>> CARLENE: SO I HEARD A COUPLE
OF YOU NOTICE THAT BIG, GIANT
CREATURE BEHIND ME.
THAT'S A SALAMANDER!
THEIR KINDA LIKE LIZARDS BUT
THEY LIKE TO BE IN WATER.
>> TERRI: RESEARCH SHOWS THAT
TIME SPENT IN NATURE HELPS US TO
BE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER AND MORE
CREATIVE.
WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF
CONNECTING TO THE NATURAL WORLD
OUR STRESS LEVELS DROP.
YET CHILDREN, ON AVERAGE, SPEND
LESS THAN SEVEN MINUTES A DAY
OUTDOORS.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO EXPLORE A
SPECIAL PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY
THAT IS DEDICATED TO CHANGING
THOSE NUMBERS.
JOIN US AS WE VISIT WILDROCK.
COME ON!
>> MICHEL ANN: I WANT TO FISH!
WAIT, FIRST LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE
THERE IS TO SEE.
COME ON FOLLOW MISS MICHEL ANN.
HERE WE GO!
>> SARAH: THE NATURE EXPERIENCES
THAT WE OFFER HERE AT WILDROCK
ARE ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCES THAT
EVERY CHILD SHOULD EXPERIENCE
THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME.
STANDING BESIDE A STREAM AND
WATCHING THE WATER FLOW, LOOKING
UP AT A MOUNTAIN, RUNNING
THROUGH A WIDE OPEN FIELD, A
NATURAL MEADOW, THESE ARE
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCES THAT
REALLY HELP BENEFIT A CHILD'S
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, SO MANY
CHILDREN TODAY, EVEN CHILDREN
RIGHT HERE OUR AREA DO NOT HAVE
THAT KIND OF ACCESS TO THIS WIDE
OPEN GREEN SPACE.
>> TERRI: AND THIS IS NAMED
AFTER WILDROCK, THIS HUGE ROCK
THAT IS UP ON THE HILL IN THE
BACK.
>> SARAH: YEAH.
ONE OF OUR TRAILS GOES RIGHT
PAST AN AMAZING LOOKOUT POINT.
AND RIGHT AT THE CORNER BEFORE
YOU ENTER THE FOREST, YOU GET TO
THE TOP OF THE HILL AND THERE IS
THIS GIGANTIC BOULDER IN THE
GROUND, AND CHILDREN LOVE TO
CLIMB UP.
FROM THE TOP OF IT YOU CAN SEE
THIS AMAZING BIRDS-EYE VIEW OF
THE ENTIRE PLAYSCAPE, HAVE A
GREAT VISTA OF FOX MOUNTAIN
BEHIND US, AND IT REALLY GIVES
CHILDREN A SENSE OF EMPOWERMENT.
THEY CLIMB UP THERE AND THEY DO
THEIR KING OF THE MOUNTAIN POSE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> TERRI: AND THEN THE ROCKS IN
THE FRONT, THERE IS A WHOLE
MAZE.
>> SARAH: SO THAT'S OUR WALKING
LABYRINTH.
THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO ENCOURAGE
INFLECTION AND MEDITATION AND
SLOWING DOWN THE BODY AND
LOOKING AT THE WORLD FROM
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AS YOU
FOLLOW THE WINDING PATH THROUGH
THE LABYRINTH.
KIDS ALWAYS RUN ON IT THOUGH,
HOW COULD YOU NOT?
>> CARLENE: WELCOME TO WILDROCK,
YOU GUYS LOOK SO EXCITED TO PLAY
HERE.
>> TERRI: TALK ABOUT WHAT
STUDENTS HAVE BEEN DOING HERE
TODAY.
>> SARAH: SO TODAY WE HAD
PRESCHOOLERS FROM JACKSON-VIA
ELEMENTARY.
AND THEY CAME OUT TO WILDROCK AS
PART OF OUR NATURE FRIENDS
PROGRAM.
