bioregioning – activities for your community

On this page i have shared some activities i designed and tested out

i will add over time

ENJOY

SHARE WITH ATTRIBUTION TO WORKSMITH OCT2025 (Lizzy Smith)

Facilitated activity – Expressing your bioregion

your home my home

OUTPUT example (group n = 20 total)

Image shows poster with drawings of bioregions of participants after completing the following prompts
Three small groups cycled through this activity using the same poster.
Timing – Each group had about five minutes to get their bioregion down, add any detail, and answer the prompt questions.
Doable in about 20 minutes.
in a larger group, if you want to add more detail, or just have this as the main activity, allow for a long day workshop +

poster – Make sure it’s at least big enough for all participants in your event, you may need several sheets joined together.
On wall or table, on floor is less inclusive.
Draw your own bio region as an example to a shape of the area, you would call your bio region.it’s good if this is at the centre of the main poster area.
put a Name inside, eg, Southern Tablelands, New South Wales,
Make sure there’s at least one marker pen for suitable for the paper and the wall. Two pens is okay, no more than two or three for easy access.
Facilitator notes: allow 5 minutes for 8 people for each round. Keep the pace intensive and focussed; follow prompt cues and avoid giving too much guidance; be directive for group collaboration ; any side convos should be guided elsewhere or redirected.

Gather the group around the poster.
Point out that whatever “bioregions” means to you is correct,
You are going to draw the shape of your bio region. Make sure everyone has the chance to draw their bio region. Work together if from the same.
Show the example of what you have drawn (preparation).
I want you to draw a boundary.It is it solid? Is it dotted? Is it dashed? Draw the nature of the boundary of your bio region.
So everyone gets the chance to draw their bio region on this sheet of paper.
You can add whatever detail you want.
Who has questions?.

As time allows…

ask the group to show what’s happening at the edges of their bioregions.
Provide an example based on your bio region to a neighboring one. at the edge, it may be an exchange of labor, of seasonal produce.
So you would draw that symbolically on the poster., eg, draw a 2 headed arrow for an exchange of fruit or timber; exporting would be a one way arrow.
It may be that high mountains prevent any exchange.

Think about the water sources in your bio region and how they might relate.
You are looking at the source of life – water. So where is the source of water? draw and name that on the poster. work together across bioregions
any detail is welcome for example, Some people may only know water comming from a tap, well or creek. Some people may know it from a local dam. Some people know where their actual rainfall travels goes to and name the head of their rivers or streams in their area.
off you go. You’ll have about four minutes. Work together.

allow more time pp for each round to build detail on a larger poster eg paint or felt pens on a pale cotton sheet taped at edges.
add more layers for details eg climate factors, economic, culture; Add layers by category- distinguish by colour or use acetate sheets so layers can be stacked or removed – ~1> day workshop
fact check, research and check in with locals ave an illustrator take the output and make it pretty artefact – may take several workshops
always take a photo at each category layer.

build positive group dynamic – familiarity and cohesion, identity based on real resources
visual representation of essentials to life – place, water, relationships

images shows a poster with output of ‘define bioregions’ activity by participants – Three groups cycled through this activity with using the same poster.
Timing – Each person had about each group had about five minutes Doable in about 20 minutes in a larger group `20pax, if you want to add more detail, or just have this as the main activity,

Add headings on sheet (examples – use your own)

what words help to define a bioregion? list them under the heading, a list of points is fine; explain to each other as you add.
how would you map a bioregion? add list of content, topucs, what you might need to do eg walk the water source
is there value in bioregion edges or continuum?

very light explanation, no examples (constraint)

Participants can look up definitions if they want

timing allow each group of 5-8 ~ 8 minutes on all prompt – aim for quick points documented not committee defined sentences

keep group collaborating and focussed (helps with ideas and thinking)

word based representation of essentials to a bioregion to the group (for later planning projects etc)
linear activity so helps build positive group dynamic – shared understanding, everyone able to contribute