In this interview with Nyack News and Views, Wild Earth Program Director, Esperanza Gonzalez, explains the deeper intentions of our programs. Some people know us as the folks who teach kids to build fires or the summer camp organization. While that captures some of what we offer, Esperanza shares that the heart of our work is more about how we engage with participants to support social and emotional growth through a deeper connection with nature. Continue reading
As many families were deciding how to best support their children this school year, it was clear that in many communities across the country, including the Hudson Valley, a greater number of participants were interested in deeper engagement in wilderness education and exploration. Continue reading
According to recent research, early humans were creating cordage at least 40,000 years ago, using it to make baskets, bags, nets and so much more. Today, the significance and many purposes of cordage have hardly changed. We still need rope and cord for so many essential tasks. Continue reading
As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand that edible weeds hold such potential to unlock in children a passion for both nature and cooking. An adaptable recipe like garlic mustard pesto is ripe to become a family or classroom tradition, creating scaffolding for a lifetime of learning. Continue reading
My awareness and interest in all of the flower, plant, bird and animal activity this spring has grown enormously, and I am so grateful for it. Yet, I wonder if our plant and animal relatives are happier than ever as they get a much needed break from our human business. Continue reading
For as long as I can remember and before I had a name for it, some version of sit spot was a part of my life. At times I lived in cities where my sit spot was at my doorstep, watching grackles nest in my buildings’ gutters. I once lived on a farm with a pond, where I’d see beavers swim in circles and smack their tails on the water each morning. Continue reading