The Giving Season: Support Children in Nature!

Greetings!

When Outside Now naturalist mentors and a group of young ones enter a day in nature, we anticipate experiencing both the comfort of the familiar and the exhilaration of the unexpected. We practice our fox walk to move on the land with little disturbance, owl eyes to see clearly in many directions, and deer ears to hear even the faintest message carried on the wind. As we move across the landscape, tracking the story of a night visitor, or hold as still as a field mouse in our daily sit spots; an awareness of our place in the magnificence of nature takes root.

From that place of deep connection, innate curiosity and well-placed questions lead everyone toward exploration and mastery of Earth Arts and Skills. Together we harvest plants for food and medicine, stack rock cairns to orient and beautify our path, carve spoons and form clay into useful objects, interpret the language of the birds, gather willow for baskets and acorns to grind…We design shelters when the winter rains come and make fire using fire kits we craft. We celebrate when someone gets his first coal and sing that first fire into full flame. Through engaging in these satisfying practices, much is revealed to each of us about the essential attributes of a fully alive human—qualities like joy, vitality, helpfulness, strength, perseverance, and bravery.

Outside Now mentors continue to grow up the next generation of appreciators and caregivers of the land and all of its inhabitants, as we have done for over 20 years. We look to the natural world for infinite wisdom: the necessity of diversity, of patience, of interdependence, of vitality, of stillness, of beauty, of change. 

We are grateful for your financial contributions. They matter. They allow us to keep showing up at the trailhead each morning, to be a steady presence for new generations, and to safely guide young ones into the adventures that await on a day in Nature.

Much appreciation for your generosity.