The Village Building Tent Gathering
A Monthly Webinar Series
Each month we explore how different connection practices, to people and nature, can help a group culture build resilience and well-being.
Hosted by Root Cuthbertson and guest facilitators, each webinar explores a different Village Building topic -like mentoring, eldering, regenerative design, leadership, exploring the past, working together, and peace building.
These webinars are open to everyone, no experience necessary.
Upcoming Webinars
Acorn-Acacia Teams
Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 18:00 UTC, 2hrs Live on Zoom
Like a seed, an Acorn-Acacia team has the potential to grow a connective culture in a larger group by role-modeling connective practices and cultural elements.
An Acorn-Acacia team is a way to distribute leadership in a group, typically used short-term for events and programs. Each team member holds a different role, embodying an archetypal energy, and taking responsibility for various tasks and aspects. Such a team can support a transition in leadership away from a competitive model toward one that shares power and works together well.
Cultural Elements
Wed, Feb 18, 2026, 18:00 UTC, 2hrs Live on Zoom
Join us to explore the Cultural Elements, practices and principles that help facilitate a healthy and connective culture.
Village Building involves consciously designing, and effectively introducing to your group, a number of connective ‘cultural elements.’ As these become normalized and habitual, they support the emergence of a more connective culture. How does connection to nature inform a connective culture? Includes a free download to begin exploring the ‘10 Stones:’ ten cultural elements that are foundational for any connective culture.
Regenerating Connection Circles
Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 18:00 UTC, 2hrs Live on Zoom
How can we design gatherings to be more balanced and healthy, to align with the ancient history of the nervous system, to better meet our basic needs as human beings?
In modern times, due to the disconnective breakdown of social fabric, gatherings can often bring up unresolved grief and trauma. How might we apply regenerative, cooperative, and collaborative practices and principles so that gatherings promote healing in individuals, families, and communities?
Peace Principles
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 18:00 UTC, 2hrs Live on Zoom
Even though challenges naturally arise in any group, they can be opportunities to explore growth, innovation, and healing.
The bad news: we all carry echoes of historic trauma, some thousands of years old. The good news: we can empower ourselves to heal it, and we are not the first to have done so. The four Peace Principles support groups to co-create shared intentions, agreements, accountabilities, and pathways for returning to peace; to optimize the conditions for peace, creativity, trust, cooperation, and connective relationships.
Facilitator Bios
Root Cuthbertson
Root designs experiential opportunities for learning by creating strong containers for the graceful facilitation of group energy. He holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education, and certificates in Sustainable Curriculum Design, Participatory Facilitation, and Ecopsychology. He has co-led short courses on regenerative cultures and cultural mentoring for Schumacher College, Findhorn College the ALT program in Thailand, and is a certified trainer in Gaia Education eco-social design. With his wife Deborah Benham, he has delivered trainings on Sociocracy, Positive Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship, and Culture Repair. Former Training Coordinator for Transition Network, he is the co-author and curator of Transition resources on Personal Resilience, Conflict Resilience, Group Culture, and Social Justice. He has been part of teams in the UK offering programs introducing the Connection 1st framework, and has co-led the Connection 1st online courses: “Introduction to Regenerative Community Building,” “Designing for Peace,” and "Pathways to Village Building.” With Jon Young and Deborah, he is co-authoring a series of e-books on regenerative community design. With his ear to the ground, Root’s guiding question is: “What is most needed here now?”
Renewal of Creative Path
December 17, 2025 - Video Recording
A two-part process for looking back in order to move forward.
First, reflect on the past and notice emerging patterns in your life. Then, discerning what is supportive and connective, map out some next steps that will allow you to move forward with clarity.
A popular addition to many family gatherings during the winter holiday period, ROCP can involve time together to celebrate achievements, mark milestones, grieve losses, and articulate resolutions.
Cultural Elements
November 19, 2025 - Video Recording
Learn about connective cultural elements, some of the essential building blocks of Village Building.
As these elements become normalized and habitual, they support the emergence of a connective culture. How does connection to nature inform a connective culture? View a map of the cultural elements here.
Includes a free download to begin exploring the ‘10 Stones:’ ten cultural elements that are foundational for any connective culture.
Seasonal Celebrations
October 29, 2025 - Video Recording
Each season presents opportunities for beginning again, renewing connections both to people and place. How can you invitingly and respectfully mark each season, connecting with the rhythms of nature and with your community? How can celebrations uplift both universal themes and locally specific traditions that help to make meaning while encouraging a connective culture?
Receiving Anchoring
September 17, 2025 - Video Recording
Beneficial both for folks who are just starting out and those with plenty of experience, ‘anchoring’ refers to setting up regular mentoring sessions with someone you trust. Why is it important for someone you trust to ‘catch your story’ and support your journey on an ongoing basis? How do you initiate anchoring relationships? As a regenerative approach to preventing burnout and promoting resilience, anchoring is highly recommended for anyone involved in Village Building.