A small group of families joined together this week for a wide array of outdoor activities in their second annual day camp offering at Kirkmont Center as an extension of the full-year program, Journey Nature School (JNS).
For children ages 5-10 in Logan County and surrounding areas, this summer camp stands apart from the others as it utilizes aspects of the year-round program, such as a combination of educational philosophies that focus on the whole-child development in a nature immersive setting.
While spending time at JNS Summer Camp, children are in the “Fast-Pass” version of content that is explored throughout a school year that naturally integrates academic content through the exploration of big world concepts.
As children are participate in unstructured play in wooded spaces, explore a wide range of expression styles, and engage in mindfulness practices, they are leading their learning and making meaningful connections to the content they interact with, Lead Educator and Administrator MacKenzie Myers Fitzpatrick explained.
She has fulfilled a long-time dream of providing opportunities that gives way to dynamic learning experiences for a young child and values the natural benefits of being in an outdoor setting in mixed age groups.
This camp and the Journey Nature School aims to give young children the opportunity to get dirt under their fingernails, slow down to observe local wildlife, and use parts of their creative brain to create new pathways.
As each day is rooted in oral communication and relationship-building, participants are given the chance to blend the roots of our ancestors with the knowledge and progress of today’s modern world today.
“It’s definitely the right school to go to. It’s fun, you learn as you go, and you’re in nature all the time,” said student Gabe M., who is excited to begin his third year at the school.
In addition to this week of summer camp, Myers Fitzpatrick said JNS looks toward its third school year in a spirit of “joy and hopefulness.”
While many families are returning, the program has spots available for the Fall through Spring Quarters for children ages 4-9 years old.
This learning program is both a preschool alternative and homeschooling supplement; however, you are not required to have previously homeschooled your child to participate in this program.
“We feel so lucky that our children get to attend Journey Nature School,” parent Chloe Manor shared.
“By working in relationship with each other and the earth, our children are forging a path filled with compassion and wonder. The richness of experience at JNS compliments our kids’ passion for play and channels their natural curiosity into meaningful learning. It sure beats sitting at a desk all day indoors and having recess in a gym.”
For more details on registration and programming at Journey Nature School, visit https://www.kirkmontcenter.org/journey-nature-school/ or contact MacKenzie at [email protected].