Explore. Excite. Awaken.

All in Nature's three principle foundations:

1. Addressing Nature Deficit Disorder                                                                             The term "nature-deficit disorder" was coined by author Richard Louv his book "Last Child in the Woods" to describe what happens to young people who become disconnected from their natural world. Louv links this lack of nature to some of the most disturbing childhood trends, such as the rises in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. 

The average American boy or girl spends as few as 30 minutes in unstructured outdoor play each day, and more than seven hours each day in front of an electronic screen.

This shift inside profoundly impacts the wellness of our nation’s kids. Childhood obesity rates have more than doubled the last 20 years; the United States has become the largest consumer of ADHD medications in the world; and pediatric prescriptions for antidepressants have risen precipitously.

​Children are missing a crucial component to their overall social, emotional and cognitive development---connection to the natural world. The benefits are astounding. 

 Body

• Outdoor play increases fitness levels and builds active, healthy bodies, an important strategy in helping the one in three American kids who are obese get fit. 
• Spending time outside raises levels of Vitamin D, helping protect children from future bone problems, heart disease, diabetes and other health issues.
• Being out there improves distance vision and lowers the chance of nearsightedness.

Mind

• Exposure to natural settings may be widely effective in reducing ADHD symptoms.
• Schools with environmental education programs score higher on standardized tests in math, reading, writing and listening.
• Exposure to environment-based education significantly increases student performance on tests of their critical thinking skills.

Spirit

• Children’s stress levels fall within minutes of seeing green spaces.
• Play protects children’s emotional development whereas loss of free time and a hurried lifestyle can contribute to anxiety and depression.
• Nature makes you nicer, enhancing social interactions, value for community and close relationships.

2. Mentorship

​In rock climbing, the climber is always watched over by the “belayer.” The belayer’s primary job is to provide safety, and often acts as a coach, encouraging and supporting the climber as he or she takes risks.“Onbelay” is a term used to create a partnership between the belayer and climber. It conveys a message to the climber that he or she can take risks, and the belayer will be there for support. 

Belaying is a lot like mentoring. Our All in Nature leaders act as the "belayer" and foster an environment that encourages exploration, open communication, and positive risk taking.  

All in Nature leaders are highly trained educators and mentors who facilitate learning through teachable moments.  Our All in Nature leaders have backgrounds in biology, psychology, elementary, and environmental or outdoor education.They are trained facilitators who reinforce kind interactions with respect for oneself, others, and the environment.Through gentle guidance, patience, and thoughtful communication, All in Nature leaders create a safe environment where each child is respected and honored. Our low teacher-to-child ratio allows us to facilitate peaceful redirection while helping teach children to interact kindly and respectfully with one another. 

3. Experiential Education

Experiential learning is a process through which children develop knowledge, skills, and values from direct experiences outside a traditional academic setting. All in Nature's experiential activities provide opportunities for children to take initiative, make decisions, and be accountable for their own results. A designed learning experience can engage children intellectually, creatively, emotionally, socially, or physically; while each experience includes the possibility to gain knowledge from natural consequences, mistakes, and successes.

Mission

All in Nature's mission is to provide a means for children to:                                                                                                   1.  Explore the natural world and connect with nature, others and their community.                                                           2.  Excite a passion for learning and discovery with the help of supportive adults.                                                             3.  Awaken skills, talents, and interests through the exploration of various learning activities.