My oldest son took a class at the Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary this Fall. It is a beautiful place, and he spent six weeks catching spiders, hunting mushrooms and tracking down beavers, among other things. After class we would head to the Wildlife Sanctuary’s playground, which blended into its surroundings, as every element was made of trees and twigs. Clever activities were set up, such as a split rail fence that could be built in different configurations and a sandbox with bones and other nature-y bits buried below the surface, ready to be discovered. I found myself looking forward to the class as much as my son, just for the chance to experience a technology-free antidote to modern life, if only for a little while.
Sounds like a wonderful class in a great spot! I’ve never been up there but will make a point to go next chance I get. Having read “Last Child in the Woods” I am more convinced than ever that we need to balance kids’ exposure to electronics with plenty of outside time!
I’ll have to check that book out. Childhood now means that hours and hours of every day are spent staring at screens, between games and tv and even online tutorials for schoolwork. It is bizarre that for the first time in human history, children have to go out of their way to experience nature.
Sarah, do I see John Luke in that wagon?? Sounds like a great place for kids (and adults who are still kidlike).