Wild Child!
Parent-Child Nature Program

For ages 3-7
with their parents

Wild Child offers a unique opportunity for children aged 3-7 years and their parents to share nourishing experiences of nature connection in a supportive community environment. Play, explore, laugh, and learn together!

Children and parents attend Wild Child together to learn and enjoy:

  • Outdoor Adventures
  • Games
  • Songs, Music, and Storytelling
  • Experiential Activities and Survival Skills
  • Naturalist Skills
  • Edible Wild Plants and Teas
  • Firemaking and Campfires
  • Bird Language
  • Nature Crafts
  • Healthy snacks
  • Building Community
“It takes a whole village to raise a child.”
The saying originates from cultures where it is understood that the villagers are already intimately connected to the natural world. Parents in contemporary society not only find themselves increasingly disconnected from “the village” but the connection to nature is often reduced at its best to a few moments of recreation here and there.

WILD CHILD is a program designed to engage BOTH parent and child in nature, sometimes together, and sometimes close by, at their own levels. Parents may learn new skills alongside their children, and sometimes children just play with other children and are engaged by our mentors while their parents participate in crafting, firemaking, learning about plants, or other actitivties.

Parents will be introduced to the concept of the “Coyote Mentoring” model of natural education inspired by traditional earth-based cultures around the world and implemented in the WOLF Kids program, and offered valuable learning about compassionate ways to deeply support their child’s full development.

We believe that young children are deeply nurtured when they can connect to nature alongside an engaged parentWe value the importance of atachment and we’re excited to support parents who want to learn about nature connection and develop skills, while they build community, without having to leave their little ones.

Nature. Nurture. Community. Fun!

“Playing with Jean Claude and Ingrid in the forest has shown me that
this is not only fun, but it is also how we will survive as a species.”
~ Melanie Furman

“Working with the mentors through the Wild Child program has been so much fun.
But more profoundly, it has shifted the dynamic of our family toward a place of greater meaning.
The mentors complement each other as a mentoring team, bringing their different and individual gifts together.  The Wild Child program has gently guided us all to connect more deeply to our community, each other and the natural world.”
~ Mike de Roos

“Wild Child was the beginning of a deep nature connection journey for my daughter, my partner, our family. We had freshly moved and the connection that happens at Wild Child was just what we needed in our transition.
Gratitude, song, nature awareness games, exploration and story weave the fabric of the day and nurture both child and adult alike. Gratitude to Ingrid, Jean-Claude and the wonderful mentors for sharing their dedication to deep connection with nature, people and community.”
~ Leanna Boyer

Morning Class: Fridays 9:30am-12:30pm, most weeks (dates below).

Wild Child runs a Fall season and a Spring season. Fridays usually correspond with sd64 calendar with occasional exceptions :

FALL 2023 (9 sessions): FULL
Sept 22, 29; Oct 6, 20, 27; Nov 3, 10, 17 and 24

SPRING 2024 (12 sessions): SPACE STILL AVAILABLE
Feb 9, 16; March 1, 8, 15; April 5, 12, 19, 26; May 10, 17, 31

Sign up for just one series or sign up for both now to assure your space and save 10%!

Families may join during the year IF space allows, however this is not a drop-in program; we ask a commitment till the end of the session.
The Spring session often fills in the Fall already.

Where: Various beautiful natural locations, mostly in the south end of Salt Spring Island. You will receive an email on Thursday afternoons with location details for Friday (as location is often weather dependent).

Cost:

One child plus parent/caregiver:
FALL SESSION: Starts September 22, 2023: $435 plus GST

SPRING SESSION: Starts February 9, 2024: $540 plus GST

Two children plus parent/caregiver:
FALL SESSION: Starts September 22, 2023: $575 plus GST

FALL SESSION: Starts February 9, 2024: $695 plus GST

Installment payment plans available.
Please read our Cancellation Policy on the registration portal.


Cost includes a light healthy organic snack.
Younger Siblings 2 and under are free.
Please Contact us in Advance if you are considering bringing a younger child.

SPACE IS LIMITED.
Register Now to avoid disappointment as this program often fills.

Photography Credits: Katrina Rain, Dwane Roberge, Sydney Woodward, Vanya Laporte, Celeste Morris, Ingrid Bauer, Ayden Catry-Bauer, Charles Purvis Photography