community

INFORMATION, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
How to Organize an Outdoor Playgroup
- October 2, 2023
There’s magic that unfolds when children run through grassy fields, climb trees, splash in creeks, and play under the open sky together with other kids. It’s magic that we, as parents, can nurture by organizing a simple yet transformative initiative: a weekly outdoor playgroup! Today, Courtney Cronin of Wild Migration Family, is here sharing her experience organizing a weekly outdoor playgroup. In this post, Courtney explores the profound impact of outdoor playgroups on childhood, community bonds, and the experience of motherhood. She’ll delve into the benefits of outdoor play, the role of community in child rearing, and how mothers can find support and fulfillment through these groups. Moreover, she’ll guide you through the steps to create your own playgroup and address common challenges.

The profound impact of an outdoor playgroup

When my kids were young, starting an outdoor playgroup was one of the best decisions I ever made. At the time, I had no idea the impact it would have on my young family’s life, in how we related to each other, our community, and the natural world around us. Eight years later, and I fondly remember the days spent with our playgroup as some of the most magical of my kids’ early childhood. I would not be the person, mom, or community member I am today if it were not for that group. In this post, I hope to show you how profound a simple little outdoor meet-up can be on you, your family, and your greater community.

Benefits of outdoor play

We probably all know that outdoor play is more than just a fun pastime; it is a vital component of a child’s development. Spending time outside playing fosters physical health and well-being. When children engage in outdoor activities like running, jumping, climbing, and hiking, they develop strength, agility, and coordination.

Exposure to natural light also helps regulate their sleep patterns (because who doesn’t want kids that sleep better?!) and boosts the production of essential vitamins like Vitamin D, contributing to overall physical health. Moreover, outdoor play encourages kids to explore the world around them, enhancing their spatial awareness and fine motor skills through activities like digging, building, and exploring nature.

Beyond the physical benefits, outdoor play is a cornerstone of child development. It stimulates cognitive growth as children engage with their environment, problem-solve, and develop their creativity. In outdoor settings, children are free to use their imagination, creating games and stories that enhance their critical thinking and social skills. Interactions with friends and peers in outdoor settings foster important social skills, teaching them how to share, communicate, and collaborate. Furthermore, the sense of wonder and curiosity that outdoor environments provide can spark a lifelong love for learning and a deep connection with the natural world.

Equally important, outdoor play encourages mental well-being by reducing stress and anxiety, boosting mood, and offering a respite from the pressures of academics and technology.

What is an outdoor playgroup?

Have you ever heard of an outdoor playgroup? Do you know of any in your area? Have you ever thought of organizing one?

Let’s start with the basics. An outdoor playgroup is a regular gathering of children and parents or caregivers in outdoor settings, providing an opportunity for kids to engage in active play, explore nature, and socialize while fostering a sense of community among families.

Benefits of outdoor playgroups

Outdoor playgroups serve as nurturing grounds not only for children’s growth but also for the development of strong and interconnected communities. These playgroups provide children with the opportunity to interact with peers from various backgrounds, fostering tolerance and empathy from a young age. The shared experiences of outdoor adventures and playful escapades create a sense of camaraderie and belonging among children, helping them build friendships that often endure throughout their lives. These bonds can be especially meaningful in today’s diverse world, where understanding and acceptance of different cultures and perspectives are crucial.

However, the community-building aspect of outdoor playgroups extends beyond the children themselves. The parents (usually moms), who often organize and participate in these groups, also find themselves forming deep connections with other parents. These relationships can offer a lifeline in the sometimes isolating journey of motherhood. Sharing parenting experiences, advice, and the ups and downs of child-rearing creates a strong support system. Moreover, the time spent together during playgroup meetings often evolves into lasting friendships that extend beyond the playgroup itself. These bonds strengthen the community fabric, creating a network of support and resources that enriches the lives of both children and mothers.

Getting the group started

Inspired by one of my best friends who was involved in starting a Forest School on Orcas Island, I wanted to start something similar (but with more parent involvement and less structure). I put the word out across some community pages on Facebook about a “Forest Playgroup” and organized our first adventure and meet-up. At the time, I wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested or even show up.

To my amazement, a dozen families showed up that first week, and it was a smashing success. The kids got along, the parents got along, and we all went home exhausted and happy! Week after week, the playgroup kept growing in numbers. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who craved community and loved spending time outdoors with my kids!

Organized chaos

We were organized, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t still chaotic at times. Our group got together every Friday– rain, snow, or sunshine. We showed up at 9:30 a.m. (toddler time) and often rolled home just as it was time to start making dinner.

On any given playgroup day, there would be upwards of 50 families that would seemingly take over a local beach or trail. We’d be an entangled explosion of kids, moms, gear, and snacks in every direction. Outsiders surely couldn’t decipher who was with whom, as we all took on a collective role of family– caring for each other’s boo-boos, distributing snacks, or tending to needs as if each child were our own.

