Inviting WILDNESS

Inviting WILDNESS Inviting WILDNESS Inviting WILDNESS
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Inviting WILDNESS

Inviting WILDNESS Inviting WILDNESS Inviting WILDNESS
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Wildlife Advocacy through Community-Based Creative Education and Ecological Psychology

About Inviting Wildness

Mission

Whales and Dolphins

 Inviting Wildness' workshops and journals are about inviting our creative nature to (re)-establish flourishing relationships within ourselves, and with the rest of life on Earth. In doing so, our mission is to support all that is wild or in need of rewilding-- from the largest whales to the busiest bees, from diverse ecology, to your uni

 Inviting Wildness' workshops and journals are about inviting our creative nature to (re)-establish flourishing relationships within ourselves, and with the rest of life on Earth. In doing so, our mission is to support all that is wild or in need of rewilding-- from the largest whales to the busiest bees, from diverse ecology, to your unique nature. 

  Inviting Wildness' educational and creative workshops and music/art festivals will donate a portion of proceeds towards various cetacean sanctuaries, as we continue to practice returning to our natural expressions of relationality and creativity as humans. Freeing ourselves from detrimental narratives, and freeing the whales from constructs that these unexamined narratives have built. 

Whales and Dolphins

Whales and Dolphins

More to come

  Inviting Wildness recognizes that humans are not the only animals who suffer the consequences of being cut off from our natural environments and creative tendencies. Yet, we have been the only animals to kidnap and breed other autonomous and sentient beings, and keep them as captive performers for our profit. Adding insult t

More to come

  Inviting Wildness recognizes that humans are not the only animals who suffer the consequences of being cut off from our natural environments and creative tendencies. Yet, we have been the only animals to kidnap and breed other autonomous and sentient beings, and keep them as captive performers for our profit. Adding insult to injury, when animals are bred away from their natural habitats, raised by unnatural families to adopt an unnatural culture, releasing them back into the wild could mean a death sentence for some. This is where sanctuaries come in. A responsible and compassionate reaction to what these animals have been through, and even a rehab and readaptation space back to the wild, for those individuals who have a hearty chance of thriving. 

There have long been sanctuaries for once-captive land animals, yet several organizations are undergoing the passionate task of  establishing sanctuaries for some of the most popular, huge, and intelligent performers : whales and dolphins. 

Though much has shifted in recent years, as seen on the https://us.whales.org/ website, there are still over 3,700 whales and dolphins in captivity in marine parks and aquariums, with wild kidnapping still taking place overseas. Some of these whales were born in captivity, lacking the skills to hunt and travel -- lacking the skills to be a wild cetacean ( cetaceans =  a category that includes whales, dolphins and porpoises)  -- yet not emotionally or physically equipped to be a domesticated creature nor a performer or "ambassador".

Large sea sanctuaries in healthy waters and  appropriate climates must be established and supported so that these whales have a way out of human industry, as we simultaneously fight to end this violent practice of captivity altogether.  

You can learn more and donate directly to these sanctuaries. Here are a few: The Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia,  https://whalesanctuaryproject.org/ about to enter Phase one in order to accept orcas and belugas, their first two orcas hopefully being Wikie and Keijo, from Marineland in Antibes, France ( please look this up -- action and funds needed to secure this plan!) 

The Dolphin Project , https://www.dolphinproject.com/  for previously captive dolphins, in Indonesia and headed by longtime activist, diver, and former trainer Ric o' Barry. The Dolphin Project not only specializes in sanctuary but also in releasing able dolphins back to their wild home waters.

 The National Aquarium https://aqua.org/stories/2023-06-26-sanctuary-state in Baltimore is groundbreaking in retiring their own dolphins to a sanctuary of their own, as soon as they can! And no, they will not acquire new dolphins for the aquarium. They kindly answered all my questions when I called them. They have a general donation button online, but if you donate over the phone or send a check, you can specifically state that you want the donation to go directly to the sanctuary project.

Also, check out your local aquariums, zoos, and tourist centers to see what kind of animals they keep and use to perform. Ask questions. Where did their animals come from? How were they acquired? Are they currently injured? Endangered? Are they participating in breeding and/or trading programs? Why? Are there plans to re-release said animals to the wild, or to a sanctuary? I've found that these establishments have been glad to engage with other people who care too !  

Who

  

Dr. Sara Jecko (founder and facilitator) has been teaching in diverse situations for nearly 25 years. Her experience includes being the  director of summer camp music programs, a teaching artist at public and charter schools around New York City, a private tutor and mentor for music and academics, an advocate for students in need, and a

  

Dr. Sara Jecko (founder and facilitator) has been teaching in diverse situations for nearly 25 years. Her experience includes being the  director of summer camp music programs, a teaching artist at public and charter schools around New York City, a private tutor and mentor for music and academics, an advocate for students in need, and an adjunct instructor at the State University of New York, New Paltz ( music department, History of Jazz, History of Rock, Guitar classes and private lessons). 