EVERY SINGLE PRESCHOOLER IN THE
CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY PUBLIC
SCHOOLS WILL COME OUT TWICE AND
ENGAGE IN FREE PLAY IN OUR
PLAYSCAPE.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ARE
CHILDREN AT THEIR SCHOOLS FOUR
TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
FANTASTIC.
SO THEY COME OUT HERE, AND WE
WILL TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT KINDS OF THINGS THAT
THEY CAN DO, BUT THEN YOU ALL GO
TO THEM AND SHOW THEM WHAT'S
RIGHT IN THEIR BACKYARD AT THEIR
SCHOOL.
>> SARAH: ABSOLUTELY, WE WANT TO
IMPRESS UPON THE TEACHERS AND
THE STUDENTS AND THE FAMILIES
THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO DRIVE OUT
FAR DISTANCES OR GO TO A REMOTE
LOCATION IN ORDER TO HAVE THESE
MEANINGFUL NATURE PLAY
EXPERIENCES.
REALLY, JUST SMALL AMOUNTS OF
NATURE AND FINDING POCKETS OF
NATURE IN YOUR OWN HOME AND
AROUND YOUR SCHOOL OR WORKPLACE
OR COMMUNITY CAN HAVE SUCH A
POSITIVE IMPACT ON CHILD
DEVELOPMENT AND EMOTIONAL
WELL-BEING.
>> TERRI: YEAH, AND WHEN YOU SAY
NATURE FRIEND, WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO
STUDENTS AND YOU ARE TEACHING
THEM ABOUT THAT, WHAT DOES IT
MEAN?
>> SARAH: WELL, FIRST OF ALL WE
WANT STUDENTS TO FEEL AT HOME IN
NATURE, WE WANT THEM TO FEEL
COMFORTABLE IN NATURE, SO THEY
CONTINUE TO SEE NATURE AS A
POTENTIAL RESOURCE FOR THEM
THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.
AND TO DO THAT WE INTRODUCE THEM
TO OUR NATURE FRIENDS, WHO ARE
THE ANIMALS AND INSECTS THAT
LIVE AROUND US.
NOT ONLY DOES THIS HELP THEIR
COMFORT LEVEL, BUT IT SORT OF IS
A PRECURSOR TO STEWARDSHIP,
WHERE THE PRESCHOOLERS ARE ABLE
TO FEEL CONNECTED TO THE NATURAL
WORLD AND BE INVESTED IN
CONSERVATION AND TAKING CARE OF
OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
>> TERRI: YEAH.
TELL US ABOUT THE NATURE
PYRAMID.
>> SARAH: THE NATURE PYRAMID IS
SIMILAR TO THE FOOD PYRAMID.
IT WAS DEVELOPED BY TIM BEATLEY
AND IT'S A TRIANGLE OF YOUR
NATURE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU NEED
THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFETIME.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID
THESE ARE EXPERIENCES THAT YOU
NEED ON A DAILY OR HOURLY BASIS.
THIS IS A VIEW OUT YOUR WINDOW
OF NATURE, OR HAVING A PLANT
INSIDE YOUR OFFICE.
>> TERRI: RIGHT.
>> SARAH: AND THEN THERE ARE
EXPERIENCES WHERE YOU ARE GOING
ON A NATURE HIKE.
MAYBE THAT'S NOT EVERY DAY, BUT
HOPEFULLY MAYBE IT COULD BE ONCE
A WEEK.
AND THEN THERE ARE IMMERSIVE
EXPERIENCES, LIKE A PLACE LIKE
WILDROCK, WHERE YOU CAN AND
REALLY SPEND AN ENTIRE DAY AND
IMMERSE IN NATURE AND NATURE
PLAY AND FREE PLAY.
AND AT THE TIPPY TOP OF THAT
PYRAMID IS THE SORT OF
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
WHERE YOU DISCONNECT FROM
SOCIETY ALL TOGETHER FOR A TWO
WEEK PERIOD.
AND SO TIM BEATLEY'S PYRAMID
JUST SORT OF GIVES YOU A DAILY
REMINDER OF INCORPORATING NATURE
THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY, THROUGHOUT
YOUR WEEK, THROUGHOUT YOUR
MONTH, THROUGHOUT YOUR YEAR.