Community parenting

I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but at outdoor playgroup, there was an unspoken rotation amongst the moms “on watch” as others were finally able to engage in a conversation lasting more than just a few words. The kids, rightfully so, were living their best lives and absolutely thriving. It was a “yes” environment, supporting kids in following their natural curiosity as they played, learned, and explored alongside kids their own age and parents alike.

It was also a culture that supported positive parenting. Instead of commiserating over lost sleep or toddler meltdowns, we were celebrating the joys and hilarity of watching our kids learn to navigate rooty trails and social dynamics. It was so much easier to focus on the good and the funny when you were outside, in the fresh air, among friends.

The parents spoke with patience and kindness. We showed each other (and the kids) support and gave lots of praise and encouragement. It set a tone for how we related to each other, to our kids, and even to ourselves.

Setting expectations

Outdoor playgroup day (Friday), was the one day of the week where plans were set in stone for us. We may not have known exactly what we could expect on each outing, but we knew we’d be with friends and outside all day. That’s all we needed to know to prepare. We’d fill our backpacks to the brim with snacks of all kinds, water bottles galore, and lots of layers for whatever the weather would be. We’d leave the explosion of our house in our wake and spend the whole day outside, not caring a bit about the mess waiting for us upon our return.

Naps happened under trees or on our backs. Lunch was often layered with dirt and sand. New friends were welcomed, and old friends were cherished. Critters were caught, trees were climbed, and miles were hiked.

Each week, I knew that outdoor playgroup would be the reset and reinforcement I needed to maintain both my intention and sanity as a mother. We were a community, outside, and we all were thriving.

Becoming a community

When we started our outdoor playgroup, I had no idea what it would become and how it would shape who we are as a family. I had no idea I would spend nearly every day outside with my then toddler and infant daughter, exploring nature around us. I didn’t realize how much I was craving community and connection with others (for them and for myself).

What started off as meeting up for a walk in the woods grew into a network of 5 playgroup branches in Maine, engaging upwards of 100 families in weekly adventure and reaching well over 8,000 families across the state. I was blown away, and still am, by the impact this little “wish for community” had on my family and my community.

Nearly a decade later, our Maine-based Forest Playgroup is still going strong. I’ve transitioned from overseeing toddler tree climbers to supporting new families in taking the reins. After seeing the impact of it on my own family, I’m even more passionate about supporting others in creating it for theirs. In this post, you’ll find what I believe are essential steps in getting a group off the ground.

Photo by Emily Griffith

How to establish a schedule for your outdoor playgroup

Establishing a schedule for your playgroup will help it grow and thrive. Be realistic with what you can organize and manage so that it can be consistent week after week. Your group will lose momentum if you have to cancel too many times, or if you don’t meet regularly enough to integrate into people’s schedules.

I found that meeting once a week at the same time allows people to plug it into their schedule, and therefore allows your community to be consistent and grow.

Be mindful of changing weather conditions, daylight hours, and seasonal activities. If necessary, you can adjust the schedule to accommodate these factors, so the playgroup remains enjoyable year-round. And while consistency is essential, allow some flexibility for occasional changes due to unforeseen circumstances or special events. Make sure participants are aware of the flexibility in advance.

Plan a mix of structured and unstructured activities to keep children engaged. Consider nature walks, scavenger hunts, games, and free play. Incorporate a designated snack time into your schedule, encouraging social interaction among children and providing a break for parents to chat.

Choosing a location for an outdoor playgroup

One of the best parts of organizing an outdoor playgroup is getting to know the magical outdoor areas in your own backyard. I can bet there are way more trails in your area than you think, and adventuring with your playgroup each week will act as an impetus to get you to them. AllTrails is a fantastic resource for locating local trails, or try contacting your local land trusts for suggestions.

From there, you have to decide whether or not your playgroup will meet at a new location each week, or decide to sink into a place a bit more and host a handful of consecutive adventures at each location– both approaches have their advantages.

Getting the word out about your outdoor playgroup

Believe it or not, this is one of the easiest parts of organizing a playgroup. The one (and debatably only), benefit of our social-media-crazed culture these days is the fact that there is a quick and simple way to spread the word about initiatives like these.

Join your mom and community groups on Facebook and generate a post that speaks to the intention of your group. Be sure to include a photo and link to either your playgroup’s Facebook group, newsletter, or website, where people can sign up to receive invites. You could also design a flyer with a QR code to hang in your local library or other community hot spots for those who aren’t on social media.

Communication is key

Clearly communicate the start and end times of each playgroup session, as well as the location and any information that people may need to know about the location (such as parking, etc.). In advance of the meet-up, make sure that all participants are aware of any safety guidelines and what they may need or should bring (e.g. sunscreen , lifejackets, water/snacks, first aid, water shoes, snow boots, etc.). Safety should be a top priority during outdoor play.

