Reconnect and Nanaimo Forest Kids are thrilled to present a summer forest program for parents and children.
Parents in the woods…
(A parents summer camp… without kids!!)
August 26 to 30th
9 to 12 am - At Colliery Dam
Right before the comeback to school, offer yourself some time to recharge without your children, to reconnect with yourself but also to meet other parents who value connection to nature for themselves and their children.
We constantly talk about the importance of children's connection to nature. But what about our connection to nature as adults, as parents? The stress of daily life, the overwhelm of being a responsible and "good enough" parent, our work problems... all those things can accumulate and lead us to an overall fatigue, a sense of not taking care of what really matters to us.
During this "parents summer camp", your children will also be having fun with awesome teachers of the Nanaimo Forest Kids. You will be in the same park, but in very distinct locations so that parents AND children have their own space! At the end of the morning, we will have a small activity all together. Sharing your own adventures could be such a beautiful way to connect to your child!
What will we do in the parents camp?
During those 5 mornings together we will:
- Take time to reconnect to ourselves and to nature through meditation, observation, opening our sense to the forest… The health benefits of this practice, more known as “Forest Bathing” is now proven to allow us to restore our mood, give us back our energy and vitality, refresh and rejuvenate us.
- Have meaningful conversation about parenting: We will create a safe space to talk about small and bigger things that come up around being a parent AND being in a relationship with the other parent. We will explore things such as our insecurities as parents, our fears for the future, what we so long for, but also our hopes, our greatest joys, our sucess.
- Discover concrete tools for healthy relationships with our children AND our spouse (let’s face it, it is sometimes the hardest aspect of parenting!). As an experienced trainer in Compassionate Communication (also known as NonViolent Communication), Myriam will share powerful tools to better deal with conflicts in the family.
- Play!! no matter how old we are, there is a child inside of us who loves to play. Most of us have rediscovered that part of us through parenting. Let's cultivate it as something fondamental to being a human being and an awesome parent! Myriam knows a lot of fun adult games to play outdoors that you can reproduce with your children.
The facilitator:
Myriam Verzat has a certificate in environmental education and has been working at Nanaimo Forest Kids since 2017. She has led numerous adults workshop to connect with nature using artistic approached. She is also a skilled facilitator and trainer in Compassionate Communication. In nanaimo, she offers trainings to individuals, couples, parents and organizations to improve the quality of their relationships and better deal with conflict.
Kids in the woods
(A kids forest camp… without parents!!)
Same place same time as parents:
August 26 to 30th
9 to 12 am - At Colliery Dam
At Nanaimo Forest Kids we believe that children benefit from building a strong relationship with nature. We help foster this relationship by giving children time and space in the forest to wander, wonder and grow.
We feel nature provides the optimal environment for early childhood development and the outdoor classroom provides an abundance of learning experiences, gross and fine motor challenges, open-ended materials and opportunities for imaginative play.
In addition, children who spend time in nature develop a deeper sense of wonder and respect for the environment.
We help the children to pursue their individual interests, investigate the things they find and reflect on the day's adventures. In this way they are able to expand on their experiences, knowledge and wisdom. During our kids camps the children engage in many different types of unstructured, self directed play, that is guided but not dictated by an educator.
Your connection with your child will be strengthen by this simultaneous forest camp.
To learn more about Forest School programs: https://www.nanaimoforestschool.com/
Program pricing and details
Pricing
Parents camp
Register before June 15th and get the early bird price
For one adult: Early bird: $215 / Normal 250$
For two adults: Early bird: $390 / Normal 425$
Kids camp
140$
Schedule:
We will gather each morning at 9:00am in the parking lot of Colliery Dam and parents and children will then take their own path to start their journey!
We will all gather together, parents and children at 11:50am for a small activity, parents and children together before heading back home.