>> TERRI: YEAH.
>> MICHEL ANN: YUMMY.
OKAY.
WHAT'S NEXT?
>> MAGGIE: I HAD LOTS OF FUN
WITH THE KIDS THERE.
AND I SHARED WITH THE KIDS IN
MUD KITCHEN.
I WAS MAKING SOME SOUP.
SOUP.
>> MARY: WILDROCK'S THIS MUCH
FUN.
>> MICHEL ANN: SHE CAME IN THE
MORNING TALKING ABOUT EXCITED
SHE WAS WHEN SHE WOKE UP BECAUSE
SHE KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO
WILDROCK.
AND I AM SURE WHEN WE GET BACK
THIS AFTERNOON, THAT'S ALL THEY
ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.
WHAT THEY DID WITH THE STREAM,
WITH THE ANIMALS.
HOW THEY GOT TO DRESS UP AND
JUST THE EXCITEMENT OF THE DAY.
>> SHELIA: EDUCATING THE WHOLE
CHILD IS A HUGE PIECE OF OUR
MISSION BECAUSE WE ARE NOT JUST
TAKING CARE OF THEIR BRAIN.
WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THEIR
GROSS MOTOR DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND WHAT
BETTER WAY TO DO THAT THEN
THROUGH THEIR PLAY SKILLS IN THE
NATURAL WILDERNESS, SO TO SPEAK.
>> TERRI: WE ARE IN MARTHA'S
MEADOW, RIGHT?
>> SARAH: THIS IS MARTHA'S
MEADOW AT WILDROCK.
>> TERRI: SO TELL US JUST REALLY
QUICKLY WHY IT IS CALLED
MARTHA'S MEADOW.
>> SARAH: SO MARTHA'S MEADOW WAS
NAMED IN HONOR OF A CLOSE FRIEND
OF CAROLYNN SKYER, AND CAROLYNN
SKYLER IS OUR FOUNDER AND
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
AND HER CLOSE FRIEND MARTHA
RUSSELL WAS JUST CONNECTED SO
DEEPLY TO NATURE AND CHILDREN
AND COMMUNITY AND FAMILY, AND AS
SHE WAS BATTLING OVARIAN CANCER,
CAROLYNN WAS IN THE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS OF WILDROCK.
AND SO CAROLYNN REALLY WANTED
WILDROCK TO BE A PLACE NOT ONLY
THAT MARTHA COULD BE HONORED AT
THE END OF HER LIFE, BUT ALSO TO
CREATE A SPACE WHERE MARTHA'S
TWO DAUGHTERS COULD HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND FEEL
THAT CONNECTION TO THEIR MOTHER.
>> TERRI: OH.
SHE WOULD LOVE THIS.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
DIFFERENT STATIONS THAT YOU
HAVE.
SO RIGHT HERE WE HAVE, IT'S SORT
A LITTLE ANIMAL DOCTOR'S OFFICE
RIGHT?
>> SARAH: THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S OUR WILDLIFE RESCUE
CENTER.
AND PART OF NATURE PLAY THAT WE
HAVE HERE AT WILDROCK IS REALLY
HONING IN ON THAT SOCIAL
EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND SO WE HAVE FOXES AND BROWN
BEARS AND DEER AND THE STUDENTS
CAN COME AND PRETEND THAT AND
ANIMAL HAS INJURED A LEG, OR HAS
INJURED A WING - SO THEY CAN
PRACTICE THOSE NURTURING SKILLS
THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT FOR EARLY
CHILD DEVELOPMENT.
>> TERRI: AND THEN YOU HAVE A
STREAM RUNNING THOUGH.
THE STREAM IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE
MOST POPULAR SPOTS.
THE KIDS ARE PRETENDING TO FISH,
THEY HAVE THEIR NETS.
>> SARAH: ABSOLUTELY.
>> TERRI: PLAYING IN THE MUD.