You can keep the lines of communication open with playgroup members through email, social media, or a group messaging platform. Share the schedule in advance, remind participants of upcoming sessions, and provide any updates or changes promptly.

If you’re going to be hosting an adventure every week, don’t create the need to reinvent the wheel every time. Create a template for your invites (announcements) and any post-adventure recaps. Templates make it easier for the audience to follow along, know what to expect, and for others to jump into facilitator roles.

Post adventure sharing

Not everyone can or maybe doesn’t yet want to participate in every adventure, but you can still help them feel included by sharing a post-adventure recap. This draws new people in and makes folks who regularly attend feel a part of your community. Share some sweet moments from the outing and photos you want to remember. This will continue to set a positive tone for the culture of your group and show new members what the outing looks like and what they can expect.

Post-adventure recap example:

“You sure can’t beat a good, old-fashioned day at the beach. FIFTY ( yes, 50!!!!) families packed Kettle Cove Beach yesterday for some fun in the sun on our 24th adventure. From splashing through the tropical-looking water to creating stellar seashell necklaces, and jumping off low bridges into the squishy sand, the kids had a blast. Week after week, we are blown away by the ease of community that joins us for these adventures. We look forward to seeing you all next week for some hiking!”

photo by Emily Griffith

Creating group culture

One of my biggest motivations in starting an outdoor playgroup was to find “my people” and to be a supportive community for others. Parenting young children can be lonely and isolating. We all want, and NEED, community, but finding it can at times feel impossible and overwhelming.

Organizing an outdoor playgroup was more than just getting a group of people together outside; it was setting a tone for how I wanted to parent, how I wanted to be in my community, and how I wanted my kids to be involved and engaged (with other children, adults, and nature).

As the organizer, I knew that I needed to set a positive and respectful tone by demonstrating kindness, inclusivity, and patience in my interactions with group members. I tried to emphasize the importance of kindness, sharing, and treating others with respect. I made an effort to include everyone and introduce newcomers to the group. It was also important to me to stress that the playgroup is a safe space where everyone is accepted for who they are. You can encourage parents to share their parenting challenges and successes without fear of judgment.

We all want to be the best for our kids and want to be surrounded by others who inspire us. Naturally, we all have hard days and nights and take comfort in knowing that we aren’t alone in our struggles, BUT mental health also requires us to celebrate our successes, joys, and adventures of parenting. Positivity abets positivity, so being surrounded by thoughtful, heartfelt parents with similar passions and priorities allow us to live with greater love, compassion, and intention. And it all trickles down from there.

Be an all-weather adventurer

Weather builds resiliency, but can also, understandably so, be challenging– for children and adults alike. That said, I think some of the most magical moments outdoors can be when you’re surrounded by so-called “bad weather” (e.g. falling rain, snow, and wind). The natural world comes alive in a different way in different weather conditions, and it’s pretty special for kids to be able to experience that while simultaneously experiencing the effects it has on them.

If you want your playgroup to meet year-round in all weather conditions, consider having some structure to your adventures. A simple activity and story time can act as an impetus to get kids out of their parents’ arms and out exploring.

Furthermore, activities help engage, both kids and parents alike, when the weather is “dynamic”. Some days can be the perfect trifecta– perfect weather, perfect energy levels, perfect location, and those days you realistically could show up somewhere and, like magic, it’s an out-and-go experience– everyone is engaged, happy, and off exploring.

However, other days it’s pouring down rain and the trail is literally a stream of mud. Without an activity, people are going to wonder what the heck they are doing standing in the woods and their discomfort will completely overwhelm them. Few adults or kids will willfully play when it’s dumping snow or pouring rain, but many will if it feels like there is a bit of purpose.

A little rain painting activity or snowflake investigation can go a long way, for everyone involved. Having a consistent structure, throughout the easy and difficult weather days, will help keep participation consistent.

Photo by Emily Griffith

The importance of being free

There’s something really powerful about running a free program that families don’t have to pay to be a part of. Firstly, it promotes inclusivity and accessibility. By eliminating the financial barrier of entry, you ensure that families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can participate. This inclusivity fosters a sense of unity among families from all walks of life, breaking down social and economic barriers and providing children with the opportunity to interact with peers they might not otherwise meet. This diversity enriches the playgroup experience, exposing children to a wide range of perspectives, cultures, and experiences, promoting tolerance and empathy from a young age.

Secondly, a free outdoor playgroup reduces stress for parents. Parenthood can be financially demanding, and by offering a cost-free playgroup, you alleviate some of the financial burden on families. Parents can enjoy the benefits of outdoor play and community bonding without worrying about additional expenses. This, in turn, creates a more relaxed and enjoyable environment, allowing parents to focus on building connections and making lasting memories with their children.

