Nature Connection Blog
Writings inspired by the land, our learners, and the quiet moments in between. Follow along as we share stories, practices, and seasonal wisdom from our time outdoors.
At Earth Path, we sometimes meet children who arrive with a sense of uncertainty - hesitant to fully step into the wildness of nature. Whether it's the tall grasses of an open field or the shaded quiet of the forest, our landscape can initially feel vast and overwhelming. Unlike manicured public parks, Earth Path's natural spaces are alive and unpredictable - home to ticks, hidden burdock burs, uneven terrain, and plants so tall they can seem towering when you're only little. As adults, it's easy to forget that some fields have plants so tall that young children can't even see beyond the next blade of grass. This is the story of "S," a young camper, and his journey of courage and transformation - guided by imagination, belief, and a little bear magic. S had attended Earth Path before, but during this particular summer something shifted. The tall grasses sparked deep, visceral anxiety. He wasn’t just hesitant - he was terrified. The thought of ticks made him panic. Even the sound of rustling grass or the sight of it brushing against his skin would send him into tears or frantic screams. He clung to the open trails like lifelines, flat-out refusing to step even an inch into any area where the grasses rose above his knees. His fear held him frozen at the edge of the wild.
It all began at our annual March Break Day Camp with a simple diary. An owl diary, to be precise. Under a bright blue sky, with melting snow beneath our feet, I noticed one of the children at camp—whom I’ll call G—completely absorbed in a book called Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott. It’s a charming story about an owl named Eva Wingdale, who embarks on adventures and learns valuable life lessons along the way. Seeing how captivated G was, I saw the perfect opportunity to create a connection.
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