To be honest, I can’t even remember what the intended topic was, I think it was “natural resources,” but the heart of the class was really just getting kids out experiencing and enjoying the park. We skipped rocks, we climbed trees, we tasted tart grape vines. It was great.
One of the kids was particularly taken with the grape vines. He jokingly pretended to be a grape-vine-obsessed-Mr. Hyde-like monster every time we came upon some. I love it when nature brings out kids’ silly sides!
This kid was so excited about all of the activities that as we were walking I said to him, “You know, if you came back for our Young Scientist Club, you could do this kind of thing all the time after school.” He said, (and I’m not making this up!) “Whoa...that would be like HEAVEN to me!” Later, as we were walking through the park he said, “Miss, I wish I lived here.” I laughed, and was delighted to tell him, “you DO live here!
This park is right in your neighborhood, and it’s yours! You can come whenever you want!”
I really believe that connecting kids and adults to the nature that’s right in their backyard can be fun, empowering and world-widening all at once, and this kid was such a great reminder of that.
I am so proud and happy to be part of this work every day! And I am deeply grateful to the amazing community of people—staff, volunteers, contributing members and our whole “Urban Ecology Center family” who support the work of creating meaningful and empowering experiences in Milwaukee’s green spaces, and letting kids know that “heaven” can be right in their backyard!
