Just recently Calder ( Enrichment Counselor and all around amazing person) came to me with a concern about his enrichment groups …. In Calders words …” I am having trouble in motivating my groups to enjoy the garden for more than a few moments. Its hard for me to admit this because I have never had trouble, at least by my own belief, inspiring kids through and about “nature” in the context of the woods and the stream and ponds and I find it hard to be at a loss this way. I have not had the same trouble with the summer camp kids who come seeking out the garden.”
My response to Calder has developed an analogy that I find myself using more frequently to help explain to others about the work we do here, it’s importance and the distance we must still travel to get it done. I told him to picture the Pratt Nature Center as a giant video game, with no consideration of age, and test scores the children all start out on different levels. Some are just starting the game and have never touched a frog or seen a chicken out of it’s coop. Others are just beginning to be comfortable with themselves and their place in nature. We “level up ” as we develop more confidence and learn more of the importance of the natural world around us . A select few have reached the higher levels of our game, knowing how our health and natures health are intimately entwined, they respect its importance and have truly opened their minds to just how amazing and wonderful nature is.
What Calder does has such great importance and significance….He has managed to take a group of children and given them an excitement about nature and their role in it! Yes, some of these kids have never touched a frog, grown their own food, or been encouraged to explore and get muddy. The time they do spend in our garden, between catching frogs and exploring the woods, has spawned a group of backyard vegetable gardeners. Calder and all our staff are helping kids find their role, their importance in our world. They are bringing Nature to the next level.
The importance of nature on our social, emotional, academic and physical health is greatly understated. We have let fear,over scheduling and convenience take natures place. Play has been abandoned for a scheduled organized activity.
It’s not too late….. Our generation grew up playing outside, climbing trees, eating dirt and having skinned knees. Let’s give our children that same opportunity.
Come Play with us!
