We’ve been making music together since we met as teenagers on the streets of New York back in the 70’s.
Dave and Helene Van Manen make music to inspire your soul. They sing about earthkeeping, simple truths and the joy of the earth. Listen to their Earth Chants Playlist at Spotify.
circa 1976
We were only teens then, but our love for music nourished our love for each other. We left the city for Colorado as soon as we could, have been here ever since.
During those early years, we performed anywhere we could as we honed our harmonies and musical style.
Meanwhile, we had 2 babies and bought and renovated our mountainside cabin in the process. As the 70s became the 80s, our creativity (and need for income) began to flow. We soon found our love – and niche – of making music for children. And now, all these decades later, that love continues!
We also became environmental educators, childbirth instructors active in the homebirth movement, homeschoolers, storytellers, music therapists, and activists.
Our music for children is as relevant today – maybe more – as it was when we created it. So many of our song are loved by parents and teachers throughout North America and beyond! You can use our songs in your classrooms, learning activities and at home to build a family legacy.
Our music started out on cassettes, went to compact discs, and is now available at Spotify, i-tunes and Amazon music.
We hope you will share our music with your family, teachers, schools and communities!
Helene is the Founder and Director of Training at www.RetreatCoaches.com and holds a Master Certified Coach designation from the International Coaching Federation. On the faculty at Coach University, Helene is a seasoned teacher that designs and trains leaders to create retreats that are successful and profitable. Specializing in mentoring new coaches, Helene Van Manen has trained hundreds of students to lead retreats, workshops, trainings and achieve coaching credentials.
Coach Helene leads retreats for leaders, professional women, self care retreats, staff and organization retreats.
Helene brings her love of music and poetry to her work and leading style and empowers others to listen deeply to their creative selves.
This led to her training hundreds of women to lead coaching and Nature retreats and music was infused into every gathering. As a result, a cd of songs she gathered became Earth Chants ~ Earth Songs…Songs to Sing with Yourself and Others.
This collection of songs will inspire you while driving, in your mindfulness practice or with groups on retreat. The Van Manens sing their hearts out in these songs. Listen
Use these songs to inspire women to connect with Nature and grow their resiliency.
Currently Helene is in Year 2 of a Green Women Leadership Program. Learn more about the program here
Dave Van Manen
Dave Van Manen (Ranger Dave) was the Founder and Director of the Mountain Park Environmental Center , which he began in 1998. He has a passion for developing special projects and programs, and designed and launched the Earthkeeper Nature School in 2018.
Currently he is the Executive Director of Healthy Women Healthy Earth, a 501c3 non profit that offers a year long Green Women Leadership Training.
“Ranger Dave” has been working in the field of education, with both children and adults, for over forty years. His background includes being a nationally known children’s musician, performer, and recording artist with a specialty in environmental music and storytelling. He is the author of the field guide Plants of Pueblo Mountain Park and his new book releases Summer 2023: Walking In Awe. Dave is a recipient of the Enos Mills Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Dave has been a resident of the town of Beulah for 40+ years, where he and Helene raised their two children. He is an avid hiker, has a passion for public lands and is a climate change activist. Together with Helene, he trains men and women to lead Nature Retreats and makes a difference in the world by helping people find ways to contribute to earthkeeping.
The sands of time they keep slipping by/ the circle it keeps going round and round. – Dave Van Manen