School Without Walls

05/03/2010

Well-behaved children and adults, in many communities, don’t think for themselves.
Betty Jones, Early Childhood Professional

"Children cannot bounce off the walls if we take away the walls."

This is the motto of the Cedarsong Nature Preschool on Vashon Island, Washington. And, this is how the school's web site explains it's outdoor preschool program for 3 - 5 year olds:

"Cedarsong Nature School's Forest Kindergarten is an entirely outdoor education program that is interest-led, place-based, experiential, and seasonal. Our program is designed to integrate children with nature and engage them in quality outdoor activities which stimulate their innate curiosity about the natural world. Our teaching style encourages children to learn through direct experience with nature.

"Your child is invited to join us in running through the forest, discovering and decorating hide-outs, making dreamcatchers and musical instruments, creating magic wands and magic potions, learning about the plants, creating a unique nature journal, playing make believe, making up forest songs and dances, and telling stories around a campfire."

And, when they talk about entirely outdoors they mean it. In a front page article about the school in the Seattle Times (April 20, 2010) school co-founder Erin Kenny, proudly pointed out that in its two years of existence, classes have been held indoors only once and have never been cancelled. She observed, "When kids spend their time in nature, they pride themselves about how much they know. Children need to be immersed in nature. They're loving it."

Drawing with Children in Nature

One result of the World Forum is the book, Dibujando con Niños / Drawing with Children. The basic premise of this beautiful book is that all children can develop their creative potential and artistic skills, even when they are raised in impoverished environments. Authors, Roxana Salazar and Maria Carmen Schulze, describe in words (English and Spanish) and photos their work in Bolivia teaching children to draw using elements in their natural environment. This short (24 page) book combines both a theoretical framework as well as real life examples, woven together by the amazing passion of the authors.

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