Child Of The Wild

Outdoor Education Co-op

Join us outdoors to explore the wonders of nature thru play and hands-on activities that encourage creativity and observation while introducing participants to the joys of learning about the natural world and universe.

WHO:
*Children 6-11 years old (must be 6 by September 01, 2024)
with their parent/caregiver ((Siblings 0-5/12-17 y/o may attend with their 5-11 y/o sibling(s) and parent/caregiver.))

WHEN:
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
September – May
Wednesdays
11:00am – 3:00pm (end time may vary depending on location)
(up to 10 sessions each season – to include occasional community service days and field trips)

WHERE:
Various Nature Spaces
In and Around Mobile, AL

HOW MUCH:
$30 per month for each family/household
PLUS $3 per month for each child

WHAT:
Outdoor education cooperative program at which children will be free to play and explore at their own pace. In addition to lots of free play, participants will explore nature through hands-on activities and investigation of new discoveries as they arise. Children will be introduced to a variety of outdoor education, skills, crafts, and tools. Throughout the school year, we will focus on different aspects of outdoor education from environmental education and field studies to bushcraft and exploring.

With a growing concern that today’s children are deprived of nature immersion experiences, our aim is to provide those experiences and reconnect children and their families to the natural world. Our focus is on child-led free play and learning in the natural environment so the children develop a connection to the land, wildlife, and each other, as well as come to know themselves better. The natural environment provides opportunities that challenge, develop persistence and resilience, and offer the chance to make thoughtful decisions about safety and risks.

We view children as competent, capable and curious learners and hope to create a setting where we all learn together; sharing both knowledge and experience equally. We practice play-based and inquiry-based learning in which we observe, document and plan according to the children’s interests and developmental needs.

Key Principles of our Approach:
•Child-led
•Play-based
•Emergent curriculum
•Environmental stewardship
•Nature immersion in a variety of weather
•Respect for ourselves, each other, and the environment
•Study of the natural world and local habitats
•Participation of children in decision making which affects them individually and collectively

This secular, community-based program brings parents/caregivers into the mix which gives everyone the unique opportunity to work together in a setting ripe for learning. Our facilitators will lead the activities and keep the flow of the day on track. The parents/caregivers will be there to assist in activities, provide support should their child(ren) require it, and ensure the safety of their child(ren). Caregivers are required to chose a topic and co-facilitate a session as well as take it in turn to help setup and cleanup for sessions. This is very loose and free. Participants will receive Guidelines that detail all of this and more.

Our Community is our most important asset at Child of the Wild. As a community, we will help the children work together, respect one another, and value the ideas of others. As a group, we will work through challenges that arise, ensuring that children’s concerns are heard and their feelings are validated.

Outdoor learning opportunities allow us to experience the environment under a variety of conditions. Our programs take place rain or shine; however, we may cancel for severe weather such as lightning storms, flooding, wind, tornado warnings, hurricane warnings, ice, or snow. Should the need arise, we will cancel class as early as possible to give parents/caregivers time to properly plan. We will reserve one additional Wednesday near the end of each season to use as a make up day if needed.

Everyday is different at Child of the Wild. With our child-led, play-based approach, the children’s interests and imaginations lead the way. Sometimes, we plan an activity then the kids come up with something totally different according to their moods, interests, or discoveries; so, we end up scrapping the planned activity or saving it for another time. That’s okay! It’s part of the fun! But to give you an idea, here’s what a typical day might look like:
11:00 Arrival/Setup
11:30 Gather Round where we welcome the day, remember the three things we do to stay safe while we have fun (1. Stay where your adult can see you 2. Be kind and respectful to ourselves, each other, and nature 3. Be mindful and pay attention to what you’re doing), discuss any plans or activities we have for the day (which are often determined by interest shown in previous sessions), and share any news/comments/concerns with one another.
11:45 Planned activity related to current focus
12:30 Lunchtime (We encourage participants to listen to their bodies – to eat when they’re hungry and drink when they’re thirsty. Though usually when one kid breaks out their lunch it reminds the others to eat – plus it’s just fun to have a picnic with friends sometimes!)
1:00 Self-directed activities ranging from nature exploration, woodland games and good ole fashion playtime to bug hunting and foraging to den building and fire lighting.
2:30 Clean up/Departure

SUPPLIES:
At each session, parents/caregivers should provide these items for themselves and their child(ren): filled water bottle, lunch/snacks, hand towel, and change of clothes. You are welcome to bring other items such as chairs, hammocks, ground covers, and books. At times, we will provide some basic community supplies such as crafts, tools, blocks, rocks, and chalk. As a general arrangement, please do not bring toys from home.

PAYMENTS:
To secure your spot in Unleashed Learners, payment is due in advance of each month. We use automatic payments to facilitate monthly billing via Paypal (PayPal.me/childowild)

*Participants may “Bring a co-op friend!” [Children may attend a session without their parent/caregiver if those children are under the direct supervision of another co-op caregiver. Caregivers must work this out amongst themselves. Caregiver to child ratio must not exceed 1 to 5. Both families must be registered, have paid tuition, and have completed all required paperwork. All participants must register before attending. Guests may be invited at the discretion of our facilitators.]

*[Children must be able to stay in a group, follow instructions, and show respect towards peers, leaders, nature, and property.]

*[Spaces are limited. Enrollment applications are processed on a first come, first served basis with the exception that key ages may be given priority at our discretion.]

Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN