All Blog Posts (842)

©Erin Kenny 2013

November was warm enough that we had several barefoot days in the forest. There was also a lot of wind, leading to daily accumulations of fir needles and small branches on the forest floor. We experienced many days of fog this month which led to opportunities to discuss what fog is. The children have noticed that the light in the forest is changing and the mornings are darker. This has been a great lead-in to talk about how the days are shorter now as…

This is one of my all time favorites. It has shapes, symbolism, friends and food.This year we had such good weather we made sure we got nature's full benefits too. So it's a great event all round in my book.

The Advent Spiral is an important part of the Steiner Waldorf…

Caffeine and Cajones

Paul Fleischack

South Africa

The dawn breaks and the first pale light dulls a million stars.  The Fiery-Cheeked Nightjar's  "Good Lord deliver us" call fades to give way to the melodious song of a Cape Robin-Chat. These opening bars cue-in the avian orchestral fanfare, heralding the first tentative appearance of the sun from stage left.  Sitting in my bedroll on the banks of the uThukela River I watch a…

What is it that's stopping us getting outside? Is it screens? Is it lack of interest?

Maybe, but there's something else. The Natural Play Killers.

Let me tell you a true story..

Like many in this network I was pretty deeply disappointed in the recent Toys 'R Us ad pitting "trees vs. toys", highlighted in the C&NN media update.  Like many of you Toys 'R Us has been a part of our gift giving and, to be honest, I still enjoy exploring the canyons of toys in the aisles myself.

Nothing conveys our disappointment more effectively to Toys "R Us than the power of the purse: not buying from them - and letting them know that.  If you are unhappy with their…

Since I am in the business of teaching about gardening and nature to young children, I love recounting stories of Cleve Backster and the Secret Life of Plants at parties. Amazingly most of my peers are unaware of the experiments Backster performed with plants back in the 60's and 70's that for a…

Fall in Florida feels like a second spring.   Looks like it too!  While most plants and trees are loosing their leaves, evergreen native cassia is just beginning to bloom.  By Christmas, walls of dense overhead shrubs will be completely covered with clusters of bright yellow flowers.  Sulphur butterflies choose these as the host for their caterpillars.  Also known as Winter Cassia or Butterfly Bush; it's a standard for the Florida Gardener.  The first cold snap will shatter the…

Named the ‘Greenest School on Earth’ in 2012 by the U.S. Green Building Council, Green School is a pre-k through grade 12 international school sustainably built along a lush river in Bali, Indonesia. There, students are immersed in the natural environment, with bamboo classrooms that are…

I write a monthly 'Green Scene' column for our local newspaper. Here's last week's: Wild Thing

Wild Thing

I have vivid memories – and lots of scars – from my childhood. I built a treehouse so big it would need planning permission nowadays and so shoogly it would have failed its Building Warrant. I kissed earthworms for a dare (and, I think, for a penny). I scaled trees and fell in streams and had more patches on my clothes than Holly Hobbie’s…

©Erin Kenny 2013

Autumn is palpable in the air and on the ground from chillier temperatures to permanently damp earth. We have all added more clothing layers this month and the children have been requesting their mittens more often. That being said, we also experienced several days this month when it was warm enough for the children (and two teachers) to go barefoot!

The children are noticing evidence of the changing season and there is a lot of…

I've just read the RSPB’s report Connecting with Nature and it makes for interesting although perhaps not surprising reading......

http://wp.me/p3sq1c-be

A Journey in the wilderness: Essential milestone in a 21^st Century Education?

"And so from the hills we return refreshed in body, mind and spirit, to grapple anew with life's problems. For a while we have lived simply, wisely and happily; we have made good friends; we have adventured well. The hills have taught us to be content in our faith and in the love of God who created them." (Frank Smythe…

Quiet in the Forest

The summit of Mount Monadnock was our goal on a sunny summer day. Friday night we camped at Monadnock State Park at the foot of this popular mountain. Monadnock is said to be the world's third most climbed mountain, behind Japan's Mount Fuji and China's Mount…

I was writing notes for my speech for the Nature Education Conference in New Zealand and it sparked a visual idea that I had to draw. It seeded the theme of what will ultimately become the main thread of my talk.

We are of the Earth.…

There's a grassroots movement trending in communities across the country. It started with a handful of tech-savvy pioneers and a few innovative educators. Slowly, it moved in to the mainstream, catching the attention of parents and kids searching for a better way. Forward-thinking businesses and avant-garde entrepreneurs saw the immense, untapped potential and jumped on board. Now, it's cropping up everywhere.

No, people aren't protesting on the city green or picketing the…

Forest Kindergarten newsletter – Sept. 2013 ©Erin Kenny 2013

 September was mostly dry and warm, with some drippy rain and foggy days. We had many barefoot kids right through the third week of September. In my experience, going barefoot is one of the most common experiences young children gravitate towards and these Forest Kindergarten children are all so thankful that they can go without shoes in the Cedarsong forest!

 As the month progressed, the wet chilly weather…