A free playgroup also makes it so people are involved in creating an experience rather than expecting one. This sets the tone for the culture of your group, the participation, and the shared responsibilities. Making the group free means that the participating families are the ones making the decisions and setting the tone. When people feel responsible for something, they are much more likely to feel more positive about it, will actually show up and share it with others, and will be more likely to be involved and invested in keeping it going.

Photo by Emily Griffith

Share responsibilities

A successful playgroup cannot be a one-person show. Sharing responsibilities is essential, as it lightens the load on the organizer and fosters a sense of community ownership. It takes a village to create a village. When starting a playgroup, try to recruit at least a couple of other friends/parents that you can share the responsibilities with. You can also identify the specific tasks required to run the playgroup smoothly, and split responsibilities up this way. These tasks may include scheduling meet-ups, organizing activities, communicating with members, choosing themes and locations, and ensuring safety measures.

As your playgroup grows, you can loop in the families that attend regularly and ask them to sign up to host or help out with different aspects of the meet-up. From my experience, having at least a couple of “leaders” to oversee involvement is crucial, and having a streamlined system for managing involvement makes it painless. Once you have a clear list of things you could use help with, reach out to group members and encourage them to take on specific roles based on their interests and skills.

Create a shared calendar or schedule to allocate responsibilities, ensuring that everyone has a clear understanding of their role and commitment level. Regularly check in with participants to see if there are questions or if anyone needs help. By dividing the workload and involving others, you create a sense of shared responsibility that strengthens the playgroup’s sustainability and effectiveness.

A simple Google spreadsheet that outlines the adventure date, location, facilitator, and theme works great! Tracking participation in that same spreadsheet also helps you see your growth!

Photo by Emily Griffith

Consider local partnerships

As your playgroup grows, you may want to consider partnering with local land trusts, businesses, parks, conservation areas, farms, or other organizations that share your mission of getting families outside exploring. We have partnerships with local land trusts, and they sign up to “lead” an adventure. This allows them to showcase their properties and their organization’s programs, often leading to an increase in membership.

You can begin by initiating conversations with these entities to discuss potential collaborations. Local parks and conservation areas, for instance, may allow your playgroup exclusive access to certain areas or provide guided nature walks led by their experts. Farms can offer educational tours, showcasing sustainable agriculture practices and connecting children with their food sources. By working hand in hand with these organizations, your playgroup can offer a wider array of enriching outdoor experiences, inspiring a love for nature and exploration in children.

Additionally, local businesses can become valuable partners. Outdoor gear retailers may be willing to provide discounts or donations of equipment for playgroup activities, making it easier for families to access quality gear. Restaurants or cafes with outdoor seating can become meeting points after playgroup sessions, creating opportunities for socializing and community building among parents. These businesses can benefit from increased patronage from playgroup members, creating a win-win situation where the community and local enterprises support each other in promoting outdoor play and bonding.

You can also look for local experts to come chat with your group about their topic of expertise. Maybe a local birder could help the kids spot and identify birds, or a local gardener can help the kids identify plants.

Building these partnerships takes proactive outreach and effective communication of your playgroup’s goals and values. Collaborations can not only enhance the outdoor experiences you offer but also create a sense of interconnectedness within your community, promoting the shared mission of getting families outside to explore and connect with the natural world.

Photo by Emily Griffith

That dream community is possible!

So, if you’re ready to reconnect your children with nature, strengthen your community ties, and discover the joys of motherhood in a supportive network, starting an outdoor playgroup might be the solution you’ve been looking for. It’s a journey that promises not only to change the lives of our children but also to shape a brighter, more connected future. The community we all dream of isn’t far out of reach. It starts with something as simple as an invitation to go outside. Take the leap; you may be amazed at what comes from it.

Have you ever considered starting an outdoor playgroup?

About the author

Courtney’s the homeschooling mother of two wild and kind kids, the founder of 2 non-profit organizations, an avid traveler, and a passionate experiential educator. She has spent the better part of the last two decades traveling around the US and Central America – first as a part of her traveling high school, where she lived out of a converted school bus and slept in tents every night for 4 years, and, more recently, traveling with her family – from following animal migration routes to Mexico to fishing in Southeast Alaska. Rooted in Maine, she is passionate about immersive education.

When not on the road with her family, she is busy organizing educational immersives, from tapping maple trees to tagging Monarchs and facilitating outdoor adventure programs, from hiking to ice fishing. Whether hauling lobster traps or monitoring salamanders, she works to make learning fun, engaging, and interactive. She’s excited to share her love for nature, travel, and outdoor adventures with the Run Wild My Child community.

