Growing Up Outdoors Classes
Growing Up Outdoors is a series of classes designed to guide parents from babyhood through preschool as they build confidence and joy guiding their children in nature. Beginning with Baby Steps, parents explore the benefits to outdoor exposure even for babies and learn to get comfortable with the logistics of getting outside with very young babies. In Toddler Trailblazers, parents explore safe ways to help foster curiosity and energy outdoors while troubleshooting the common challenges of toddlers in nature. Finally, Preschool Pathways helps parents feel prepared to nurture creativity, confidence, and independence outdoors especially in a world that can be overly focused on school-preparation.
These aren’t your typical “song and dance” outdoor classes for kids. In fact, these classes aren’t for kids at all! This a series is designed for parents. The classes are meant to inspire you to think intentionally about your family’s values and culture when it comes to spending time outside.
Class Descriptions
“Baby Steps”
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Ideal for parents of babies between 0 - 12 months.
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Bring your sense of wonder to our “Baby Steps” classes! This class is designed to help parents confidently enjoy the outdoors with their littlest babies. Some topics that will be covered during these classes include: your “why” of wanting to spend time outside, evidence-based benefits of being outdoors, creating a family culture that includes nature, dressing baby for the weather, reading baby’s cues outside, finding nearby nature, baby-specific outdoor gear, and more. You’ll leave class with a personalized family nature plan to carry you through babyhood and beyond.
“Toddler Trailblazers”
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Ideal for parents of babies between 1-2 years old.
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Bring your spirit of curiosity to our “Toddler Trailblazing” classes! This class is designed to help parents discover how to make outdoor time both safe and fun for active toddlers. Some topics that will be covered during these classes include: why outdoor play matters for development, ways to weave outdoor rituals into family life, dressing for messy play, encouraging exploration while setting boundaries, handling big emotions outside, toddler-specific outdoor gear, and more. You’ll leave class with a nuanced family nature plan for the toddler years.
“Preschool Pathways”
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Ideal for parents of babies between 3-4 years old.
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Bring your sense of adventure to our “Preschool Pathways” classes! This class is designed to help parents fuel curiosity, creativity, and independence in the preschool years. Some topics that will be covered during these classes include: the role of outdoor play in school readiness, the importance of unstructured play, risky play and risk assesment, planning successful nature outings, preschool-specific outdoor gear, troubleshooting common barriers, and more. You’ll leave class with an intentional family nature plan for the preschool years.
Each class blends presentation of relevant and interesting research, practical tips, large and small group discussion, resource sharing, and personal reflection work.
We will delve into the benefits of the outdoors for parents and children, reflect on our own personal “why”, think about barriers for ourselves and others, make plans to overcome challenges, and share our highs and lows throughout the series.
Whether you’re new to outdoor adventures or already a nature-lover, this series grows with you and your child, helping your family create lasting memories and a lifelong bond with the natural world.