Nurtured by Nature
I recently had the opportunity to attend a “Nurtured by Nature” seminar, and it was a breath of fresh air—literally and figuratively. I found myself surrounded by schoolteachers who work at Nature Schools, where learning takes place not in classrooms, but outside. I was captivated. How had I never heard of this before?
As someone who loves hiking, backpacking, forest bathing, and exploring the outdoors whenever I can, I was both inspired and a little envious. Had I known these types of schools existed—from preschool through middle school—I would have loved to send my children to one.
We do our children a disservice by confining their education to four walls. Imagine a child learning math while sitting in the grass, counting sticks, rocks, and ants. Picture a biology class where students examine the shape, color, and vein patterns of leaves, or study the unique texture of tree bark. For thousands of years, our ancestors thrived by understanding nature—tracking weather patterns, reading the stars, finding fresh water, and identifying edible plants. These were vital skills, and yet, today, most people couldn’t tell you where their water comes from beyond the faucet.
Over the past century, we’ve trained children to sit still and stay inside. We’ve saturated them with stories and media portraying nature as dangerous—big bad wolves, poisonous plants, lurking snakes, and buzzing bugs. We’ve raised a generation that panics at the sight of a bee. My oldest daughter is one of them. Despite my own love of nature, she’s deeply afraid of bugs—and I have no idea where she picked that up!
Rather than encouraging curiosity and exploration, we warn kids to stay out of the woods: “It’s dangerous!” When I tell people I backpack and sleep outdoors on the trail, their first reaction is almost always, “Isn’t that dangerous?” Honestly, I feel safer out there than I do in a city, where the risk of getting mugged or worse is far higher.
“But what about bears?” they ask. I've had the privilege of spotting a few black bears from a safe distance. Here on the East Coast, they’re shy and more afraid of us than we are of them. I carry an air horn and small bear spray just in case, but so far, they’ve always run away.
“And snakes?” I hear that a lot too. I admire snakes-from a distance. I always walk with trekking poles, tapping logs and rocks before stepping on or over them. It’s my way of letting any hidden snakes know I’m nearby. I’ve encountered everything from rattlers to harmless water snakes, but they’ve always left me alone. Awareness and respect go a long way.
When we introduce children to nature early on, they learn how to recognize and avoid danger—and even more importantly, how to survive if they ever find themselves in a tough situation. My husband and I recently watched a movie about a couple lost in the Australian outback, and I found myself critiquing every poor decision they made. I won’t spoil the ending, but it reinforced what I already knew: to survive, you need water, fire, nutrients, a map, and a plan. Always share your itinerary with someone you trust, and always pack the ten essentials. (REI has a great guide on this—just search “Ten Essentials for Hiking & Camping.”)
On a trip with my youngest sister to Utah’s five national parks in July, we kept gallons of water in the car and refilled every chance we got. Even on short trails in the 107°F heat, we carried water and electrolytes. It paid off—we were able to help another hiker who’d run out of water for himself and his dog. Never underestimate the importance of being prepared.
We also learned a few tough lessons on that trip—like how quickly a car battery dies if you leave the doors open too long, or how unnerving it is to get a flat tire on a remote forest road with no cell service. Thankfully, we crossed paths with kind strangers who helped us out, and we came home wiser for it.
Encouraging kids to connect with nature can transform their lives. It supports their physical, emotional, and mental well-being and equips them with essential life skills. If you’re a parent or educator, I urge you to explore Nature Schools in your area. Children who go through these programs often learn to self-regulate, develop a deep appreciation for the natural world, foster creativity, and cultivate resilience.
Nature teaches us to slow down, observe, respect, and wonder. And in a world that often feels rushed, overstimulated, and disconnected, that’s exactly the kind of education our children need most.
~ Lane ~