Page 30 - NatureStart Network
P. 30
Footprints of Delight early childhood expertise and his own experience as the
Do you ever notice how adults and children differ in parent of three young children to come up with ideas
their journeys from Point A to Point B? As adults, the that would enthrall the children. Though Adam brought
path generally is as direct and short a straight line as extensive experience with older children as part of his
possible. Children, however, jump in puddles, walk Forest Preserve program work, he was nervous about
across lawns, inspect rocks, pick flowers, twirl in teaching 3-5 year-olds.
circles, pet a neighborhood dog, talk to squirrels. In a
blog written for the Center for Humans and Nature, Mr. Bob and Mr. Adam’s Class Nature Adventure—
conservation psychologist Louise Chawla described The Power of Partnership
these joyful and meandering journeys as “footprints of • Children investigated a red-tailed hawk feather and
delight.” During a NatureStart Network professional
development session, Marilyn Brink of the Chicago hawk plush toy and shared ideas about the bird’s
Zoological Society led a discussion based on this article powers.
and invited educators to think about the walks they take • Each child was provided a colored sheet of paper and
with children and how those walks might be different challenged to find an object that matched its color
if the teachers envisioned them as children creating during their neighborhood nature stroll. A highlight
“footprints of delight.” was finding a wild strawberry plant and sharing the
This approach inspired Adam Kessel, naturalist, “backstory” of a fruit they eat quite often. Children
Forest Preserve District of Cook County and Bob were amazed to see how a flower turns into a fruit.
Bryant, director of education and outreach, Mary Crane • They brought their discoveries back to the classroom
Head Start as they began to forge a new partnership to where they shared their treasures and observations.
support children and families. • Adam, Bob, and the children were delighted with the
outcomes: Through collaboration, Adam found a way
They decided that Adam would visit the school and to reach younger children and encourage enthusiasm
take nature walk with Bob’s 17 students. Before the for the natural world. Bob saw how nature can
walk, Adam and Bob met to plan and strategize. Adam spark creative learning for his young students. The
reviewed the classroom space to find out the children’s children were overjoyed with their field trip discovery
familiarities and resources. He walked the area adjacent adventure and cannot wait for the next one! The
to the Center, making notes about natural areas and two organizations plan to continue and grow their
the plants and animals he came across so he could partnerships and share ideas with colleagues at other
share information and enthusiasm with the children. Head Start centers.
Although the Mary Crane Center is in a highly-
urbanized neighborhood with limited green space, Father’s Day
Adam was able to identify a hidden gem of nature that Traditionally, Mother’s and Father’s Day events at El
would have escaped an untrained eye. He relied on Bob’s Valor’s Child and Family Center were fun afternoons
spent doing indoor activities. Serving more than 4,000
children under the age of five, it is one of the largest
— 28 —
