Just a few weeks ago, INFTA-Certified Forest Therapy Guide, Mrs. Salome Fernando, facilitated a two-week “Nature & the Five Senses” summer program in Virginia, USA for 35 children aged 3–6.
Reflecting on the program, Mrs. Fernando shared these highlights and the impact such programs have on building nature connection in young children.
Our two-week Nature Summer Program, “Nature & the Five Senses,” was a tremendous success. The children arrived each morning excited to discover the day’s new adventure, with each experience designed to encourage hands-on exploration, creativity, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world through their senses.
Favorite activities included nature scavenger hunts, nature journaling, exploring the mud kitchen, bark rubbing, painting with mud, and sensory walks. These experiences inspired careful observation, imaginative play, problem-solving, and meaningful engagement with the children’s surroundings.
One especially joyful moment came when a child found a frog and excitedly called the other children over to see it. They all gathered around, delighted, before the frog was gently moved to a more frog-friendly area.
Lasting Impact
The most rewarding outcome has been seeing the impact continue long after the program ended. Children still come to me on the playground to excitedly share their discoveries — interesting leaves, snails, bugs, frogs, bird nests, and other treasures they find. Their excitement to observe and investigate has become a natural part of their day, a clear sign they are looking at the world with greater curiosity and awareness.
The program encouraged children to slow down, ask questions, and make connections with the natural world — skills that support observation, classification, and independence in a Montessori environment. Rather than ending with the final day of camp, their enthusiasm for exploring nature has continued to grow, extending into their everyday experiences.
Looking Ahead
Watching their curiosity continue beyond the two-week camp has been the greatest measure of its success. The Nature Summer Program nurtured a lasting sense of wonder and curiosity while helping children build a meaningful relationship with the natural world.”
Look out for our next story on ways to connect children to nature as an INFTA-Certified Forest Therapy Guide.
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Find out what decades of research reveal about children learning best when the world becomes their classroom.
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