You can find more from Courtney online in the following locations:
Instagram: @wildmigrationfamily
Website: Wild Migration
RWMC posts: Courtney Cronin
GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, LESSONS, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR SCHOOLS
Starting A Forest Group for Kids
- November 5, 2020
Have you ever wished you had a local community of parents and kids that regularly met up to play together outside? Have you ever considered starting a playgroup, where the kids could socialize together while they run through the woods, hiked, and explored? Are you interested in meeting other like-minded parents that enjoy spending time outdoors? Well, this post is for you! Today, SarahRuth, Georgia mom of three and outdoor educator, shares everything you need for starting a forest group for kids. (Your outdoor playgroup doesn’t have to be in the forest – it can be anywhere.) She helps you come up with your vision for your forest group, a routine for your meetings and advice for how to get the word out. This is a post you’re not going to want to miss!
The idea to start a forest group
Hello, there outdoor mama! So, you’ve found your stride and you are wracking up your hours outside. You already know that time outdoors is important for your children and their development. You know how wonderful you feel after spending time outside. Your children love your forest forays and outdoor adventures together. Yet, something is missing. After several frolics under the green canopy, you realize what it is…community.
We, humans, are social creatures and when you love something (like spending time outside), it’s natural to want to share it with others. Getting outside is now a priority, so why not share the forest with a group of like-minded folks? Starting a forest playgroup for kids may have never been on your radar. Maybe it’s something you never considered or ever planned to do. And yet, it’s exactly what you know you’d love to do and you are ready to embark on this new adventure. I’m here to tell you how to do it and why it’s such a wonderful idea.
The vision for your forest group
Starting a forest group for kids can be a huge undertaking. In order to ensure the best chances of success, let’s pull together a game plan. The first step in the process of starting a forest group is to come up with a vision for your group and think about what you want it to look and feel like. Here are some questions to consider right away:
How old are your children?
Do you intend to keep the group within a similar age range or open it up to all ages?
How many kids?
Where you will meet? Is there a place you have been visiting in the woods?
Does it have any major risk factors for children?
How you will communicate with others?
Will social media play a role? (Many large forest groups use groups on social media to advertise locations, times, and dates of meet-ups. Smaller groups are most comfortable using a more personal method like texting.)
What are the leadership roles for the adults?
Will there be lessons or just open play?
What about food and snacks? Supplies and gear?
Do you want to put together a set of rules or general group guidelines?
Bringing on additional support
As you write down the answers to these questions, keep your vision in mind, and plan accordingly. When starting a forest group for kids, nothing is set in stone. You can always make changes later and adapt to the circumstances that arise. The planning part should be fun, so don’t let all the questions overwhelm you into not taking any action. It also helps to get help. Instead of pioneering a group individually, I have found having a co-director is wise and keeps me motivated and accountable. Teaming up with another like-minded adult means you will have double the ideas, as well as a fill-in when you are sick, or cannot be as engaged in the group.
Finding a base camp for your forest group
One of the primary roles of the person facilitating a forest group for kids is locating a place for the kids to meet and learn together. Groups usually take on one of two characteristics in this regard. They either choose a specific location and have their meetings there every time or they choose a new location and explore a different place at each meet-up. Both models have their benefits! Keep in mind the skill level, hiking ability, and ages of the participating children. This will help guide decisions about where to meet at events.
Stationary base camp
“Follow me!” 7-year-old Nellie shouts as she races forward on the trail.
“Wow! She is confident,” remarks a new forest group parent as they observe several children run behind Nellie and down the trail.
One idea is that remaining at the same base camp from week-to-week for months (or even years) creates a known environment. Children become comfortable, and eventually even experts in their space. They know the trails leading in, and around their base camp. Choosing the same base camp for an extended period of time can be beneficial for observing seasonal changes.
Nellie is an example of a child who is reaping the benefits of returning to the same space over and again. Her leadership skills are flourishing, and other children easily fall in step with her as a guide.
Roving location base camp
“Today we plan to use our map skills and cardinal direction knowledge to find our base camp,” instructs an adult as several children flock around them with interested faces. After a brief trail talk, the adult passes out compasses and asks the children to use a simple forestry map to head to their base camp for the day.
The other option is to decide to host your outdoor playgroup in a new location each time you meet. The above example shows how a base camp might be different at each event and how that might benefit children. Children practice using learned skills, they develop teamwork and learn how to explore new places, and adapt well to change. They figure out how to find a great base camp location at each meeting and learn how to safely explore unknown locations.
Hybrid
Some forest groups will choose to have both a stationary base camp, as well as events at new locations with spontaneous destination-based hikes and adventures.
Setting the structure of your forest group
When starting a forest group for kids, the next step after finding your base camp is to identify goals and structure for meetings. There is a school of thought that says children in the woods should be their own kingdom. Not infringed upon by the plans and ire of adults. Instead, they can create a world of their own, where they are the kings and queens and rule the land. Adults, step aside! You are the moat around their kingdom. Position yourselves as a border around the chosen base camp, spread your blankets, chat with a friend. You are a gatekeeper only.
There are many perks to having an “unstructured” forest playgroup that gives kids lots of time for free play. The many benefits of unstructured free play in nature have been documented in research again and again. Kids need time like this to be kids without adult interference. Plus, it’s easier for the adults, as there’s no need to plan activities or bring supplies. Watch, be aware, and relax while your children build friendships and explore.