>> SARAH: WE'RE A CATCH AND
RELEASE STREAM HERE, SO WE MAKE
SURE WE OBSERVE THE FISH AND
THEN RELEASE THEM BACK INTO THE
STREAM.
ON BEAUTIFUL DAYS IT'S HARD TO
GET THE KIDS OUT OF THE WATER
FOR SURE.
>> TERRI: OH I BET.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT ELSE IS HERE?
>> SARAH: SO WE HAVE A CREATION
STAGE WHERE THE CHILDREN CAN
PLAY DRESS UP.
AND YOU CAN PUT ON A PAIR OF
BUTTERFLY WINGS OR A FOXTAIL.
AND IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THEM
REALLY TRANSFORMING THEMSELVES
AND THEIR PLAY.
>> TERRI: AND THEY LOVE THE
SALAMANDER, IT'S THE BIGGEST,
LARGEST SALAMANDER I HAVE EVER
SEEN.
>> SARAH: IT'S AMAZING, SO THE
SALAMANDER IS IN THE CENTER OF
OUR LOG OBSTACLE COURSE BECAUSE,
OBVIOUSLY, GROSS MOTOR PLAY IS
SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT
WE DO HERE AT WILDROCK AND
NATURE PLAY IN GENERAL AND THE
SALAMANDER IS ALWAYS A HUGE HIT.
>> TERRI: YOU HAVE A BARN HERE
SO THERE ARE ACTIVITIES INSIDE
AS WELL, THAT ALL RELATE TO
NATURE.
TELL US ABOUT A FEW OF THOSE.
>> SARAH: SO WE WERE SO LUCKY TO
HAVE BUILDING GOODNESS
FOUNDATION COME AND DO SO MUCH
OF OUR CONSTRUCTION HERE AT
WILDROCK.
THEY DID A LOT OF THE WORK
INSIDE THE BARN AND CREATED A
REALLY AMAZING SPACE FOR US TO
BRING LOOSE PARTS PLAY INTO OUR
PROGRAMMING HERE AT WILDROCK.
>> TERRI: SO WHAT IS LOOSE
PARTS PLAY?
>>SARAH: LOOSE PARTS PLAY IS
A REALLY IMPORTANT FACET OF
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S WHEN YOU GIVE CHILDREN
LOOSE PARTS.
IT COULD BE STICKS AND ROCKS AND
PINE CONES AND BRANCHES AND AS
MANY NATURAL MATERIALS AS YOU
CAN FIND.
AND THEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
THE BEST PART IS THAT IT BUILDS
CONFIDENCE.
BECAUSE WITH LOOSE PARTS PLAY
THERE IS NO WRONG WAY TO PLAY.
>> CARLENE: DID YOU COME TO COOK
SOME FOOD?
COME ON UP, WE ARE MAKING
DIFFERENT SORTS OF STUFF TODAY.
>> SHELIA: I THINK IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR OUR CHILDREN TO BE
ABLE TO GET OUTSIDE OF THEIR
HOME ENVIRONMENT, THE
CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY PROPER
AREA.
AND REALIZE THAT THERE ARE
MOUNTAINS JUST OUTSIDE OF THEIR
BACKYARDS, SO TO SPEAK.
AND THE WORLD IS BIGGER THAN
THEIR STREET OR THEIR APARTMENT
COMPLEX OR THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> ARDEN: PLAY ON THE
SALAMANDER.
>> MARY: I WAS BUILDING
SANDCASTLES.
>> MICA: I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM
GET SO ACTIVE.
USING THE NETS AND TRYING TO
CATCH THINGS, HE USUALLY ISN'T
INTERESTED IN STUFF LIKE THAT,
SO IT WAS GOOD TO SEE HIM DO
THAT AND INTERACT WITH ALL THE
OTHER KIDS.
>> TERRI: SO TODAY WE ARE SEEING
PRESCHOOLERS, BUT YOU HAVE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, YOU
HAVE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, YOU
HAVE SENIORS AND THEN YOU HAVE
BUSINESSES THAT COME THROUGH AND
THEY HAVE ECO-THERAPY RETREATS.
