Core Routines- Our Original Instructions

As a child, did you have a favorite magical spot outside?  On the very first day, the kids will find their own place to take a few moments to simply be still.  This special spot, perhaps against a mighty Oak or the smoothness of a Beech, will become familiar, safe and fascinating as each child slows down and uses their sensory awareness.   A true innate and personal connection to Nature will be established...naturally.  As time is spent in their Sit Spot, they will come to recognize that they are part of something vast and beautiful.

Do you remember a particular person in your past that shared their daily experiences through great stories?  Story Telling has a way of unifying people, encouraging self- expression and self confidence through personal experiences.  Everyone can join in and in doing so,  they learn how to listen and take turns, add to and relate.  Sometimes story telling will happen through drawing and writing.  Self expression without fear is a skill, story telling can help develop it.

Mind's Eye Imagining helps kids develop their wonderful and original sense of imagination.  A great imagination leads to creative leadership and growth.  Images that are imprinted on the mind by experiencing nature through the 5 senses establishes Nature Literacy.  Many children will show, with time, an interest to write and tell stories about their rich sensory experiences in Nature.

There is said to be one core rule in Nature Connection and that is to notice everything!  Exercising all the senses in the outdoors helps to break kids out of their habitual patterns of thinking.  Senses will be tested, stretched and strengthen and in return so will their skills of paying attention, awareness and self confidence.  

Tracking animals is enchanting!  Finding animal prints is like finding a clue, a window into wildlife!  Kids will become detectives as they find signs and tracks in Nature.  A mystery will unfold before them as they "learn to learn" by asking questions.  "Following animal tracks and trails, like reading, helps develop pattern recognition...lifelong lessons.  Tracking nurtures quality observation, intense curiosity, gathering evidence and reasoning deductively; defining, refining, and providing hypotheses.  Tracking leads to finding answers. Questioning and Tracking instills a mental habit of intense inquiry. " 

-Coyote's Guide 

 As your child's Nature guide, I will help encourage curiosity and questioning...learning!

Throughout thousands of years across the globe cultures practiced imitating physical and mental actions of animals and birds and even natural elements like water lead to the promotion of kinesthetic and vestibular awareness.  Practicing animal strategies through movements helps kids build their instinct, intuition and even empathy for the creature or element they were imitating.  Practicing the movements and mental attitudes of different animals helps build a tool box of life skills.  Squirrels harvest food to store with tenacity teaching the value of being prepared through hard work.   Hawks can focus on their prize that is a mile away and in doing so can teach us how to see the value in focusing on the big picture.   Kids will have freedom as they develop self expression and playfulness as they imitate animal forms.  By the way, this will be modified according to the ages of the children.

Life is a gift that should be enjoyed!  Wandering in nature without a particular aim provides the brain and body a chance to relax and recharge.  Kids need this freedom to ground themselves and learn whatever Nature wants to teach them.   The lessons of self trust, curiosity, intuition seep into their bones and settles on their spirit like a hand woven, warm blanket of confidence.

The routine of Mapping with younger kids involves communication about the landscape.    Landmarks are recognized and talked about. Eventually stories develop as  familiarity grows.   Navigating our way as we pass landmarks that we name establishes a connection.  The huge Beech tree with the hollow serves as a secret hiding place, the  weeping branches might be seen as  protective arms, or the "cave" might feel like the most secure and special place to a child. As the guide, I will call attention to the 4 directions and orient according to the signs of Nature, such as the Sun. 

To be able to creatively express your thoughts on paper with a pen , or even in the dirt with a stick, , is a freedom.   Journaling may look like stick drawings in the dirt, expressive words in a journal, intricate drawings on paper or pictures put together with tiny hands using acorns, leaves or bark.  The kids will be encouraged to keep a regular record of their outdoor experience.  "Journaling is the routine that stretches and etches all the details a little further into the brain." - Coyote's Guide    It is a moment where all of the Core Routines come together.  The linguistic brain is enhanced when a child puts into words or pictures what he/she sees or feels.   Journaling stretches a child's ability to find words, adjectives, comparisons, metaphors and add to their vocabulary.  Journaling connects the language part of the brain to sensory experiences from nature and both bring each other alive.

Perusing through a field guide is like opening a treasure chest of Nature's gifts.  A field guide contains information obtained throughout generations.  These books are not forced upon kids as a textbook but rather pages of secrets to be discovered.  We will use field guides for activities and games like scavenger hunts.  Some days, these books may be visible on the provocation table for kids to browse through.  With the absorption of natural pictures, curiosity arises and a child may be led to to watch out for new things. The simple act of flipping a page after scanning a picture serves the mind well. The information seeps into their brains and is surprisingly recalled "by accident" later...knowledge gained.

We will each have a moment prior to and at the conclusion of class, to listen to and acknowledge each others favorite "thing" that they are grateful for and the "cool moments" experienced during class.

* Discover the extraordinary in the ordinary, admire it, express gratitude for it

*Notice the positives and meaningful moments from the time spent  outside

 *As your child's guide, I will encourage... 

* keeping things in perspective

* be hopeful

 *be more positive 

* spread enthusiasm for the good things that we sometimes take for granted.

  When we travel through Nature we impact the surroundings with our presence. When we listen to bird language, kids will learn how to decipher baseline or alarm language.   "The attitudes and body language we carry affect the world around us.  Listening for Bird Language as a routine shows us that we can choose the impact we create as we move through the world." -Coyote's Guide