Design Principles for Child and Nature, Part Two
Principle One: Adventure
Dr. David Sobel’s book, “Childhood and Nature: Design Principles for Educators,” lays out eight design principles important to consider. This is important reading not only if you are designing a garden space, program or activity,  but also for environmental educators and parents alike.
“Hey, kids let’s go get groceries! Let’s go to the history museum!” Does that not sound like loads of fun? Kids respond enthusiastically to adventure. I love being swept up in a story that is bigger than myself; a story offering challenge and some goal at the end. This is a recognized fact among educators. A quick internet search reveals all sorts of adventurous, educational opportunities, support organizations, curriculum and theory.
Staff infuse a sense of adventure in Hershey Children’s Garden whenever possible. To me, all good adventures, large and small offer:
- Risk
- Mystery
- Goals
- Challenges
- A story-line
One way I create adventure is to start with a story. It could be about invading, alien tomatoes, giant sunflowers or wherever your imagination leads. The little listeners and I may then go look for the contents of our story. We also create a sense of adventure in some of our structured programs. For example, I like to weave drama (Boy do I ever!) and story into a summer camp. I might go on adventure by simply asking a child, “Hey, what do you think is on the other side of the garden?” I may even invite them to help me find the plant with the bloody roots or follow the ants to see what they are up to. The possibilities are as limitless as your imagination. Try it soon and watch the next grocery trip become an adventure!Â
I would love to hear ideas you have tried with your children. Please post them here and share your creativity with our readers.
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March 13th, 2009 at 7:25 am
[...] on a series of blog postings by a children’s garden educator, these principles include: Adventure; Fantasy and Imagination; Animal Allies; Maps and Paths; Special Places; Small Worlds; and Hunting [...]