At some point, or in some groups, a group lesson is important. This can either be an educational lesson, a skills lesson, or even just reading a book to the kids. This “forest school” approach is a great way to incorporate lessons and educational activities into an outdoor setting where kids learn best. Teaching outdoor skills using great books can be useful as well as essential to raising future environmentalists and earth tenders. Moreover, foraging, Leave No Trace, map skills, fort building, nature observation, and more are lessons that are best taught in the forest.
Some groups will have multiple events every week and can host both uninhibited play meetups as well as more structured “forest school” types of lessons. You can definitely do both and adapt as your kids get older and express interest in certain things.
Bring your friends to your forest group for kids
Storytime at the library will forever go down in history as the place I left my pride. Storytime was over, but a sweet little baby riding in her mom’s carrier kept grinning at me as I walked around the room re-shelving the books my two tyrants had strewn about. I wanted badly to approach and greet the mom, but just couldn’t get up the nerve. She left.
Suddenly, I find myself in the parking lot beside this mom, baby, and toddler. Breathless, I try and explain why I followed her to her van, “Hi! I know this is strange, but your baby is beautiful and friendly and, well, I didn’t know if you would maybe like to meet with some other moms at my place sometime? I am trying to get some folks together….”.
Call me crazy, but that was exactly how my first ever moms group started. Later, this mom became my best friend. I learned she had battled postpartum depression and she shared, “I had been waiting for someone to ask me over!”
Another dear friendship was born from a chance online encounter in a large mom’s group on Facebook. We realized we were in the same area. We agreed to meet up. The rest is history in the woods because she ran forest groups with me for three years thereafter.
Here’s the deal: making new mom friends can be hard. Sometimes you just have to get out of your comfort zone. The woods are a level playing field. Invite the mom struggling to get through the grocery store with three littles in tow to your forest group. Post an invitation at the library so other nature-loving moms can find it. Drop off an invite at the local food bank. Mention your forest group each time you hang out with friends. Growing a group takes some courage, but it’s so worth it. The friendships that develop (both at the mom and kid-level) are just incredible. Starting a forest group for kids was one of the best things I could do for myself as a mom.
Finding your stride in your forest group events for kids
A glimpse into a forest playgroup meeting:
About 15 children and 6 adults encircle a forest sign marking a trail. One adult can be heard over the rest, briefly instructing the adults to silence phones and keep them put up. One caregiver agrees to be the “photographer” for the day. Then a cheerful song begins. Some children sing and clap while others listen. Brief guidelines are provided with the children listing them almost independently.
Be within sight of adults.
Leaves of three, leave them be.
Gentle hands (with each other and nature).
Sticks pointed down.
Rocks are thrown away from others.
Pack in, pack out.
And then they’re off to play!
That is the forest group way! Simple guidelines shared and then off for a grand adventure. Many groups like to have a rhythm, an expected sequence of events, not necessarily tied to any specific times. In groups I have led, we typically have a trail talk (like above), a hike in (about 15-20 minutes), time at base camp (an hour or so), shared snack, and storytime (15-20 minutes). After that, families can choose to continue to play, or leave. Having a general idea of the flow of events can help children and caregivers feel comfortable. It can also help others step into leadership roles when a director cannot be present.
What you need to know before starting a forest group
Unless you are a forest guru (and maybe you are!), chances are you won’t know tons about the forest and the surrounding area when you get started. Hence, I have become good at everything and an expert at nothing. In starting a forest group for kids, I have realized that I get to learn as I go. Right along with the kids! You don’t need to know everything to start a forest playgroup. That’s the best part!
However, if you like doing your research on projects before jumping right in, here are some suggested books for finding ideas, gaining knowledge, and just overall improving your insight on running a forest group for kids.
Play the Forest School Way: Woodland Games, Crafts, and Skills for Adventurous Kids
There is No Such Thing as Bad Weather
The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs
Foraging with Kids: 52 Wild and Free Edibles to Enjoy With Your Children
Forest School Adventure: Outdoor Skills and Play for Children
If you are looking for great books to read while at your forest group events, this post is filled with amazing ideas. Including culturally diverse books is important as well.
The forest is calling
Be encouraged! So many people have started a forest group for kids before you. Many will after. This is YOUR moment, though. A group for YOUR kids. A place where you get to prioritize outdoor time and give your kids an incredible experience that will change their lives. (and maybe even yours) Work out the plan, find your courage, and then walk outside with your crew and invite your community to join in! You cannot fail, because starting is success in and of itself!
So now we need to know…
When are we meeting you in the woods?
About the author
SarahRuth is a homeschooling mother of three boys. She was raised in cities across the East coast, but now resides in the Appalachian Mountains of Georgia where her husband grew up. Passionate about inspiring others to shift from the status quo of Western indoor life, she launched a local Free Forest School chapter in 2017. Her family clocked over 2k hours outdoors in 2019 and believes that outside time as a family is vital to a joy-filled life. She collects books, stray children, and as much coffee as her body will permit. When not foraging, chasing waterfalls, or camping with her crew, you can find SarahRuth crossing the globe from her laptop, teaching English full time online! She has two bachelor’s degrees in Education and is passionate about teaching children to love learning through outdoor adventures.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Missing Your Community During COVID
- August 25, 2020
One of the hardest aspects of parenting during a pandemic has been the loss of community. It takes a village to raise a child, so what happens when you’re no longer allowed within six feet of your fellow villagers? Today, we have the amazing Brenna Jeanneret here, writer, climber, and mom, talking about how the loss of her climbing community has affected her and how she’s finding new ways to connect in a COVID-concerned world. We hope this post will help inspire you to connect with your community, reach out to friends, and find new ways to stay in touch with those that mean the most.

