Distilling his many years of experience in the field as a school teacher, youth leader, camp counselor, educational consultant, workshop trainer, curriculum writer, program developer, university professor and conference speaker, Steve Van Matre has come up with three forgotten essences vital for anyone serving in the role of an educator on the path of life.

"If the key to learning is doing, then the key to doing is to let the students plan more of it on their own. Oh, you can share the map and introduce some tools for the adventure, but they'll have to have the experience for themselves."

Sprinkled with wonderful stories and unusual perspectives, this powerful talk provides seventy five minutes of insights and ideas for creating an atmosphere conducive to meaningful learning adventures. It's for anyone interested in sharing some lost secrets about the most important role of our times.

The Starmakers speech is about education in its broadest sense: It's really about life and happiness and societies in educational trouble.

"The word educate comes from the Latin, meaning to draw out, but today the very name educator belies what has happened to our roles: somewhere along the way "draw out" became "cram in" for many educators, and even for those who follow the original meaning the intent has changed. They want to draw the learning out of their students in endless manipulative discussions instead of drawing their students out into the adventure of the world.

"Ancient and indigenous people living closer to the land and thus the real sustenance of their lives saw the role of their educators in a more pragmatic and organic way. It's time we began 'unlearning' much about how we see ourselves and returning to discover again the lost secrets of our first professionals."

From Previous Participants:

A vivid presentation, setting out clearly and unequivocally the limitations and failings of environmentalists and conservationists. The audience, all of whom would claim to be 'green,' was provoked into new thinking and responded with great enthusiasm. Many said that Steve Van Matre had stimulated their personal commitment, and all agreed that Outward Bound courses should more effectively promote the purpose of the 'earth education'.

• John Lagoe, chair
  International Outward Bound Conference
  Gwynedd, Wales, United Kingdom

Steve Van Matre evolves his topic metaphorically -- his logic reflecting a pedagogy based in both reasoning and emotion. His description of the earth's precarious ecological balance is both scientific and evocative. His message conveys an appreciation for the web of life while indicating the possibility of environmental disaster in a way that warns but does not cause despair. Professor Van Matre is an entertainer, prophet, and humorist; a cross between Mark Twain and Ernest Thompson Seton. He is a storyteller of wonder and truth.

• David Kahn, executive director
  North American Montessori Teachers Association
  Cleveland, Ohio

Hearing Steve Van Matre's speech, 'Mapbearers, Toolkeepers, Starmakers', I realized again that educators have a great profession. I would recommend this presentation to all students who are going to be educators, all teachers who sometimes face difficulties in their daily work, and anyone who is interested in education in general. They will find something informative."

• Kozi Hayasi
  Natural History Museum
  Chiba, Japan