Lessons from the season of Spring
by Justin Cornett, Afterschool in Nature Education Director
Sitting here as we are on the edge of spring we wait, knowing that winter is not over just yet! Despite this year’s erratic snowfall and melt, we have still managed to get in plenty of cold-weather activity. Sage is still cold with usually enough accumulated snow on the ground to find our Afterschool group either climbing the mountainous quinzee remains, playing on the ice (when it’s there), or huddled in the yurt keeping warm! While the warm, rainy days we experienced made some traditional activities difficult, we still managed to get plenty of winter play and exploration in.
Yet, the feeling of spring is on our minds, and our excitement for it grows daily! While it may seem obvious to some, spring is an important time for our youngsters and one that should be taken full advantage of.
Why?
Spring Is Beautiful (Of Course!)
Smelling the sweet smell of the soil and the aroma of fresh plant life as it slowly begins to warm with the first hints of humidity reminds us of the abundance waiting to emerge from the familiar winter later of ice, snow, and mud.
As the maples began to flower, the forest floor reactivated with vibrant spots of spring ephemerals like early blue cohosh, trillium, trout lily, and hepatica. These flowers and more all combine to create the lush sensory tapestry that Vermont summers are known for.
Spring Helps Us Adjust to Change
Socially, mentally, and physically, the lives of children are always in a rapid state of flux. This is by no means an even process and can take place at both different times and in different ways throughout the season.
In the natural world, the seasonal shift from winter’s quietude to the hustle and bustle of spring is a time when rapid change can be not only seen but primordially felt. Being outside regularly during this time can help children recognize and adapt to shifts in their own lives as they grow older and adjust to new and challenging situations.
Physical Activity Improves Mindset
Unfortunately, kids in general are not immune to the societal effects of alienation, anxiety, and depression. Exercise can be of great benefit to kids for their long-term health and wellness.
Spring and summer provide challenges which get kids moving and build physical strength. Whether it’s putting the effort into a longer hike, climbing trees, or learning to think ahead in navigating mud, bugs, water, and safety, this time outside helps build a child’s sense of self-empowerment while safely experiencing the community and beauty around them.
Spring Enlivens the Restorative Benefits Of Nature
The restoration of a familiar landscape is also a reminder of the generosity of we experience from the earth. Experientially, this becomes a profound lesson of constant healing and new inspiration, both within the natural world as well as in us.
This recognition is not just cultural but is also tied to our primordial, evolutionary instincts. Historically, springtime was a period when survival became easier with the return of more abundant food sources. This connection is still with us and can have a substantial impact on mental health through new motivation and creativity. Kids once again are given the chance to roam the wider woods with their curiosity as a leading guide.
Spring at Afterschool in Nature
Through observation, we work with our students’ natural curiosity, watching for those instances when their attention is grabbed by something of interest. It is our responsibility to see these natural sparks of inquisitiveness and help further nurture them so that all the wonderful things that this Spring (and Summer and Winter, and Fall!) have to offer and teach.