Forest Wildlings

What is Forest Wildlings?

Every Monday morning, we meet at Sara Vanderbilt's farm in Sanford for a forest school for all ages. The children explore the farm, garden, forest, creeks, ponds and river together, working together to accomplish tasks or sharpening their skills through foraging and other survival skills.

Children at Forest Wildlings will have the opportunity to practice public speaking skills during show & tell on a stage. There will be crafting, and engineering. Kids get their hands dirty in a vegetable garden and their feet wet in a river, where they gather shells or occasionally observe wildlife.

"It is inspired by Waldorf and forest school teaching philosophies," says Sara. "All of our lessons and activities are planned by parent volunteers and participation is child led. Many of our group members feel it is important for children to have regular opportunities to explore and learn in nature where they can freely express themselves. Some of the activities include nature journaling, art, crafts, hiking, nature walk, stories, poems, games, songs, plant identification, foraging, survival skills, and gardening."

This environment gives each child an opportunity to try new things such as making a paintbrush using leaves or for the younger children, for example, baking in the mud kitchen. We see mycelium up close, observe baby farm animals as they grow, walk in the woods and NEVER interrupt a large group game when everyone is having a blast together.

Because we know that's when children learn best. When they are having fun, which they can do easily when their needs are all met. Having parents nearby allows the child to relax, and we tend to hang back and let the kids enjoy their time together without too much adult direction. We watch and see what they really want to do, and run with it! It's their time, after all.