore and deepen their fundamental connection with nature.
This renewed connection has been shown to foster greater joy, creativity, and stronger communities.
It touches something within us
that is as old as the earth itself — guiding us,
step by step, back home to who we truly are.
