1. Where is your child at school?
My daughter Fern ,attends Humble Oak Outdoor Learning Center & Arts Collective, which is located in Southeast Wisconsin. Humble Oak is a fully outdoor program that is situated on over 80 acres of a beautiful forest full of wise trees and all sorts of plants and critters. Humble Oak has 3 different age levels: Squirrels (KinderForest, ages 3-7) Beavers, (Early School Age, ages 7-10) and Hawks (Adolescent, ages 11-14). Fern is a 2nd year Squirrel.
2. How does the school incorporate the outdoors into the program?
Nestled among the rolling rural landscape, and tucked within a magical 80 acre forest, my daughter breathes in the scent of woodsmoke and runs up a wooded path towards a cheerful fire, a homey yurt, and friends. She drops her belongings off in the yurt and with the comforting squeak and thud of the screen door behind her she is off and running to join friends among the trees. As a fully outdoor program, Humble Oak holds connection and respect for the natural world as the main guide for the children throughout all four seasons. It is all that one could ever hope for in a nature based school, beautiful full days of hikes, crafting, building relationships, nature observation, land stewardship, recognition of indigenous practices, music, outdoor cooking, and play, above all PLAY! Whether it be imaginative, physical, constructive, independent, experiential, or just full on covered in mud and hay play :)
3. How much time is spent outdoors?
Just about all of the children’s time is spent outdoors. A welcoming yurt houses some of the classroom materials, such as art and handwork supplies,tools, an assortment of books, musical instruments, and also offers the children a safe home base for the unpredictability of Wisconsin's four seasons.
4. Has your child had an adjustment period to the outdoor approach?
Our daughter began at Humble Oak when she was 3 ½ and it was her first “away from home and mom and dad” experience. Although we have always been a very outdoors and nature loving family, we really do believe that her transition into being away from home for longer periods of time was made smoother because she is being nurtured and cared for in such a loving and peaceful space among the natural world. It is pretty amazing that the Woods of Humble Oak not only literally catch her when she falls while playing or climbing a tree but the Woods are also there to hold and guide her along her journey through childhood and beyond.
5. Would you characterize your family as “outdoorsy”?
We find being called tree huggers as a high compliment… need I say more? But yes, we love being outdoors and find the same strong connection to the natural world whether we are in our backyard eating a handful of black raspberries on the swing set, among the Woods on Family Work & Nurture Days pulling friends in a wagon around the yurt at Humble Oak, or during an adventurous day swimming in the river searching for crayfish and the perfect skipping stone. For our children, we wish them the deepest pockets to carry all of their nature finds and treasures in, the confidence to always ask questions, and a lifelong sense of wonderment and gratitude for the natural world.
6. How has outdoor school benefited your child in particular?
When Fern started at Humble Oak, we thought it was just going to be her school and that would be the extent of it. But our experience with Humble Oak has been so, so much more- it has really changed our whole family's lives in the best ways possible. The community that we have become a part of at Humble Oak has been incredible, and that has been truly the most wonderful thing for our daughter. We feel so grateful that in this fast paced, strange world that we live in, Fern is starting off in a slow and gentle way, learning to find her footing first among the Earth she walks on, right alongside a community that is there to nurture and encourage her to just be herself every step of the way.
7. Did you pivot from traditional school to outdoor school? Maybe from one child to another, and if, yes, what was that decision process like?
No, we did not have to pivot. We knew pretty early on that finding a nature based program for our children was a top priority. What has been interesting for us, is that by choosing a (what some may call) alternative education path for our children, we are finding that our understanding and openness to other educational practices has become so much more broad. There are so many “right” ways to approach education for our children and as parents and caretakers we are able to allow the understanding and love for our children to be the guiding force for those decisions.
8. Was it hard to find an outdoor school in your area? How did you approach your search? Did you utilize the free ODSS Outdoor School Directory to find your program?
I have to admit we did a lot of research early on, before our daughter was even of “school age,” in search of a nature program that would be the right fit for our family. It seemed by happenstance that we stumbled upon Humble Oak but once we looked into the program and its values we had our sights set. What a great tool for parents to be able to access the Outdoor School directory. It can feel like a daunting task when you are trying to decide on an education decision but to have a reputable and conclusive list to search from is amazing!
9. How have friends & family reacted to your choice to embrace outdoor education?
With lots of curiosity and questions!- Which we fully welcome and think is so wonderful as we are so eager to share our love for our local nature school and all of the amazing experiences we have had just within the last year of being a part of this community. Typically the questions of “Don’t they get cold?” or “So…what do they learn?” or “Wait, so where does she go to the bathroom?” are in some way shape or form asked. :) By the end of each conversation though, something along the lines of “Wow that is so cool!” or “Gosh, can you imagine if all kids were able to be outside more?” is said and we couldn't agree more. It IS cool and we feel incredibly lucky to give our children this opportunity!
10. Has it been difficult to find the right outerwear to keep your child happy, warm and engaged at outdoor school? How has ODSS been a resource for you in terms of gear?
It is a learn as you go process that is for sure! We are still figuring it out and have found it best to overdress or pack extras. The decision of how to dress our daughter is usually made the morning of so that we can have the best sense of what the weather will be like that day. The trickiest thing I find about deciding how to dress her is keeping in mind the huge fluctuation in temperatures and dew levels from morning to afternoon! So typically, we tend to go for:
Base Layer - A solid base layer has been key for us! We love the Muddy Puddles Drift Synthetic Base Layer- she wears it just about everyday!)
Lots of woolen wear- Wool or fleece sweaters and pants and a good solid pair of hiking socks.
Wool Hiking Socks- We love Smartwool.
Waterproof Fleece Lined Mittens- ODSS by Muddy Puddles Fleece Lined Recycled Rain Mittens are THE best! (Yes, I definitely have a pair for myself in the adult size! )
Breathable Fleece Balaclava
Waterproof Jacket & Pants- We have the Helly Hansen Bergen Rain Suit and not only does she look so darn cute in it but it is so durable, easy for her to put on herself, and versatile for rain, wind, dew, mud and snow!
Comfortable Hiking Boots and Winter Boots (we have Bog Winter Boots) that can stay warm in sub zero temperatures.