Activities designed to help children and their adults develop a deeper relationship with the natural world, themselves and each other by learning essential ecological skills and understandings while playing in forests, fields, gardens and other ecosystems
Explorations in Ecology is based on the premise that-for those of us living within industrial civilization-the best response to current crisis is to transform our culture from isolation and competition to an ecophilic ecoculture that supports interdependence, regeneration, and cooperation.
Indigenous peoples have embodied this culture for tens of thousands of years, as did all of our ancestors. Explorations in Ecology is designed to equip adults (homeschoolers, eco-educators, and ecologically aware parents) to help children make this shift and prepare them for an uncertain future, emotionally and practically, while incorporating integrated traditional and modern perspectives. To these ends, the book will include:
• Activities that include permaculture gardening
• Gathering edible and medicinal plants
• Bushcraft skills like building fires and shelter
• And much more!
Also included, the reader will find educational suggestions for adults about how to support children engaging in the activities in each chapter and more generally about how to nurture educational environments and communities that support children learning and having transformative experiences while playing in forests, fields, and gardens.
In addition, science background about how ecosystems work as highly interdependent, regenerative systems is selected to give adults a clearer understanding of the ecological skills and concepts explored in each chapter's activities. Science topics covered include:
• Systems theory
• The water and carbon cycles
• Photosynthesis
• The molecular kinetic theory of heat
• Soil composition
• Basic taxonomy
• Rocks and minerals
• Basics of ecological design and building.
This science material is also suitable for older children. Peter Kindfield has an MA in Child Development and a PhD in Science Education from UC Berkeley and is certified in Permaculture Design. He's been a professional educator for over forty years working as a public school teacher and classroom researcher, a lead science staff developer and science coordinator for the NYC Public Schools, a professor of science education for undergraduate and graduate-level courses, and a K–12 teacher and principal of The Farm School in Summertown, TN. Currently, he offers nature-based science classes for children ages 5–14, teaching ecology and nature skills through outdoor play-both a homeschool and after-school program. He also offers consulting services on all aspects of designing and implementing outdoor learning environments, speaks at conferences about nature education, and coordinates The Deep Adaptation Educators group; the Deep Adaptation Forum is a global social network with over 17,000 members committed to responding to the collapse of our eco- and social systems with love.
