On a cold November afternoon, I joined my son on the little bluff that juts precariously out to the sky below Dorman Point. The younger kids remained on the bigger bluff, and he needed a moment of peace. I found him hanging over the mossy edge photographing what we call “Louie’s path”, below. In the settling twilight, an orange glow began to creep from behind the distant point, and he tried out some new camera tricks, photographing the open sky.
We sat together for a while, looking at the frothy waves, trying to see fins among the shadows and rolling crests, and I realized that my son has outgrown (F)unschool. How could that be? I created this program for him and his sister – they even named the program, in its infancy, when it consisted of just a few friends, and wasn’t even a Nature Club program yet.
I have been a Nature Club member all my life, and still enjoy meeting up with the people I camped with and babysat 30 years ago. I thought Nature Club (F)unschool would grow along with my kids. But now my kids are 10 and almost 13. My son is helpful with the little ones: he encourages them in their explorations, lifts them up when they need a hand, and generally – but not always – tries to set a good example. But exploration shouldn’t always feel like babysitting. Sometimes the chatter of admiring little ones is just too much, and he and some of the other older kids want to go further, faster, higher, or just feel careless.
So I made my decision, that day: (F)unschool has to grow up, too. Of course there are still many young families who love and benefit from the regular Friday outings, but there has to be an opportunity for the older kids to be – well – older! There has to be nothing holding them back. So from now on, the first Friday of every month will be dedicated to these adventurous, inspiring older kids (and adults who can keep up!). Let’s call it (F)unschool 10+.
This year in addition to such annual treats as the boat trip, camping trip and sea creatures day, the Nature Club intends to visit Maplewood Mudflats and Apodaca Park.
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