Young children have the gift of abundant curiosity and openness. During this very brief and special time in their lives, they are fully in the present with the world around them. In this state of presence, they are ripe for the learning that comes from direct experience, and early experiences carry deep formative power for the rest of their lives. Children’s rapidly developing neural pathways thrive on stimulation from the sense-awakening phenomena of nature — smelling the rich humus layer beneath the conifers, listening to the hypnotic sounds of birds in the brush, tasting seasonal herbs, watching for animal tracks, feeling the cold of snow and the warmth of fire.

Such experiences are necessary for the healthy development of all human beings, because we are all creatures of Earth. It is vitally important that young children are given consistent opportunity to foster their innate connection with the natural world, as this holds positive implications for their physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being now and into the future.

At this program, mentors hold space for children’s natural-born desire to explore and encourage the building of new relationships with the natural world and each other. Together we sing songs, share special finds and artifacts, tell stories, imitate animals, and play to learn. Children are free to be themselves, to do what feels good, and to ask for what they need. They are safe to test the boundaries of their comfort zones as they seek the new experiences and connections with the land that their growing minds and bodies crave.