On May 26, 2017 during a visit to the local forest, we came across a large puddle of mud and spent the majority of our time exploring it; floating sticks, listening to the sound it made as we walked through it, observed how far the puddle splashed as we jumped, and what it felt like. In subsequent visits when we came upon the spot where the puddle was, the children looked for it and after noticing that it was gone we had meaningful discussions about it (rain vs. sun).

“A growing body of research suggests that connecting to the natural world contributes to children’s mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health and well-being. Providing daily opportunities to explore, care for, and interact with the natural world helps to strengthen these connections” (HDLH, 2014, pg. 21).