Nature Notes: Fall into the Rhythm of Learning

Summer is beginning to bow its head. All around us at The Ridges, signs of Autumn are near. Tufts of bergamot and Joe-pye-weed reach up to the sky to offer the last sips of nectar to pollinators. Evenings approach ever-sooner, tinged with a crisp coolness. The Sanctuary is quieter, too; having paired up, built their nests, and watched their offspring fledge, the birds have little to say nowadays. Soon though, that lull will be replaced with the delighted squeals of children arriving for another season of nature-based early childhood education. As nature begins to wind down, we are ramping up for the school year.

This time of year is one of my favorites because the Sanctuary will once again become a home for children whose families welcome Ridges Educators and the forest as their teachers. As the Dragonfly Nature 4K teacher, I have spent the past weeks excitedly planning out our year in preschool: Where will we go? What will we create? What will we sing? What will we investigate? Of course, sometimes plans are just that. In a nature-based setting, there are endless opportunities for learning. I can recall an instance from late last school year when I was set on teaching a unit about pollinators. I had laid out a sequence of lessons, meticulously prepared materials, created games, and even written a script for myself. Alas, as soon as my students began entering the gate to the preschool yard, they saw water. And mud. And worms. Without hesitation, they began digging an impressively large hole, which they promptly filled with just enough water that they faced little resistance when sliding into it. The worms, gingerly plucked from beneath stumps and excavated from the dirt, were given swimming lessons (these swimming lessons were cut short, for the record). Needless to say, we instead learned about water, and mud, and worms. Mud baths were taken by all, and worm homes were constructed. At the end of the day, they learned more from our mud and water exploration than they ever would have from my pollinator lessons—not because they wouldn’t have enjoyed it—but because the muck had already captivated their attention.

Leaning into the seasonal offerings of the natural world is a part of all educational programming we do at The Ridges and with our partners. In Dragonfly Nature Preschool, Tiny Trekkers, Forest School, and Forest Days, children witness their environment in all of its phases: the golden light of autumn, the stillness of winter, the thawing squishiness of spring, and the gentle embrace of warmth in early summer. During Backpack Adventure Camp, children experience the Sanctuary and the Family Discovery Trail for one week at a time during the summer through hikes, inquiry-based science activities, and friendship. It is the experiences these children have that build a personal relationship with nature. Forests, meadows, and bluffs quickly become cherished friends who make them laugh, hold their hands, and teach them important lessons about what it means to be a human on this planet.

How thankful I am to be a creature who doesn’t migrate or hibernate as this season approaches. The magic is just beginning.

These moments, and the programs, would not be possible without our community members and partners who value curiosity, care of the environment, and the lifelong bond between children and the natural world- principles at the heart of nature-based early childhood education. If you would like to learn more about The Ridges’ commitment to creating deep, personal connections through our year-round education programs, we invite you to visit our Education page. We’d love for you to be part of the journey.