Apr
20
2011
20
2011
Raccoon Clan
Filed under: Environmentalism, Life in Longmont, Unschooling
Every Thursday morning we wake up and drive across the breathtaking Colorado meadows into the foothills.
We pass our favorite horse…
…and soon we arrive at the place where children run free.
…where they find confidence and appreciation for God’s creation.
Raccoon Clan is one of the programs available through “Her Feet On The Earth“, a non-profit with a “vision to help raise young people who are ready to meet life’s challenges and be of service in the world: youth who have a positive sense of themselves as young women and men; who know what their gifts are; feel deeply connected with nature; have strong community support; and are full of resilience and vitality.”
So what does Bella do at Raccoon Clan?
She explores the mysteries and wonders of nature.
She wanders along the stream banks.
She searches for good things to eat.
She makes tracks, plays games in the field and shares stories.
Each week she has new adventures and nourishes her connection with nature by learning about the animals, birds, plants and trees around her and learns important skills to help her feel at home in nature, such as fire making, navigation, shelter building, archery, and more. (paraphrased from HFOTE)
We drop her off at 9:00 a.m. and pick her up at 3:00 p.m. There is a tipi on the land and so much beauty to explore. Lorene and Mary are fantastic with all of the kids and so mindful about what they are teaching.
I have noticed such a difference in her level of independence and how she interacts with others…and she LOVES her new friends there. She talks about going all week and loves packing her lunch for the big day. As you can see from the photo below…she’s pretty excited about it.
We are thrilled to have found this program and hope to continue in it for a long time.
Posted by Sara @ 11:19 pm | Leave a Comment
21
2011
I so love this post! I wish we had something like that in Hawaii, it makes me want to move to Colorado!!!! Thank you for posting, I really enjoy reading about you and your family. Such an inspiration!
21
2011
FUN!!!! I want to go to raccoon clan too!!!!!
21
2011
This looks incredible! You’re so fortunate to have something like this near you.
21
2011
This is the sweetest thing! I would love to find something like this for my daughters. Right now, my 10 yo is reading a book about animals and she’s loving it. I know that she would love to attend a program like this. Thanks for sharing!
21
2011
She looks so happy. Wow, the program sounds GREAT. I’m so Happy you have found something wonderful for Bella.
21
2011
sooooo much fun. wish we had something like that here too! worth every cent.
21
2011
I recently read an article about a preschool in my area (Puget Sound) that takes place entirely in the forest, year-round!!! That is quite amazing given our soggy weather. It was cool! Parents just dressed the kids in layers and rain gear. They even had a tarp-like tablecloth on the ground for snack time. I was quite impressed. Having a deep appreciation for God’s creation draws us closer to Him for He is revealed in it all!
21
2011
Yes…they are outside the entire time so Bella has lots of layers too
It poured down rain last night so she is decked out in full body waterproof gear this morning. I love that she is learning how to be outside in all situations. We’re ready and headed out the door!
21
2011
Im in Puget Sound too and read about a school like this too! It looked really neat and even better after hearing Bella’s experience.
21
2011
What a wonderful learning op for your family! When your girls are a little older, you may enjoy this similar program that is run by my cousin Susan, in Driggs, Idaho, the Earthfire Institute.
http://Www.earthfireinstitute.org
21
2011
I’ve only been to Colorado for about an hour in the Denver airport while heading to Omaha, but I officially want to move to Colorado now!
21
2011
that sounds like an amazing growth experience.
21
2011
Sara, do you happen to know of a way to find out about such a camp/gathering in other areas of the country? Thanks! for sharing and any ideas on getting info.
Maria
21
2011
This is one of my favorite posts! I love that you have found something like this for your beautiful daughter! I feel so many children are disconnected nature, its great communities offer an outlet for children to get wild and discover the beauty of our mother earth. I hope that when I have children I will be able to get them into something like this. Thanks for sharing!
21
2011
This is awesome! I wish we had something like that here. When I was younger we used to go camping in my Dad’s fifth wheel and at one campsite we would go to there was a family who lived there and would do something similar everyday. The things I remember most was taking apart owl poo(which did you know they can’t digest bones so you can find whole skulls in them??) and singing the “Butts up” song about ducks eating in a marsh.
OH they memories!! I hope she cherishes what she learns forever!!
Sarah at The Hitched Life
22
2011
My kids do a program like this as well, once a week, outside the entire day. There are two that I know of here in VT. They can get pretty cold in the winter, but now that the sap is flowing, they are enjoying spring and maple syrup. They do an overnight, too, which I think caused me more anxiety than either of them.
22
2011
This makes me want to pack up and head to colorado today! But it also reminds me that instead of always wishing for something, it is possible for me to create that right where I live. gather a group of little friends, find a field…and go!
22
2011
that is so an amazing program! it makes me happy to see things like this exist:)
25
2011
that is amazing!!! i would love to go myself. my daughter would love that!!! so cool.
10
2011
Sara, Thank you for such a wonderful blog. Your suggested books will be helpful to me I’m, sure. Most especially, The Secret Lives of Everyday Things. A real eye opener!
6
2011
We read this a week or so ago and me and my wife tried to do something similar but man is it HOT here in Louisisana.