The Forest Path

Kids Nature Camps

Connect to the wild, to within, with each other.

Kids’ Nature Connection Programs
Nelson BC Fall 2021

Fall session 1 Sep 13 – Oct 29. 5 – 7 weeks

Monday 9 am – 12 Age 3-6
Monday 3.15 – 6 pm Boys+ Age 9-12 Starts Oct 20

Tuesday 3:30 – 5:30 Girls+ Age 9-13

Wednesday 9 am – 11 am Family program Drop-ins welcome

Wednesday 11:30 – 2:30 pm Age 6-9

Thurs 9 am – 12 Age 3-6
Thurs 3:15 – 5.55 pm Boys+ Age 14-17
Friday 1:30 – 4:30 pm Age 7-10 and 10-13
Adult program every other Thursday 6.30 – 8 pm, drop-in

Fall session 2 Nov 1 – Dec 10, 6 weeks

Monday 9 am – 12 Age 3-6

Tuesday 3:30 – 5:30 Girls+ Age 9-13

Wednesday 9 am – 11 am Family program Drop-ins welcome

Wednesday 12:30 – 2:30 pm Age 6-9

Thurs 9 am – 12 Age 3-6
Friday 1:30 – 4:30 pm Age 7-12
Plus teens programs

If a day has not enough registered it will not run.

Child to adult ratio 5 or 6 depending on the age of kids.

We hope we can provide each kid a spot if we have enough staff.

DISCOUNT for Black, Indigenous and people of Colour, LGBTQ+ and low income families.

Upcoming Programs

COVID19 PROTOCOL

We are always outside and in small groups.
Kids or staff are not required to wear masks
but if anyone chooses to wear a mask we are supporting that decision.
Some of our staff are vaccinated and some are not
and this can change during the season due to many reasons.
We clean our hands frequently and minimize sharing items.
Our core values are connection and compassion
so we are focusing on a nourishing non-stressful experience
where everyone is welcome and
we are using kind words even if we might have different perspectives,
whether being a kid or an adult.

‘Please, go outside’: COVID-19 much less likely to spread outdoors,
Dr. Bonnie Henry says.

‘Outdoor play, in particular, offers critical opportunities for learning, development and well-being
that aren’t generally available through indoor play.
In the time of the COVID-19 pandemic,
the benefits of outdoor play are particularly important’,
says leading play researchers.

ABOUT

The Forest Path aims to create full-body experiences of feeling alive and connected, to the wild, to within, with each other. We offer outdoor education programs and camps in Nelson BC Canada for children (and adults!) to get outside, learn nature skills and be mentored to grow wholesomely.

In a time of the 6th large extinction of species in the history of the Earth, climate change and only half of the forests than before humans, and with widening gaps between rich and poor and an ugly history of colonialization, there is a need for mindful loving connection to nature and learning from the native people’s ways. We acknowledge that The Forest Path happens on the unceded homeland, xaʔxáʔ tumxʷulaʔxʷ, of the Sinixt, and that the Ktunaxa and Syilx peoples also are and were connected to this land.

The Forest Path began at spring break 2017 by Malin Christensson, who as a child went to the Swedish outdoor education program called ‘Skogs Mulle’, that was started in the 1950:s. She worked for many years with sustainability education at the Centre for Environment and Development Studies at Uppsala University, Sweden. Malin is also a kids yoga and mindfulness teacher and has two kids that are often seen at the tops of trees. She has an updated first aid training and 5 million liability insurance. She loves trees, to sing and make a fire.

OUR INSPIRATION

We are inspired by nature and the wonder and happiness and aliveness we experience when being outdoors. We are influenced by other deep nature connection organizations, like 8 shields and Art of Mentoring of Jon Young, Wisdom of the Earth with the Wolf School at Saltspring Island, Twin Eagles Wilderness School in Sandpoint Idaho, and the forest kindergartens in Canada (for example in Victoria, Vancouver, Rossland and Creston) as well where they originated in the 1950s in Sweden and 1960s in Germany. There are now over 1000 forest kindergartens in Germany. We are also drawing on wisdom from First Nations, Awaken the Dreamer, deep ecology and Joanna Macy and mindfulness.

Our ambition is to nurture deeper relations between parents, children and our surroundings.
Here is a video with Jon Young that explains more about deep nature connection.

WHAT DO THE KIDS DO

The Forest Path connects kids to our beautiful natural playground – to our birthright to smell, taste, feel and listen to the living land around us. In a playful way, we deepen our nature skills, which will also deepen our community skills and our relationship with our own self. We believe nature is the best teacher that models values such as belonging, quiet mind, generosity, resilience and vitality. Qualities that are most likely to be very much needed for the unknown future. It is time for really taking care of the Earth. Forest school is one step.

Every program balances free nature play and facilitated games, art and crafts, adjusted to the age and interests of the kids. We playfully add mindfulness, yoga, and music into the day. Nature creates our stage, our nest. The Forest Path mentors create a safe nest by using sharing circles, empathetic listening, positive role modelling and a balance of action and silence. Kindness and community are our other key values, including a deep awe and respect for the natural world. We let nature connect to us, let curiosity and creativity flow in a timeless way – the way kids play. Play is essential for children.

The children learn to watch for hazards and depending on age, try basic outdoor skills on how to survive in the wild. We learn about plants and animals and the cycles in nature and about our own gifts and how we can relate to others, and actively create diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. The Forest Path aims to be part of decolonization culture and we humbly admit we have much to learn.
Planet care. People care, Fair share.

TESTIMONIALS

This is our family’s favourite camp. It is a wonderful way for the kids to be outside, learn about nature, and participate in amazing environmental education activities. Malin and her team are thoughtful, inclusive, creative, and dynamic in their approach to Forest Camp. My kids have been going for years and I highly recommend it!

Summer Camp Parent

I am very happy with the forest program. I must say my daughters come home happy (and tired) but they love the play outside and I see a very positive relationship between them on the day the come home from forest school together

Thanks again!!! My girl LOVES your program.

Wild Friday parent

We absolutely LOVE and are always inspired by all that you do Malin and our kid has thrived and LOVED Forest Path tremendously, we will definitely be back again.

Preschool parent

He loved it so much last year and every time we go for a walk through the woods we still play forest school and he is the teacher. So nourishing for him.

Preschool parent

My daughter was on a high today from her time in the forest with you. She had more energy through to bedtime and was so so happy. Singing songs until she fell asleep.

She came home and immediately hung her star on a garlic plant in the front yard.

Thanks for what you do, it’s truly wonderful what you are providing for these kids. We love it !

Preschool parent

This was our first experience with Forest Path and my daughter is asking when can she go back!! I think that says it all really! As a parent I was really appreciative of the guidance and care that was shown to our children!

Spring break camp parent

What a great program. This is exactly the kind of thing we need more of – children outside, learning and loving nature and each other. Thank you, Malin!

Wild Friday parent

Spring break forest camp was such a positive experience for my child. She returned home from camp excited to tell stories about what she’d done during the day, and even after the camp finished, she has been more motivated than ever to spend time outdoors. Thank you – see you again at summer camp!

Spring break camp parent

Malin is a natural with kids and in nature! We’ve been part of her younger weekly group and it was the highlight of my 3 year olds week. These camps will make lasting impressions with your child guaranteed!

Preschool parent

Thank you for offering this amazing opportunity for our children. We have been so blessed to have your thoughtful, calm, interested and valuable approach to connecting our kids to nature!

Summer camp parent

It’s been an amazingly rich and rewarding journey with you for both of our kids on the Forest Path. We really want you to know how much we appreciate you and your nature-based guidance. Thank you for everything!

Homeschool parent