She holds a B.A in Jazz Studies, with a concentration in Guitar (SUNY New Paltz), an M.A in Social Sciences with a concentration in Ecological Psychology, and a Doctorate of Arts in Ecological Psychology (Viridis Graduate Institute). 

Sara has been performing on stage since she was 8 years old as an actress in kid theatre productions, and a musician starting at 13 years old. 

Her artistic upbringing in New York City, as well as her familial ties with the Hudson Valley (where she now resides), has led her to understand wildness partially as a way of making contact – a creative, curious, and holistic state of being. 

She believes we all have an innate ability to be creative in the modes of music, dance, art, acting (roleplay), and storytelling. That whether we pursue these practices or not, they are a part of our wild nature, and can help us remember how we are all ecological beings and kin - sharing, co-creating, and belonging to this home on Earth.  

Dr. Jecko has had a life-long passion for wildlife and animal welfare. She has recently committed to focusing her contributions on freeing cetaceans from captivity, and ensuring a safe home for them in the ocean. 

INVITING WILDNESS WELCOMES ONE AND ALL.

Wildlife Advocacy through Creative Education and Ecological Psychology

WORKSHOPS

In Person Workshops and One-on-One Coaching

WILDER - A 5 part Workshop series for ages 7-11, or teens 12-16

$25 per class, sliding scale available

These educational and creative workshops are fundraisers for cetacean sanctuaries for those dolphins and whales currently kept captive in the entertainment industry – marine parks and aquariums, for example. Scroll down for dates! 

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to www.whalesanctuaryproject.org , who are nearing the ability to accept whales into their bay sanctuary in Nova Scotia!


Wilding - Adults/ Teens/ Individual/ Group. Multi-age Family private group

80 individual. 60 group. Family Session TBD weekend INtensive TBD. sliding scale available

 Wilding focuses on the creative process of inviting wildness back into our existence, and re-establishing a relationship with our psychological and physical ecosystems. We do this by our senses, movement, and vocals. Wilding can be broken into a series, or facilitated as a  weekend intensive .  

All sessions held outdoors.  Portion of proceeds will go to https://www.dolphinproject.com/ who specialize in readaptation, rehab and wild release or retirement for formerly captive dolphins.

Living Musically - for the absolute beginner, or the very experienced 75 mi

$300 per 6 week Bundle zoom or in person

 Living Musically focuses on the practice of musical improvisation and expression beyond our typical instruments. By  journaling, theater explorations, singing, rhythm, and dance, we navigate through our human narratives, musically express with each other and the other- than -human life we share space with, and develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be musical, belong, be home, be processual, and be in kinship with Earth.  20% proceeds will go to --> https://www.dolphinproject.com/

River of Rock - ZOOM COURSE - Once a week for 6 weeks, 75 minute sessions

$300 per 6 week bundle zoom

    

What effect has Rock n’ Roll had on the world? And what are the diverse implications of us humans industrializing these bone deep rhythms, harmonies, and soulful sublimations?  Why do you think it is that we respond so strongly to the sound, look, movement, and spirit of this music?

And, how does all of this connect to how Western society treats the wild, natural world? And how 

20% of proceeds --> https://whalesanctuaryproject.org

* Course needs at least 5 participants to run.

Upcoming Event calendar

3/2/2025

WILDER - A Kids Workshop Series for Cetacean Sanctuaries Part 5 : Ecological Systems, Change Making,

12pm

-

2pm

The Good Work Institute, 65 St. James Street, Kingston, NY

Event Details

3/2/2025

WILDER - A Kids Workshop Series for Cetacean Sanctuaries Part 5 : Ecological Systems, Change Making,

For our final session of this series, we'll be talking about how whales and dolphins fit into their/our ecosystems. How do they keep change ...

Event Details

12pm

-

2pm

The Good Work Institute, 65 St. James Street, Kingston, NY

5/04/2025

WILDER - A Festival to Raise Awareness and Funds for Cetacean Sanctuaries

2pm

-

6pm

Kingston, NY

Event Details

5/04/2025

WILDER - A Festival to Raise Awareness and Funds for Cetacean Sanctuaries

Music, dance, science, friends, family, drinks, and food! Gather to raise spirits together as we raise funds for The Whale Sanctuary Project...

Event Details

2pm

-

6pm

Kingston, NY

5/10/2025

EMPTY THE TANKS

10am-4pm

Mystic, CT

Event Details

5/10/2025

EMPTY THE TANKS

It's the annual (hashtag) EMPTY THE TANKS weekend! If you are local to the Hudson Valley, or close enough, come participate with us! Details...

Event Details

10am-4pm

Mystic, CT

Contact and Registration

Inviting Wildness

Kerhonkson, New York, United States

call 845-288-3861 email invitingwildness@gmail.com venmo @invitingwildness for workshop registrations or donations. Please title your payment with any workshop titles and dates. Please be in touch if Venmo is not an option for you.

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