Nature, Nurturing, and the Need To Smell the Roses

By Audrey Sillett Lintner

Remember when you were a kid, and you planted a seed in a little paper cup?  You watered it, placed it on a sunny windowsill, and waited anxiously for the first green shoot to appear. Remember watching tiny leaves unfold, and the protective joy you felt in your connection with that new growth?

How would you like to introduce your kids to that same sense of natural wonder?

Whether your child is the type to race to the top of the highest hill, or the one who is content to watch a colony of ants build a new home, Nature Nurture Summer Camp can tailor a learning experience for them.  Now in its eighth year, Nature Nurture is the brainchild of Linda Constant, and a reflection of her “slow lane” philosophy.

In an earlier post, Linda stated that “we pay close attention to the age, stage and developmental style of each child”. Children aged three to ten can enjoy a hands-on approach that promotes quality of teaching over quantity.

Kids learn in different ways, and at different rates.  When the lesson is harmony with nature, doesn’t it make sense to give your child a lesson that he can readily absorb? The Nature Nurture lessons are designed to foster a sense of love and respect for the world around us, while avoiding the typical rote teaching of some other types of classes.

Consider the simple act of collecting shells on the beach. The relaxed pace of beachcombing appeals to the low-speed child, while the thrill of the hunt encourages a high-speed child. A particularly beautiful find sparks a conversation about sea creatures, which leads to a discussion about the need to keep the oceans clean. Children nurtured by nature in such an easygoing environment will come to understand the mutual benefit that comes from kindness to the planet.

For some parents and children, the greatest appeal of the Nature Nurture camps is the emphasis on what might be called individual cooperation. Rather than the usual summer camp spirit of competition - fastest swimmer, cleanest cabin, best archer - everyone works together at their own pace to achieve a common goal. When that goal is harmony with nature and yourself, everyone’s a winner.

So, are you interested?  If you’d like more information, visit the Nature Nurture website. If your child is ready for a hands-on with nature kind of summer adventure, fill out the camp registration form. And don’t forget Linda’s words of wisdom:

“Slow down, take the time, make the time, give you and your child the gift of going slow and savoring whatever you are doing, wherever you are, as often as possible.”