Creating Memories in Outdoor Environments
by Priscilla Woyke, Director of Early Childhood Development

At an early childhood professional conference I recently attended, participants were asked to recall fun games we had played as children. Everyone remembered playing ball, jumping rope, rolling in leaves, playing hopscotch and Red Rover. Many of us had collected lightning bugs and caterpillars and worn maple samura (winged seed pods) on our noses. I noticed that most of the things mentioned were activities we had done outdoors. No one recalled good memories of watching TV or playing video games. No one even talked about going to commercial playgrounds to "play."

It turns out that these casual games were full of valuable learning experiences. We were taking turns, negotiating, practicing group cooperation and problem solving, taking risks being a leader or a follower (our world needs both), learning to follow rules or create our own set of rules, and experiencing the different dynamics of power, gender roles and inclusiveness. Wow! All this learning in an outdoor, informal, non-commercial setting. Above all, we were forced to be creative and use our imaginations. And we had fun!

What outdoor learning experiences do we offer our children today? Most children go to schools or parks with a traditional playground, where they play on one piece of equipment until they get bored, then move on to the next. These playgrounds encourage large motor development, but not much else. Creative and social play are lacking, and there is no way for children to wonder, discover and explore.

Our Beginner's Nature Program gives children plenty of opportunities to create special memories to treasure their whole life. We currently have two families who are second generation BNPers, as well as a staff member who attended the program as a child. They reminisce about finding salamanders at "first pond" and watching quietly for turtles to appear in "dinosaur swamp." They tell us about pretend campfires with pretzels and marshmallows at the "camp fire area," tasting apples from the orchard, and hiding under the "umbrella tree." Our preschool children still visit these special places, and often return to visit their favorites. They say they will always remember observing the snakes, turtles, salamanders, frogs and tadpoles on our 40-acre property.

For the BNP, the outdoors is an extended classroom. Our children splash in the puddles, stomp in the mud, make snow angels on "silly hill," roll in the crisp fall leaves, and smell the fragrances of spring flowers or skunk cabbage. They experience the changing seasons and all sorts of weather and actively interact with plants and animals, water and dirt, and weather. We visit meadows, ponds, forests, fields, swamps and gardens every day.

While our BNP children are learning about their natural environment they are also learning to love and respect both themselves and their environment. With nurturing and encouragement, this love will last a lifetime. These are the special memories of childhood that we are offering our children.

For information about openings in the Beginner's Nature Program preschool and Nurturing Nature, contact Mrs. Woyke at 966-9577, ext 16.