At Outside School we make a habit of hiking on the last day of school or camp for the week. On one such hike we stopped in a field to stay out from under trees due to high winds. As we ate lunch, we discovered a multitude of grasshoppers. The kids observed them, learning their ways. After a time, one of the kids found a preying mantis. As we had a collapsible terrarium, it quickly became our pet. The kids added grass for it to climb on, and two grasshoppers, one for it to eat, and one to feed the spider that lives in my kitchen, so I took it home for the weekend.

On Monday morning, the kids gathered around my car in the parking lot, “Heather! Heather! Heather! Do you have the mantis???” “Of course I have the mantis!” And all of the adults cracked up, like, “Why in the world wouldn’t I have a praying mantis in my trunk?!?!” That day the children decided to name it Twig, and they’d each take turns feeding it and taking it home for a sleepover. It ate bees, flies, and yellowjackets that the children caught.

There were many discussions of its color, habits, and needs. Twig was shown to many other park users, and all sorts of questions were answered. In showing off karate-like or stick fighting moves, the kids came up with names for them, like “Mantis Strike” and “Mantis Rampage.” Using walking sticks for hiking, they noted the sticks’ qualities that reminded them of mantis legs.

The children ensured Twig was fed daily, and captured a wide variety of insects they hoped he’d like. He ate almost everything they gave him! They also made sure he had plenty of climbing and hiding structures for his comfort:

It seemed like most often, whoever had Twig in their posession was at the front of our hikes going to and fro about the park:

The greatest honor I have as a teacher comes from seeing my students be themselves, and be a group, showing the kind of people they are. The following Friday, it was time to take Twig back to where it had come. We took a short hike where the kids made a beautiful ceremony of petting Twig lightly with a lucky blue jay feather before saying, "Goodbye,” and we saw plenty of grasshoppers around for a long and happy life.

Afterward, the children touched a nearby coast live oak, and named the area Twig’s Place. R noted, “Twig is a good pet, and we enjoyed a good time with him.”

Enrollment

Now Enrolling

🌱Rest of this School Year🌱

🌱8 Week Peek🌱

🌱Summer Camp🌱

Summer Camp Week 1: July 7 - 11, 2025

Summer Camp Week 2: July 14 - 18, 2025

Summer Camp Week 3: July 21 - 25, 2025

Summer Camp Week 4: July 28 - August 1, 2025

First come, first served enrollment is now available!

$400/week

Enroll by this process: 1) Read the first website page page. 2) Read the handbook page. 3) Read and follow the steps on the application/tuition page. I provide the links in the appropriate order. Check ‘em out!

🌱Volunteer, Trail, or Story Time by the Creek Experience🌱

(choose one) (For one family at a time, any Wednesday during my normally scheduled school year (email first for availability and waiver): $75/10:00 - 12:00)

🌱Drop-In Days🌱

Only for previously enrolled students in case families have a need during my regularly scheduled school year days. ($100/day- email for availability first.) It's on the application forms as well.

Inspiration and Resources

“Why Children Need Risk, Fear, and Excitement in Play – And why adults’ fears put them at risk” by Louise de Lannoy for Outdoor Play Canada.

Made by Outside School!

Click on the images above to learn more! These projects were years in the making, and I’m so excited to have them available now!

Take care,

Heather

Heather Taylor, California Master Teacher, NREMT

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

Founder, Teach Outside (www.teachoutside.org)

Feel free to forward to anyone you like!