Wildwood is basically a place where kids of all different ages can come and learn what
they want to learn.
The wind!
Yes!
The wind has got it going.
It's a place where kids can truly be themselves and be fully trusted as people.
Hello!
I have freedom to make my own choices and to be trusted to make choices.
Instead of having to like do certain things, it lets them choose what they want to do.
You can decide what you're going to do yourself, like there's nothing you have to do.
We're really free to do anything we want as long as it's safe.
Wildwood is just this place where you can literally do whatever it is that your heart
desires.
So kids are naturally curious about their world and when they're given just freedom
and time to explore all those things and be in relationship with other people, then learning
just happens.
You just, learning is happening all the time, even when you don't realize it.
They learn it much better if they actually choose and do it for themselves.
They're in charge of their own learning.
And in addition to that, we really value and cultivate a culture of intentionality.
In the beginning of the day when we come into this space, we have a big fun meeting.
The part of the day is lollicac, I hope that means we can offer anything we want to, like
you can write me on a sticky note and I'm sticking up on the board.
One thing that really lights the kids up is being able to make their own offerings and
they really start to internalize the sense of, I have a lot to offer the world that's
valuable and meaningful.
We go through what's on the schedule for the day and we write down our intentions.
It could be specific activities we want to do or ways we want to feel or practices we
want to incorporate in our day.
And then we break up into three groups which are called dens and we discuss our intentions
and we play a game.
And then the whole day happens.
You can't really say what happens in the day because it's totally different each day.
And at the end of the day, we come back together and reflect on our day and what we engaged
in and what we learned from it and what we'd like to do differently next time.
I did sanctuary tech, I practiced the play and I feel happy, joyful, energized and content.
It's also an environment that nurtures positive relationships, perspective, taking, empathy.
The children are learning to communicate with one another and they're learning how to work
with one another in collaboration.
There's this thing called change at meeting where everybody joins in a group meeting,
the whole community.
Everyone decides what we want our roles to be about and how we want our community to be
like.
If there's a problem or a child notices that there's an issue or a concern around something,
they bring that to the community.
I think everybody here should be friends with everybody so whoever wants to do it should
be able to do it.
Yes.
What if you don't have enough people for everyone to be in it?
Then we all brainstorm those together and everybody has a voice in deciding what a solution
might be or what a new practice might be for the community.
And if you can, try to not exclude anybody, exactly what you're saying is exclusive.
And also there's like, we try it out for a week and if it works well then we do it more
and if it doesn't work well then we try again.
Wildwood is a place where everyone's voice matters.
We're all equals at Wildwood and that's something that I really like.
It doesn't make me want to break rules or anything because I'm the one that gets to
decide them.
And I think it contributes to this feeling in them and I see it, that they have the power
to change their world.
I guess it's helped me look at the big perspective instead of just my own perspective.
I didn't really have a voice, I was always the quiet one and now I'm definitely not the
quiet one.
I've seen him feel more comfortable with his community and I've seen him be more comfortable
with himself.
I'm thankful for friends.
And here, since he's able to talk about it with another person, that has changed the
way it is at home as well.
He talks just more about his feelings at home.
He feels more comfortable.
The most obvious thing for me is just the fire that's in her.
I mean, she's just stimulated in a very good way, she's excited about every day that she
comes here.
And that can give me a piggyback ride.
The cost of running this program, of running Wildwood is actually a lot more than what
can be done with parent fees alone.
Donations are extremely helpful to make this program accessible to all families regardless
of income and also to help us secure a location to help meet the needs of our growing community.
If you want to donate money to Wildwood, we'd be very thankful.
Have fun!
