Last week, Elementary School Coordinator, Tessa Thompson, and her littles kicked off Summer programming with Wildrock Nature Camp on Abundant Life grounds.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6, KJV
Wildrock is on a mission to provide urban youth with access to green spaces within the community as well as at their site in Crozet. It has been proven that children thrive more when they do and are encouraged to play in nature. Being outside nurtures their social and emotional wellness organically.
Participants of the Nature camp got a chance to explore nature right in our backyard. They discovered burrows, birds and nests, as well as several kinds of insects that make their homes outside of our homes. They enjoyed nature-based activities, snacks, lunch, and reading together on the lawn. At the end of each day, they used their huge imaginations to build, create, and reinvent games.
On the last day of camp, participants and leaders took a hike on the trail between the Greenstone neighborhood and 5th Street. On this walk they stopped and viewed tracks made by deer living nearby, and they made tracks of their own in the mud with stamps for the deer to find. When arriving at Tonsler park, they played on the playground and talked about positive words, like trust, love, and unity, that will help them be their best selves.
This is the second year that Abundant Life has participated in Wildrock, though they have been around our community for several years doing nature play through many different partnerships and programs. We are grateful for the work of Carolyn Schyler and her team at Wildrock. They truly love the community and continue to advocate in a variety of ways.
“A very special thanks to, again, Carolyn Schyler and her team. As well as Abundant Life staff members JD, Bruce, and Richard, who came in to help us by serving lunch, hanging out with the kids, and cleaning up.” Tessa Thompson, Elementary School Coordinator
