Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/lessons-nature-has-taught-us-during-the-pandemic/5025758/
*See the pdf version of this article for photos.
In the soft November light, a group of young children are enthusiastically looking for geodes and other precious rocks in the dry creek bed.
“I found one! Look at this!” exclaims one, holding a black shiny rock up to the sky.
“Wow! Is it a real one?” asks another. “What type of rock is that?”
Without waiting for a response, they all excitedly resume their search.
It has been two months since we returned to work in person, and our outdoor classroom has been a peaceful haven during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a bumpy first few weeks, we all adapted surprisingly quickly to our new program’s life and rhythm, helping 15 children accomplish their daily school tasks while staying six feet apart and wearing masks. After 39 Zoom meetings a day, online independent work and additional homework assignments, it became clear that the only thing we all wanted to do was spend the rest of our time outside. “Can I go outside?” was the automatic query as soon as there was a break in the virtual school day. Nature magically connected all of us back to her, as if she sensed that this was just what ...