We found a way to make playing outside irresistible for kids. It’s something ancient and deeply appealing to humans. “What is it,” you ask? Stories. Interactive outdoor walking stories... and they’re for kids. It started a dozen years ago - with a group of 5-10 year olds and found their Imaginations Ignited, and they were "All-in!". Let’s set the stage for you. Imagine a group of kids from a camp, a club, a school—gathered by a shade tree or in a field of grass. A member of your staff (or a teen guide or a parent) arrives in costume and asks the kids if they want to go on an adventure. The kids are intrigued and just before they begin their quest; the GUIDE suddenly tells the kids she hears a cry for help. “It’s Birdman”, she says. “He’s forgotten how to be a bird. Kids, do you want to help Birdman? He’s always helped others. If we can learn what birds do we might find him and remind him how to be a bird again.” In just a few sentences, the kids are absorbed in a story and off they go on their adventure–unaware they are walking, unaware they are learning and connecting to the natural rhythms that surround them. They become immersed in the activities and challenges of the story.
It’s that simple. Stories connect. Humans care about what they are connected to. Humans protect what they care about.
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AuthorJeff and Lyndsay Created Nature's Theater, because kids love stories, and we found that sharing stories outdoors connects kids to Nature. ArchivesCategories |