For the majority of human history, children have played using their imagination and curiosity. In all that time—without television, video games, or mass-manufactured toys—kids spent most of their free time exploring natural surroundings. Nature was home. As with most nature camps, the curriculum at Wilderness Awareness School involves a lot of play, bugs, songs, and […]
Over many years of being with kids in nature, I have noticed that scale is a nuance to their experience and their development. While older children may focus in on an industrious project in a particular area, like digging a hole or building a dam, they also are more likely than younger kids to stop […]
It is a fine summer day here in Western Washington, with a slight breeze, singing birds, and flowers and fruit decorating the green world. Schools are out and it’s a great time to take off one’s shoes and head out for a wander. And do what? What sort of activity might help your child learn […]
Figurine frogs. They lined my shelves in my tiny New York City apartment. Those plastic and ceramic friends were my heart’s delight. Nature finds a way to flourish in the human heart, especially in the imaginations of five-year-old urbanites. It’s no surprise that as a young mother of three, I would eventually find myself on […]
At Wilderness Awareness School, the art of questioning is one of the most basic—and profound—learning tools that we utilize. Questioning is one of the ways that we can drive our senses to become more deeply involved in what we are experiencing. It can bring us into the moment in a dynamic way and help us […]