Next Gathering: Lunes 22 de Diciembre @ 1:30 pm
We hope to help children grow strong, kind, and curious by spending meaningful time outdoors. These nature-based gatherings help create space for kids to slow down, get muddy, fine-tune their senses, and - most importantly - have fun.
In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, we aim to make tree-climbing, bug-watching, and storytelling by the fire (maybe with marshmallows) a normal—and necessary—part of childhood again.
There are plethora of resources, research, books and podcasts on the benefits of nature play. Here is a sample of the sources that inspired me to start this group:
Risks of Avoiding Risky Play by Dr. Mariana Brussoni (podcast)
The physiological signals for excitement and fear are the same - engaging in risky play helps us develop familiarity with these signals and help us to recognize and deal with them whether it’s climbing higher in a tree or going for a job interview and avoid becoming anxious. This is where I first heard the term "Risk-Benefit Assessment."
Balanced and Barefoot by Angela Hanscom (book)
Playing outdoors has massive benefits for physical health esp at a young age: balance, strength. I learned while reading this book that we had to change the national standards for physical fitness because kids were simply not reaching the standards at all anymore. Children also get injured more because they are not as physically strong. We can remedy this.
Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv (book)
While there are some flaws in this book, Louvre did put the mainstream spotlight on the consequences of avoiding nature play (in the US at least, Scandinavians have had forest schools since the 1930s) with his sobering book. He raised awareness about all the benefits children gain in the forest learning how to trust their bodies and themselves.
What’s the future of education in an AI world? (Part 1 and Part 2) (Podcasts)
Dr. Eagleman and Kahn think that the main concepts we need to teach kids now are creativity and critical thinking in order to be in control of the generative AI world. Playing in the forest, where natural objects abound, helps to foster creativity.
1000 Hours Outside has many fun activities to do outside and is organized by season.
Almost any podcast by Raising Wildlings, the Forest Educator Podcast with a local educator Ricardo Sierra, and the book There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather by Linda McGurk is a popular starter book, easy-to-read, about getting outside. All of these books are available in the Mid-York Public Library system.
Reciprocal Relationship with Nature: children learn to be with nature, not above it. Nature is not something to take from, but to relate to. This connection may inspire long-term thinking and ethical decision-making later in life.
Wellbeing Through Nature: time outdoors, especially in natural settings, has massive benefits on mental and physical wellbeing.
All-Weather Play Invites Freedom: when weather isn’t a barrier, the world becomes more playable.
Risk-Benefit Assessment Learning: children learn to evaluate the potential rewards and risks of their actions with heights, speed, tools, fire, jumping, etc., promoting thoughtful decision-making. Risky play builds confidence and physical strength, possibly reducing injury risk over time.
Autonomy: allow children to make choices and decisions rather than telling them what to do, how to dress, when to eat, all the time.