The crux

I feel my leg start to shake uncontrollably. “Elvis Leg” is what climbers call it. I am hanging from two fairly large holds and standing on stable, positive footholds staring up at the crux of the route.

As I try to pull myself together, my eyes follow the length of our rope, one end figure-eighted securely to my harness and the other attached to my husband’s belay device. I am 6 bolts off the ground, roughly 35 feet in the air, and because I am leading the climb rather than top-roping it, there is enough slack in the rope for the wind to blow me from side to side. The last carabiner protecting my fall shimmers in the sunlight 3 feet below me and this realization makes my hands sweat.

I try to calm myself by looking out at the ocean view. Cape Hedo in Okinawa, Japan is one of our favorite climbing spots; the water is clear, blue, and expansive. The sound of the waves drowns out the voices below and everything but the climb fades to the background.

Now that the ocean calm has slowed my breathing, I turn my attention back to the climb. I am standing just below the crux, which I have not been able to complete before. I am both nervous and excited. Over the last several days, I’ve been working out all the moves leading up to this point but have not been able to put them all together without falling. Sending this route would validate all the training, the long drives to the crag, and all the mental preparation I’ve done.

The crux move requires that I reach my right hand up and left, crossing my body to a slopey, wrong-facing hold. Readjusting my balance to make the hold “right-facing” is key but made more difficult by the slight overhang in the wall. I will be twisted and off-balance with nothing to catch me but air, creating a real possibility that my arm or leg could catch the rope and flip me upside down.

I chalk up and shake out, one arm at a time as I look at the crux and mentally map out the moves. Something in my brain flips and I decide it’s now or never. I yell down to my husband over the roaring ocean waves that I am ready. Slowly, I reach up to make the move…

Building our community of climbers

As we sit around the fire later that evening, someone passes me a bag of chips going around and congratulates me on my send. It is the hardest climb I have lead to date. As food and beers are passed and shared we recant the day; we talk beta and technique, how my leg shaking leg could be seen from the ground, the way my feet cut from the wall as I hit that cross move and barn-doored out.

I am given hugs and high fives.

The feel of the evening, the fire, the shared experience of failure and success, the warm hazy buzz…it’s something I have thought about often during the pandemic. These things that bring the climbing community together, meeting new people at a crag, a congratulatory high-five, shared food and gear, they are out of reach right now.

Climbing is how my husband and I build community, even in Okinawa, a small Japanese island on the other side of the world. This is what has always worked for us. We are climbers. That is our identity and we have found that following our drive to climb has attracted other like-minded, passionate friends, no matter where we are.

When I got pregnant with our son, we did all we could to hold onto that piece of ourselves and the only community we knew how to build. But my pregnancy was rough and climbing in that way just wasn’t a possibility. I had to find new ways to build a community for myself as a new mom and for my son just coming into the world.

Lack of motivation during COVID

Over the last 2 years and before COVID hit, my son, and I had found families to adventure with, commiserate with, and to love. The climber in me was coming back to life. Getting outside, even on toddler-paced hikes seemed like a huge step in the right direction. Climbing trips were finally starting to become a reality. But, over the last few months, we’ve traded playdates and mini-adventures for the backyard sandbox and neighborhood bike rides in the name of being safe and keeping things close to home.

For weeks after the initial lockdown, I wished we had taken more advantage of the parks when they were open. That we had made more long treks for early morning boulder sessions. If we could just get out for a mini-adventure, I thought, that would change things, we’d get back on track.

I have noticed, however, that since state parks have reopened and visiting them during off-peak hours while practicing social distancing can be entirely safe, my motivation to break our new close-to-home routine is lacking. A “mini-adventure” to a state park just doesn’t hold the same appeal it used to. It now feels overwhelming and exhausting.

Though other feelings and reactions related to COVID have come up this one by far is the most surprising to me. After spending the last 20 years of my life carefully arranging my days and weeks to fit in the most climbing and outdoor time, why, now when we finally have a piece of the puzzle back am I lacking in motivation?

