22 Apr 2025

White Ash Learning Organizational Updates

by | posted in: Nature Immersion, Self Directed Learning |

Registration is now open for the 2025 – 2026 Wild Discovery Semester Program Summer Sessions still have some spaces open Sign in to Amilia for registration options. We are grateful for many accomplishments this year! The introduction of daily snack and food projects as a core component of our programming has been a major success. Every day participants receive 2-3 servings of fruits and vegetables, and often help in preparing food projects on the fire, with locally sourced, nutritious foods. We’re … Read More
2 Mar 2025

Fostering Independence, Freedom, and Autonomy

by | posted in: Self Directed Learning |

Essential to Youth Development and Well-Being Parents and educators try to provide what’s best for young people and their development. As the world becomes increasingly complex, we face the challenging task of balancing children’s safety with their need for independence, freedom, and autonomy. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s natural to be concerned about safety and well-being. Fostering independence, freedom, and autonomy is crucial for development and overall success. Over the years, parenting styles have shifted, with many adults adopting a … Read More
7 Jan 2025

The Art of Winter Adaptation

by | posted in: Nature Immersion |

As temperatures drop, winter survival strategies range from hibernation to specialized physical traits that enable animals to endure the cold. Several species of animals utilize different types of hibernation to survive the cold winter months. In the winter session of the Wild Discovery Semester Program, we’ll be focusing on learning about the different strategies animals use to survive Maine winters. True Hibernation Characterized by a significant drop in body temperature and metabolic rate, true hibernators have the ability to conserve … Read More
25 Aug 2024

Peach Hand Pies & Sumacade

by | posted in: Local Food, Nature Immersion, Self Directed Learning |

Summer Recipes Food and foraging projects tend to be some of our most popular activities at summer sessions. This past week at Thistle Pond, we baked peach filled hand pies on the fire, and enjoyed making Sumacade, a tart flavored drink similar to lemonade. Below you’ll find the recipes we used if you want to re-create these projects at home! Sumacade Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) is a native, deciduous shrub characterized by long, alternate leaves, yellow-green flowers and hairy, reddish … Read More
1 Jun 2024

Wild Discovery Semester Program Updates

by | posted in: Nature Immersion, Self Directed Learning |

Registration is now open for the Wild Discovery Semester Program 2024 – 2025 Login into your Amilia account for registration options. We’ve been enjoying the new areas where we’ve moved the tent and fire circle, and have also been appreciating all of the new families who have joined this learning community. Some of the highlights so far this semester have been highly engaging games of capture the flag with David, listening to the kids singing the May Pole song to … Read More
10 Mar 2024

Nurturing Growth and Development in a Nature-Based, Self-Directed Learning Environment

by | posted in: Nature Immersion, Self Directed Learning |

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in alternative educational approaches that emphasize child-centered, experiential learning in outdoor settings. By combining nature immersion, self-directed learning, and play-based approaches, White Ash Learning programs foster cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development while addressing the unique challenges children face in today’s world. A nature-based, self-directed program combines these benefits creating an environment that fosters holistic growth and development. The Benefits of Outdoor Education Outdoor education provides numerous cognitive, emotional, and physical … Read More
5 Sep 2021

Introduction to Self Directed Education

by | posted in: Self Directed Learning |

Intro to SDE Self-Directed Education (SDE), Natural Learning (NL) and Unschooling Written by Je’anna Clements, pro-bono for the Pestalozzi trust Self-Directed Education, also called Natural Learning, and Unschooling, is fast growing in popularity around the world. However, many people struggle to understand exactly what it is. Summerhill School, which opened in the UK in 1921, and Sudbury Valley School (SVS) opened in the USA in 1968, were both founded on the idea that young people can be treated with kindness … Read More
20 May 2021

Stealth Games and Birdsong

by | posted in: Nature Immersion |

Underwater clouds erupting from sticky brown mud. Kids everywhere in the shallow pools, toes warmed by mud that squishes between them. Fish, tan-colored, each with a distinct thin black line from gills to tail down each flank. While we’re in the pool, the fish are invisible. But when we leave, long before the dust settles, sleek bodies emerge. They dart and glide in and out of mud clouds. They rest and see and listen and smell. The mud cave undercutting … Read More
1 Apr 2021

Changes in the Landscape

by | posted in: Nature Immersion |

We enjoyed a beautiful, windswept day at Reeds Brook this week. Caitlin Thurell and Sylan contemplated the location and movement of the giant ice floe since been last week. They noticed the stream crossing would be much more difficult this time. The water was incredibly high, and the rain had melted every bit of ice or dislodged them from the banks and washed them down he river to the sea. Last week, Birch and Juniper noticed how slippery the ice … Read More
25 Mar 2021

Mud Season Arrives

by | posted in: Nature Immersion |

We enjoyed a bright, warm day at Reeds Brook this week. During arrival we played Towhee, a game that challenges us to sneak up on a mother bird who is protecting her egg from predation, and freeze whenever she stops singing to look our way. Inevitably people make mad dashes, having to freeze in awkward positions, fall over, dive and roll around. It’s a great game for all ages to become involved and active. We are trying to steal the … Read More

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