Nature, Community, and (Human) Resources

This month, Jilliann Rodriguez M’Barki, an Outside School parent, wrote a wonderful article for Ten Strands. In “Preparing Future Generations to Protect Our Planet,” she shares her life journey, and I feel so fortunate to be part of it!

Enjoying the hills have at Outside School.

I spend about an hour a week picking up litter in the park as my students play. The kids don’s usually join me, and I’m always curious about what this regular action’s effects may be. I love how incensed my students become when we come across graffiti, broken park furniture, or large pieces of litter. They often work hard together to remove something, like the time they found a boot in the middle of a giant pool in the creek. In the last couple weeks of the school year, they took a liking to removing staples from the picnic tables. As they were working, they found $20, which ignited a heated debate. In the end, we decided upon making a donation with it. One child wanted to donate to a dog shelter, and another wanted to donate to dogs, too, but for the homeless people who have them. One wanted to make sure theirs was a no-kill shelter, and when I found Contra Costa Animal Services they had me check how many animals they kill. I couldn't quickly find it again right now, but the number was around 98% adoption rate for the last few years, and that other 2% could easily account for animals that come in too sick, injured, or dangerous for adoptions. Not bad! Then, they wanted to know about how they euthanize dogs, and I told her about how they give them a shot that makes them not realize they're going to die. Something stronger, but maybe even the same medication that they'd give for surgery, and it would be like going to sleep. Children are so curious, and I think it’s important to answer their questions honestly. In my research, I found AniMeals, an program that ticked all the children’t boxes on their donation desires. They work with the Contra Costa/Solano food banks to ensure people can feed their animals, thereby keeping these families together, and pets out of shelters. Their office manager was excited to hear about the kids' generosity!

Outside School children work on a card for AniMeals.

Nature News

I hosted a Walk and Talk with Richmond mayoral candidate Shawn Dunning last month. It was neat meeting new folks and chatting about education, the environment, and business. A coyote came to check us out! It was our first sighting since it started raining last fall.

A coyote points us toward the cows of Wildcat Canyon. Sometimes it seems like they like to hang out together.

Enrollment

At Outside School, we’re breaking new ground into what school can look like.

After years of teaching in traditional environments, I created a program that discards what’s wrong in eduction, instead concentrating on what can go RIGHT:

-Small class sizes,

-Outdoor environment,

-Developmentally appropriate education that focuses on individual and group interests,

-A schedule that’s enough to be challenging but not overwhelming.

If you want something outside the box for your own child, please visit www.outside.school for more information and to fill out the application. I’m currently enrolling elementary, middle, and high school children for the 2022 - 2023 school year, Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9:00 - 3:00. With this schedule you can focus on the degree of academics that works for your family the rest of the week. Every school day I’ll send you an email with photos and documentation of the learning that’s taking place in the great outdoors!

We’re learning at the pace of nature. Go play in the dirt!

*Most questions can be answered by a thorough review of the website. Please share with anyone you think would benefit from this type of education.*

Special Event

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Special Event 〰️

Family Walk and Talk with Outside School

Have you heard about Outside School, checked out the website, and want to meet Heather and get to know the park? Join Heather Taylor on a walk through Alvarado Park. 10:00 - 10:15 we'll gather at the picnic tables at the bottom end of the parking lot at the Alvarado Park Staging Area. Our informal walk will take us through a few of our students' favorite places, allowing us to chat about the program while your kids enjoy some outdoor play time.

Saturday, June 25, 2022

10:00 - 12:00

Advance reservation required: https://forms.gle/e1Sk4EvBJcufiZuq8

Walking, carpooling, public transit, or bike arrival encouraged!

*Masks Required*

Resources

“How Nature Heals: Why East Bay Doctors Are Prescribing the Outdoors to People of Color- Doctors and Experts Also Say There Are Too Many Barriers for Communities of Color to Access Parks” by Kathleen Richards, East Bay Express:

“Forest Bathing: What It Is and Why You Should Try It” by Kaiser Permanente:

COVID-times and more have us all seeking ways to improve our mental health. In Meg Selig’s article, “Think Different: 10 Ideas for More Mental Flexibility- Mental Flexibility Can Spark Your Creativity and Boost Your Productivity,” there are some tips to helping change your outlook through novel changes in routines. Check it out!

I had no idea the extent of arson cases. Here’s information on who to call if you suspect arson in Contra Costa County:

Those of us raised in the United States may think of our ancestors and history of bombings on European fronts since that’s what we were taught in media, our families, and schools. In this video, “Malak Mattar Reminds Us: Gaza Is Palestine,” a young survivor reminds us that acts of hatred and bombings are still contemporary around the world, and must be stopped. From the video’s YouTube description: “Last May (2022), 278 Palestinians were killed by Israeli airstrikes during an 11-day assault on besieged Gaza. For Malak Mattar, this was her fourth time in her young life hiding from the US-manufactured bombs dropping from Israeli warplanes. The Palestinian people in Gaza have experienced a constant state of trauma under these attacks and we all have a responsibility to demand that the U.S. government stop its military funding to Israel. Sign the petition now: gazaispalestine.com”

The North American Association for Environmental Education has put together this collection, “Pride Resources: for the World We Want.” It’s a great place to start for those of us wanting to have inclusive programs:

One article that stood out for me in the collection above was, “A Guide To Gender Identity Terms,” by Laurel Wamsley for NPR. I regularly find myself confused about the latest terms, so seek to keep myself updated:

The NDN Collective’s June, 2022 newsletter, “Collective Care is a Way of Life” is a treasure trove of information in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as well as a wealth of information regarding updates to their efforts to end racism in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Ah, Summer!!! I’m hoping to be able to relax and recharge before and after my summer camp. Do you have special plans?

Take care,

Heather

Heather Taylor, EMT

Founder/Director/Teacher, Outside School (www.outside.school)

Founder, Teach Outside (www.teachoutside.org)

California Master Teacher

Connect

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