Detour

On this page

• Is it for us?
• In the footsteps of
• Step-by-step guide
• More in-depth

Is it for us?

These questions will help you determine whether this tool is suitable for your organisation, objectives and situation.

What?
Detours are an alternative concept to traditional guided tours. Instead of one-way communication from guide to group, a detour is a shared experience in which participants are invited to actively contribute. Through creative assignments, imagination and reflection, participants learn about Zoöp and the living world. Detours can also cover other themes besides Zoöp.

What for?

• Engaging participants with the Zoöp philosophy
• Promoting awareness of the relationship between humans and non-human life
• Providing a personal, motivating, and (co-)creative learning experience

Where?
On or around the grounds of the Zoöp. Going outside helps you to connect with the living world in an embodied way.

When and how often?

• When: Can be used as a fixed part of other events or on request
• Frequency: Can be offered on a regular basis (e.g. weekly or monthly)
• Duration: On average 1 to 1.5 hours per Detour

How much time, money, and materials will it require?

• Preparation and further development: Requires a significant time investment from the detour guides
• Costs: No fixed costs
• Materials: Any material costs depend on the Detour concept. For example: reusable (laminated) information sheets and erasable markers, etc.

Step-by-step guide

Preparation

1. Training detour guides: Introduce them to the Zoöp model, the location and their role as facilitators.
2. Concept development: Each detour guide develops a personal detour concept (theme, form, assignments).
   Nieuwe Instituut has developed its own manual for setting up detours, the ‘Detour Guide Guide’. Here you will find more detailed, practical information about this process and coordinating detour leaders.
3. Testing moments: Detour guides can test their concepts with each other or with other participants and ask for feedback.
4. Organisation: Plan detours as a fixed part of your programming, or offer them through partners (such as education networks).
5. Materials: If necessary, prepare supporting materials.

Implementation

1. Introduction of the Detour: The facilitator briefly explains what a diversion is and introduces herself. Through initial interaction with the group, she encourages them to actively contribute from the outset.
   
2. Introduction of the story: Leads the group to the main theme through a story, question or observation.
3. Interactive core: Learning is more than just transferring knowledge. Allow participants to build a tangible, emotional connection with the message through creative assignments, interactive conversations or space for reflection. To involve everyone, it is often useful to divide the group into subgroups.
4. Conclusion: Conclude together with reflections or presentations of what the group has created or discovered.

Follow-up

1. Further development: Adapt concepts based on experiences, feedback or new developments.

More in-depth

How does it affect the user?

• Imagination to look at their environment differently
• Connection with more-than-human life
• New insights into ecology, care and cooperation
• Active involvement through doing, feeling and sharing

Combinations and applications
The Detours are well suited as a supporting programme for many interventions, such as the BioBlitz or volunteer days. In addition, other interventions can also be linked to the detour, such as a Living Datawalk to investigate a specific issue within the detour, ObsIdentify to identify species, or BirdNET-Pi to provide context about bird life.

Detours can be given on topics other than Zoöp, in which Zoöp could be mentioned.

Challenges and limitations
Different groups require a tailored approach and ways to engage them (e.g. school classes). If the Detour is offered as a stand-alone event, it is often difficult to attract regular participants; schools are well-suited partners.

Roles involved

• Detour guide:
  • Brings energy, creativity and inspiration
  • Represents a connection with the living world
  • Has a feel for group dynamics and improvisation
  • Can deal with different target groups
• Participants:
  
  • Theoretically, a Detour can be conducted one-on-one, but the idea is to do it with a group. This could be a school class, the general public at the Zoöp, people who are interested in the Zoöp, or depending on a specific event where the diversion takes place. 
  • The Detour can also be given to Zoöp employees to teach them about the Zoöp model and the philosophy behind it.

Inspiration
The concept of the detours was developed by the Co-Learning team at Nieuwe Instituut.

Contact
If you have any questions about the (Zoöp) Detours, please contact Pia Canales at Nieuwe Instituut. Nieuwe Instituut is happy to help you set up the detour concept.

For other interested parties: contact the Zoönomic Institute via hello@zoop.earth and we will put you in touch with the right person.

Sources and links
This documentation is based on a conversation with Pia Canales (Nieuwe Instituut) and a participatory observation of one detour.

Nieuwe Instituut has developed its own manual for setting up detours, the ‘Detour Guide Guide’. Here you will find more detailed, practical information about this process and coordinating detour guides.