To be honest, I’ve spent a fair deal of this past year observing Norwegian children playing in nature. Picking berries, building shelters, “selling” all varieties of stone and pinecone merchandise in imaginary boutiques. There is romping and clambering. Clothes get muddy.

When I recently stumbled upon this excellent Slate article by Emma Marris,…

Snow on a Saturday—great! Who scheduled the recent snowstorm? My compliments. On Friday, we knew it was going to snow the next day. We cancelled our plans to travel and settled in for a day at home. No worries about piling up too many snow days that would force the kids to go to school until the end of June. Traveling to work wasn't a concern. I know, two Saturdays to go…

Throughout my childhood, our family farm in Pennsylvania was not only a summer getaway from city life, but also a place to host extended family and friends. Many times we were allowed to bring classmates from school. One particular friend shared my affinity for horses and was a frequent guest. We spent long summer days playing in the creek, exploring the woods and tending to the horses and cattle on the property, all without issue until one fateful evening when she learned the truth…

Lessons from a Morning Walk

My son, Kaveh, and I have been taking a walk before school.  This is not so easy on a weekday, but it is a high priority.  We might make it around a block or two in ten minutes, and I am never, ever sorry.  Here is why.

On a recent morning walk, in the brisk fall air, we were…

©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…

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..

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 open on all sides to the sights, sounds, and smells of the…

Quiet in the Forest

While looking through old photographs, I came across one that I had used for my Christmas card in 1994. My son William was two-years-old and in love with animals. He played with toy animals, we read stories about animals, and we visited animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo all the time. In fact, for Christmas that year, we gave out gift certificates that read, "This…

©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…

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…

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…

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…

How do you find nature in an asphalt landscape?

      After a summer in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, my children and I returned to Houston, their father, and our little house in the middle of a tangle of freeways.  We were happy to see friends and family but also dismayed by the heat, the…

C&NN Associate Brother Yusuf Abdul-Wasi contributes the following:

Paddling Tivoli North Bay



On an easy Sunday morning this fascinating tidal marsh in Dutchess County, offered our group of inner-city youth, teachers and family members an up-close exploration of spectacular plants, interesting wildlife, and scenic views of the Catskills. With the superb eco-guidance and…

If you answer YES to all of these questions you may wish to join this amazing journey in helping to grow "The Garden of Love"

1. Do you wish to help keep the enchantment of childhood alive?

2. Do you believe that picture books and telling stories are important in a child’s life?

3. Do you care about the future of our Natural World?

4. Do you believe in nurturing compassion, love, truth, respect and peace in our…