Weekly Nature Program Details

512-461-9395

Info@natureversity.org

Program Times:

Class Days & Hours: Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays – 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Drop-off: Please arrive between 8:50 and 9:15 AM for sign-in. Classes begin at 9:00 AM

Pick-up: Please arrive to pick up and sign out at 3:00 PM

Sign-In and Sign-Out:

At each class day students must be signed in every morning and signed out every afternoon by an adult authorized by the parent. We will check identification at pickup until we recognize you, and this ID must match the name of an authorized adult. Please make a note at sign in if your child is going home with someone else who is not previously listed as authorized. Sign in each morning and sign out each afternoon will be with your child’s instructor.

No Early Arrival or Late Pickup:

Although our staff are on site before and after sign in and after sign out, this time is used for class planning and staff debrief and is crucial to providing a great class experience for students. We know that this is challenging for working parents and appreciate your understanding.

What to Bring Each Day for Class:

• Backpack that has two shoulder straps and is comfortable to wear for the day
• Full water bottle or hydration pack (1 liter minimum – 2 liters preferred for hotter weather)
• Healthy mid-morning & afternoon snacks
• Lunch (we do not allow sharing of food due to allergy risks)
• Nature journal & color pencils
• Mora Fixed Black Clipper/Companion Knife (ages 7-12 only)

What NOT to Pack:

• Electronic devices, games, and screen based gadgets (Mobile phones may be carried turned off inside the pack, but are not to be used during camp.)
• Excess extra clothes – an extra layer / rain gear is fine if necessary but please do not pack a change of clothes for after camp in their backpack. This adds extra weight and bulk that tires kids out. Keep these (or a blanket or towel for your muddy child to sit on) in your car for pick up.
• Extra weight. We will be hiking some days, and heavy backpacks become a challenge for everyone. Pack only what is needed for class.

What Your Child Should Wear:

We are an outdoor school that spends all day outside immersed in nature. In order to help support this, we suggest opting for earth tones (grays, tans, browns & greens) or camouflage clothing. After decades of mentoring we have noticed that when students don’t have to worry about getting their clothes ripped, torn, wet or dirty, they are more likely to fully engage with the natural world around them. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid sending your kids to class in clothes that you or they feel uncomfortable with getting stained or filthy. We also recommend parents bring trash bags and an extra change of clothes in the car to change into and store for the ride home.

During colder and wetter weather, it is important to dress in wool and/or synthetic layers that help retain warmth when damp. Cotton or cotton blends are not suitable for cold weather conditions as they keep moisture near the body. Additionally, it is essential to wear a warm hat, socks and gloves during cold weather and a raincoat with hood, rain pants and even rain boots during wet weather. Almost all of our students and staff find synthetic or wool long underwear beneficial. Again, please remember to avoid cotton under layers on cold winter days.

For warm and dry weather, cotton is perfectly fine. Please remember to provide sunscreen, a large sunhat and any other necessary items based on the day’s weather and your child’s specific needs. It is recommended to have your child’s sunscreen applied before they arrive. During the warm months, bug spray is also highly recommended.

Shoes for Class:

In order to ensure the safety and comfort of all our students, we have a policy that requires sturdy closed-toe shoes for class. Sandals, crocs, flip-flops and similar open-toe footwear are not permitted. However, there are instances when, depending on the weather and terrain, students may be allowed to go barefoot with permission from their nature guides.

Many students prefer to wear outdoor shoes or boots that include brands such as Merrell, Keen, Vivobarefoot, Xero, and the like. In warmer weather closed-toe sandals like Keens are also a great choice as they allow kids to freely move between water and land without worrying about their shoes getting soaked. If your child wears shoes that are not suitable for water immersion, we recommend keeping a pair of water shoes in their backpacks so they can easily change into them when wading in the creeks.

It’s important to note that creeks are prone to collecting trash, and we often come across hazards such as broken glass or rusted metal in the creek beds we visit. For this reason, we generally require students to wear some form of footwear when walking or playing in the creeks.

Lost & Found:

To ensure the safekeeping of personal belongings, we kindly ask that you label your child’s backpacks, clothing, lunchboxes, and other class items. We have observed instances where students may not realize that their belongings have gone missing, and while we will make every effort to reconnect unlabeled items with their owners, we cannot guarantee full responsibility for this.

If an item has a visible name on it, our instructors will promptly notify the family. If you happen to lose an item, please inform your program instructors, who will actively assist in locating and returning it. Lost and Found items will be kept at our office for a maximum of one month. If you specifically request us to hold an item, we can keep it for up to one month more. Unclaimed items will either be donated to charity or given to other members of the Natureversity community.

What to Expect at our School Year Nature Programs

Mornings:

Please arrive between 8:50 AM and 9:15 AM to sign your child in. The instructor of your child’s class will greet you at the class sign-in table. Please keep your child with you until after sign in. At that point your child will be given a name tag, and then invited to join the rest of the group in a game or explore our hands-on nature museum or utilize the nature art supplies bin for those who like a more quiet morning start. This is a good time to check in with the program director if you have any questions or concerns. The program director can pass along any important information to your child’s instructor once the initial arrival phase has passed.

Day to Day Schedule:

Each morning there will be an active nature themed game that students can join as they arrive. We will also have a nature museum set out for those who prefer a quieter or more stationary activity to start off their day. This is followed by one of the staff sharing a story that introduces a general theme or focus for the day. After the story, students join their small groups we call clans for the majority of the day in order to learn all about the various aspects of wilderness skills.

Groupings:

Like all our youth programs, Weekly program students are placed into small groups called clans. If you requested that your child be placed with a friend during registration, we do our best to honor that request but sometimes we are not able to meet every request. Requests for students of significantly different ages to be grouped together will not be accommodated. Typically everyone gets placed where they would like to be.

Nature Mentoring and Connection:

We use children’s natural passions in order to perform our natural flow style of teaching called Nature Mentoring. Our goal is not only to teach kids about nature but more importantly to help them develop better relationships with the earth, their friends, and themselves, all while having wild fun outdoors learning earth-based skills and crafts. You can learn more in the About section of our website. If you have any questions, please email us at info@natureversity.org. We look forward to seeing you at some of our classes & programs soon!

Student Code of Conduct:

Please be sure and read out Student Code of Conduct Policy Here.

Absences:

We understand that your child may occasionally be absent from a day of class. There is no requirement for you to inform us in advance of your child’s absence. If your family has not attended class for 2 weeks in a row we will call your family to check in.