One. Simple. Word.

Community.

Dealing with the loss of community

Missing our community of friends feels both simple and complicated.

There are simple, obvious, straightforward ways that my son and I miss our community. I miss going to a new place that I don’t know how to navigate but my friend does. We simply miss other children. Toddlers love other toddlers. Their only criteria for instant friendship…you’re a toddler! Simple in that I find relief and gratitude knowing that another adult I trust is looking out for my child in the same way they would watch over theirs.

But a hug from another mom who has also started her day at 3 am to battle her admittedly opposed toddler? That’s now complicated. A hug is support, understanding, and comradery, without saying a word. That hug says, “I see you”, and “You’re doing great” and “This is hard” all at once. But, that hug is complicated in ways that I never imagined a hug could be complicated.

The mutual smile from a fellow mom who sees my kid run full speed down a hill with nothing but boots on somehow reinforces and validates everything I’ve done as a mom up to that moment. That smile holds no judgment. That smile is accepting and inclusive and makes the 2 hours I fought my kid to get here worth it. That smile is now hidden by a mask.

And what about that knowing in their eyes when my kid has a tantrum in the middle of the hike because I made the wrong pretend truck noise? It’s something only another parent of a toddler on that hike, at that moment can understand and it’s everything. It’s gone and I can’t believe how much I miss it.

Yes, I can (and do) go on hikes and mini-adventures with just my son. But, not having another parent there, if nothing else, to witness the insanity and total irrationality of raising a toddler leaves me feeling catastrophically alone.

Finding new ways to connect to your community

Dealing with the loss of climbing during pregnancy was hard in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I didn’t know how I was going to come back from that, especially with a new baby. But, over time, my son and I were able to find our own tiny and inclusive group of outdoor-loving families to lean on. They’ve supported us in more ways than I can describe.

During the pandemic, our in-person adventuring with our community has been put on hold for a bit. It’s been hard, so I’ve had to adapt. Now, I am finding new ways to be connected to our community and take care of ourselves during this uncertain time. Here are a few things we’ve been doing that help.

Adapt

My husband and I are primarily sport climbers, meaning we use ropes and quickdraws to secure ourselves to permanently placed draws while climbing. Bringing my son along requires at least one other adult to keep an eye on him while one of us climbs and the other belays. Since that’s not an option right now, we have switched gears to bouldering. To boulder, we only need a crash pad, shoes, and chalk.

We look for boulders that have flat landings so that our son can roam safely and so that whoever is climbing doesn’t necessarily need a spotter. This frees the other parent up to keep eyes on our son and helps to prepare all of us to re-enter, not just sport climbing communities, but bouldering communities as well, when this is all over.

Prepare for life after-COVID

As a climber and advocate for outdoor learning my ultimate goal is to get my son acclimated to the climbing life as much as possible in the hopes that he will fall in love with it too. To do that my husband and I have been taking our son climbing at least once a week. We show him how to pack a crash pad, how to spot boulders and of course how to relax like a climber, i.e. laid back, feet up, lots of snacks, and a little climbing. Our hope is that once life returns to normal, we’ll have our adventure buddy prepped and ready for the action.

Safe pods

As a family, we decided to extend our safety bubble to include one other family that we know and trust. They’ve been tested and are not in contact with anyone else. We still take certain precautions like not sharing snacks, only playing outside, and keeping our hands to ourselves. Though my son is an independent kid and comfortable on his own, I have found that seeing these friends every week or so has lifted his spirits.

Socially distant mom dates

A couple of my mom-friends and I meet every 3 or 4 weeks at an empty parking lot and sit in the back of cars, 6 feet apart. We get to see each other and talk about all things motherhood. It helps so much to just hear someone else’s experiences, how they are dealing with the virus, isolation, toddler meltdowns, and what they’re watching on Netflix!

Write and talk about it

Journaling is something I’ve always done to deal with stress. Whether it’s a physical notebook, an online document, a blog, or something in between, writing things down can help process thoughts and emotions. With so many virtual groups sharing and interacting with people, I’ve found that taking my journaling online has been the most helpful. Going one step further and talking about it with someone, on the phone, at a distance, text, or whatever is even better. Frustration and anger have very little power when said out loud.

We’re in this together

While this mom thing is unique and different for us all, we’re all in it together. And these times are uncertain and unprecedented for all of us. If you feel the same way I do about community and have any insight or advice to share, I’d love to hear it! Sharing our stories and experiences help us all process and know that we’re not alone. Our lives and communities may look different now, but if we can be there for each other, we’ll come out on the other side stronger.

How are you handling the loss of community?

About the author

Brenna Jeanneret is a writer who shares stories as an outdoor climbing mom. She writes about the messy and authentic intersection where adventure and parenthood collide. Check out her writing on her personal site at http://www.brennajeanneret.com. Or look for her new podcast The ReWild Mamas where she discusses adventure and motherhood.