>> SARAH: ONE OF MY FAVORITE
PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HERE IS
WHEN SENIORS COME FROM THE MARY
WILLIAM'S SENIOR CENTER.
THEY HAVE PLAY TRAY ACTIVITIES
WHERE THEY ARE GIVEN NATURAL
MATERIALS WHERE THEY CAN CREATE
EXPRESSIVE ART.
WE OFTEN TRY TO SCHEDULE THOSE
VISITS FOR THE SAME TIME THAT A
PRESCHOOL VISIT IS GOING ON,
BECAUSE THE INTERACTION OF TWO
GROUPS FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE
AGE SPECTRUM IS JUST SO
BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH GROUPS.
>> TERRI: YEAH,
INTER-GENERATIONAL FREE PLAY.
>> SARAH: ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
>> TERRI: THAT'S FANTASTIC, YOU
CAN'T BEAT THAT.
AND THEN TALK ABOUT -- I MEAN WE
HAVE LOCAL NONPROFITS AND
BUSINESSES WHO COME OUT HERE AND
THIS IS WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR
RETREATS.
>> SARAH: SO ONE OF THE THINGS
WE A REALLY COMMITTED TO IS
ENSURING THAT THE SOCIAL
SERVICES PROVIDERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY ARE TAKING THE TIME TO
FOCUS ON THEIR OWN SELF-CARE.
SO WE WELCOME GROUPS, LOCAL
NONPROFITS, THE STAFF THEMSELVES
TO COME OUT FOR RETREAT AND TO
SHARE THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCES
AND TO SHARE THEIR CHALLENGES,
SELF-CARE HERE IN NATURE.
WE'VE WORKED WITH, BIG BROTHERS
BIG SISTERS, AND SARA WHICH IS
THE SEXUAL ASSAULT RESEARCH
AGENCY, AND THE WOMEN'S
INITIATIVE.
>> TERRI: WILDROCK IS OPEN TO
THE PUBLIC TOO.
YOU HAVE SET HOURS AND YOU HAVE
TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT RIGHT?
>> SARAH: SO WE ARE OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR ON
SATURDAYS AND THEN THROUGHOUT
THE SUMMER ON MONDAYS,
WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS.
AND THE REASON WE REQUIRE
RESERVATIONS IS BECAUSE WE WANT
WILDROCK TO KEEP THAT WIDE OPEN
WILD AND FREE FEELING, BUT OUR
ADMISSION IS PAY WHAT YOU CAN,
BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT COST TO
EVER BE AN OBSTACLE IN
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES COMING
OUT AND ENJOYING THE NATURE
PROGRAMMING THAT WE OFFER HERE
AT WILDROCK.
>> TERRI: AND I KNOW YOU HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOT OF THE
WORK HERE DONE THROUGH BAMA
WORKS, GRANTS.
YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERS, TALK ABOUT
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THE
COMMUNITY BEING BEHIND THIS.
>> SARAH: THIS HAS BEEN SUCH A
LABOR OF LOVE FOR HUNDREDS OF
VOLUNTEERS.
I MENTIONED BUILDING GOODNESS,
UVA AND LOCAL CHURCH GROUPS AND
ALSO ALL OF OUR MATERIALS INSIDE
THE BARN HAVE BEEN DONATED BY
VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE JUST REALLY
SHARED THEIR STRENGTHS AND THEIR
CREATIVITY AND THEIR PASSION FOR
PROVIDING THIS NATURE EXPERIENCE
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF
OUR COMMUNITY.
>> CARLENE: IS IT ECHOING?
GO HELLO -- HELLO.
>> MICHEL ANN: OH, THEY ARE
CREATING, THEY ARE EXPLORING,
THEY ARE ENJOYING AND THEY ARE
JUST LOVING NATURE.
>> MICA: IT'S DIFFERENT FOR ME.
I'M A CITY GIRL.
SO I LIKED IT A LOT, GETTING A
LITTLE BIT DIRTY IS FUN.
BUT, YEAH, JUST INTERACTING WITH
EVERYBODY HAS BEEN A GOOD DAY.