Our History…

The story of the 8 Shields Institute and its founder Jon Young, is a story that spans over three decades and weaves together the threads of deep nature connection, mentoring, peacemaking traditions and the distillation of these threads into programs that have touched people across the globe.

What started as the mundane walk of a 10 year old boy home from the woods with a snapping turtle in his hand became the foundation of a movement that has changed lives.  Jon Young took a gift he received, of being mentored in an ages-old tradition, and has made it his life’s work to pass those teachings on to people of all ages.

Along the way a school was founded, more schools emerged as the ideas spread, and now 30 years later the 8 Shields Institute is leading the way in developing the programs and products that help people reclaim their own deep connection to nature and each other.

Sincere gratitude goes out to all the many people who have contributed to this amazing work.  Tom Brown Jr. saw a kid on the side of the road with a  turtle in his hand and simply asked a question….that started it all.

What question could you ask today that would change everything…

Learn more about how a boy and a snapping turtle can launch a movement.

Read the beautiful Full Story.