healthy kids


silently and slowly, or test their “owl vision”, using peripheral vision. For younger kids, instructors may incorporate such skills into a game like “coyote or rabbit,” where by staying still, they can avoid detection by a predator. Kids learn to listen both to nature


and their own inner voice, which can be challenging in the midst of dominating peers and authority figures. “We build on the tradition of vision quest, in taking time to get quiet in nature and hear what the heart is saying,” says Berry. Activities may be patterned aſter


INTO THE WOODS Nature Helps Kids Build Skills


and Character by April Thompson A


movement is afoot to get kids grounded in nature. Wilderness awareness programs, also known


as primitive skills or Earth-based education, teach life-changing survival skills that build courage, compassion and camaraderie. “We help youth experience a true


aliveness in nature. Kids gain knowledge of the outdoors and increase awareness, confidence and self-reliance, while having fun, positive experiences,” says Dave Scott, founder of the Earth Native Wilderness School (EarthNativeSchool.com), in Bastrop, Texas. Tey oſten go on to enthusiastically share what they’ve learned about natural flora and fauna with their families.


Experiential Learning Youth engaged with organizations like this one enjoy gaining nature-oriented survival skills, such as making bows, baskets, shelters and fire. “By making a bow out of a particular type of tree, children discover what type of habitat the tree prefers and how to harvest it sustainably. Indigenous skills like animal tracking also help them relate to wildlife and develop empathy for animals,” says Scott. “When you learn to trust rather than


fear nature, you’re more likely to take care of it,” adds Rick Berry, founder of 4 Elements Earth Education (4eee.org), a Nevada


12 Austin Edition


City, California, nonprofit that helps kids and adults connect with planet Earth via immersion in nature. Leaving room for spontaneity and improvisation is important. While infusing indigenous knowledge


into their curriculum, wilderness programs emphasize universal principles such as deep understanding of local environments and life’s interconnectedness. “Fire making is for everybody. Shelter making is for everybody. We are all caretakers of the land,” says Berry. Physical and other challenges, such


as walking blindfolded through the woods, heighten sensory perception while building confidence. “Te landscape is a great teacher with its uneven ground and obstacles, posing an opportunity to learn agility, practice balance and ultimately, expand awareness,” says Simon Abramson, associate director of Wild Earth (WildEarth.org), in High Falls, New York. Nature-immersion programs like Wild


Earth’s further help kids sharpen their observation skills through activities like learning to identify birdsongs and trees. During a popular activity called “sit spot”, children learn to sit quietly, listen and observe from a specific location they may revisit over the course of a day or year to witness nature’s varied beauty. Another time, they may try “foxwalking”, creeping


AustinAwakenings.com


natural cycles of the seasons, the four directions and diurnal rhythms. On a bright morning, emphasis is on high- energy, outward-facing activities; day’s end brings a pause to reflect, glean and share what participants have made and learned.


Lasting Life Lessons Mother Nature’s lessons can be hard- earned, but the outdoor trials that kids experience are oſten their most honored and memorable moments. Whether youths try out a wilderness program for a season or stay on for years, Earth-based learning can have an enduring impact. Tey help foster healthy


relationships not only with the Earth, but with other people, according to Samuel Bowman, a program coordinator with the Wilderness Awareness School (Wilderness Awareness.org), in Duvall, Washington. Team-driven activities like building a communal shelter can help kids learn how to work through conflict, listen to others and appreciate differences. “Te kids that have come through


our programs prove to be creative problem-solvers prepared to handle just about anything. Tey have focus and commitment, and tend to be service oriented,” observes Abramson, noting that 60 percent of their instructors are alumni. “Tinking back on kids we’ve worked


with, you can oſten see their wilderness journey reflected in their paths as adults, how they are making choices with their heart and pursuing their passions,” concludes Berry.


Connect with April Tompson, in Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.


Hurst Photo/Shutterstock.com


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