Eequ · After school. In place of school. Beyond school.

Feral Voices Choir

A nature inspired community choir for all

Mentored by

Elena Harris

Organisation links
Location address: near Brill Windmill, HP18
Chosen age group:

For ages: 16 - 18+ years

Available tickets:
Oak Patron Block £72Rowan Standard Block £60Hazel Low Wage Block £48 +5 more
Next date: Wednesday 27th Sep,
A summary
Singing to ground you, lift you, inspire and connect you. Feral Voices Choir is an outdoor, nature based community choir. I teach simple songs with 3 or 4 part harmonies and rounds, with a nature based theme. We’ll cover some songs that can be learnt in a single session, and some that we’ll build over a few weeks. All songs will be taught acapella and there is no sheet music, although occasionally I may provide word sheets for more lyric dense songs. We gather weekly on a Wednesday evening around a cosy fire, under a parachute in the beautiful Whimsy Woods in Brill. If the weather is really bad, we have permission to use the yurt on site which has electricity and heating. We are an inclusive community and all abilities are welcome. There is always plenty of tea and biscuits. We have a tiered pricing structure for all incomes, block bookings and drop ins are both available. Why: For over 5 years, I have been training and working as an outdoor educator, facilitating groups in nature connection and children at Forest School. Learning primitive skills and understanding how to be in balance with our natural surroundings sparks something in me. Singing has always been at the core of this work for me, our voices being our most ancient instrument we still carry with us. I am deeply inspired by the natural world to sing and serenade my respect and gratitude in return for it's incredible gifts. I invite you to share and experience the joy in putting our voices together while being in nature. I believe singing bonds us together and unites communities. When we bring our voices into harmony with each other, we support one another by listening and holding each other in full acceptance and love. You do not have to be a "good" singer to join this group. You do not have to believe you can sing. You simply need the desire to share in and enjoy this experience. The space I would like to create is a supportive community space and is not about performance. Your voice is a gift, please come and share it with us! About me: Singing has always been part of my life. I have been told that I never stopped singing as a child. I learned to play the piano and guitar into my teens as a way to accompany my singing. I currently sing in a folk and blues band, a backing singer in The Hoolie band, a disco/Ceilidh fusion band, and in a cappella group with other choir leaders that formed during lockdown in the woods! The latter has inspired in me a passion for collaborative singing, and this has directed me towards leading groups as a singing leader. I first started leading singing groups as part of an outdoor leadership programme CALL OF THE WILD with WILDWISE in 2017. I was profoundly moved by the connection it created between us and also the thrill of directing the singing and teaching the harmonies. In that moment, I got the bug, and from then on I have taken every opportunity to lead groups singing, teaching, holding, and bringing each persons voices out. Since then, I have lead groups as large as 70 at Medicine festival in 2021 & 2022, in camps, retreats, and forest schools. I am a member of the Natural Voice Network and have trained with Guillermo Rozenther in circle singing and vocal improvisation.
About your mentor
Elena Harris
You were wild once, don't let them tame you!
Elena feels most at home barefoot, under a canopy of trees and stars, bathed in the view of a communal fire. She has always had a deep love for wild places and is passionate about enabling children to pursue their natural curiosity and wonder of the natural world. Elena has 2 children whom she home-educated in their early years. This experience inspired her to immerse herself in the arts of the old ways and primitive skills, so she could pass these skills onto her children. Singing is also a huge part of Elena's life and work. She uses song to bring people together in community in nature in all her courses. An experienced nature connection facilitator, Elena is trained as a level 3 Forest School Leader, as well as having completed numerous professional trainings with Wildwise, including 'Call of the Wild' Foundation in Outdoor Leadership. Elena co-founded Wildlings, an outdoor provision for electively home educated children and is currently working on a new project, 'Earthlings With Elena', as well as performing regular facilitation roles on behalf of Wildwise. During term time, Elena leads weekly Forest School sessions at 2 Oxfordshire primary schools, as well as running Sprouts and Feral Voices Choir at in the woods at Ambroise Farm. Relevant Qualifications & Experience: 2017 - Wild Wise - Call of the Wild; a year long Nature Connection Facilitation course in Dartmoor National Park. 2018 - Forest School Leader Level 3 2018 -Ray Mears Bushcraft 2019 + 2021 - Wild Wise - Tending the Green Fire; a year long extension outdoor facilitation course. 2020 - Visit to Namibia to live and learn with the San Bush People in the Kalahari Desert. Specific training with WildWise: Art of Storytelling John Muir trek Wild Time for Girls Outdoor First Aid Challenging Behaviour in the Outdoors Transitions and Thresholds Play structures in the Outdoors Online courses: 2020 - Consent-Based Education with Sophie Christophy 2020 -Child Communication Workshop with Rosamund Frost
The Beginning
This is just the beginning! Our beautiful setting is in a small woodland on top of a hill with a fire place! We will have a fire going, but it may be windy and or raining, so please dress warmly with extra layers in the winter months. Also it will be dark! We will have some lighting, but please bring a torch if you feel you will need one. Pricing: This is my passion project, and I want this to be accessible to everyone, so I have a range of pricing, please pay as much as you can afford, and bear in mind I am trying to make a living! If you can only afford the lower price bracket, that is absolutely fine. Please get in touch if you have any financial barriers to coming. If you can afford to pay a little more, you can be a patron, thank you so much! Please book a space either way so I have an idea of numbers attending.
Learning aims
Aim 1
To bring people together to experience the joy of singing inspired by nature
Aim 2
To feel supported by a community group
Pricing information
Ticket nameOak Patron Block
Price£72
InformationIf you can pay more, you are paying it forward and supporting those who can't afford to. Thank you x
Ticket nameRowan Standard Block
Price£60
InformationThis is a standard price block ticket
Ticket nameHazel Low Wage Block
Price£48
InformationThis is a low wage price block ticket
Ticket nameOak Patron Single Ticket
Price£12
InformationIf you are able to afford more to pay it forward to those in need, thank you!
Ticket nameRowan Standard Single
Price£10
InformationThis is a standard ticket for a single session.
Ticket nameHazel Low Wage Single
Price£8
InformationSingle session for low wage participants
Ticket nameSapling Free Ticket
Price£0
InformationOf you cannot afford to pay anything, your voice is still welcome!
Ticket nameSapling Free ticket
Price£0
InformationIf you cannot afford to pay anything, your voice is still welcome!
PHOTO GALLERY
Where we'll be
Brill - Full address will be given upon booking., Brill, near Brill Windmill, Buckinghamshire, HP18
WHAT’S PROVIDED
Drinks
Safety
Enhanced DBS
Basic DBS
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
Safeguarding Training
First Aid Training
First Aid Kit
Coronavirus Safety Policy

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Cancellation Policy
No refunds are given except in the case of a cancellation by the Mentor.

My experience consists of a leisure activity, on a specific date(s), and therefore the 14-day ‘cooling off period’ under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply.