Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Seiguer.
Hi Susan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Growing up in rural Virginia, my brother, sister, and cousins had a childhood of what is now considered “free range”. We were given opportunities daily to explore and come up with our own games. We would get lost in the woods, create stories, and always were a mess. My nickname as a child was ” Pigpen” for I always had sticks or leaves in my hair and was usually covered in dirt. After college my path was different and I worked in a law firm for many years. When I moved to California, I continued such work until the birth of my second child in 2007. At this time, I knew I wanted my children to have a childhood like I was given. So, I went back to school to learn more.
And so, it began in 2007, the beginning of All Friends Nature School. Not with the name at first, but it was there. Taking a smaller group of little ones out into nature and having days for muddy play and exploration. As a lifelong learner, I still craved more. So, I continued on my journey and went to the Academy of Forest Kindergarten Teachers and learned what I was doing was considered a ” Forest Kindergarten”.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This work is so humbling and so heart-opening. The road has not always been easy as with any new business. Lots of late nights and long days. Lots of learning curves.
Rainy days (yes it rains in Southern California) are still challenging. It is so dry here that we have to do risk assessments daily in our locations. Safety is always our number one priority.
But I must say even to this day this work gives me the most joy. There has never been a day that I don’t look forward to working with these little ones and their families.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Since 2007, All Friends Nature School has provided children and families with remarkable opportunities to form nature connections and build community.
The mission of All Friends Nature School is to foster the development of the whole child – physical, cognitive, emotional, and social – through use of a play, place, experiential and emergent curriculum. A natural environment offers the ideal setting wherein a child may grow and develop freely, with enthusiasm, confidence, and excitement.
By fostering the development of self-regulation, self-direction, and self-reflection, we provide children with the educational foundation that will support them for the rest of their lives. We value the relationship between parents, teachers, and our community and work to build these relationships so we can nurture the growth of children during this important developmental time.
We offer different programs during the year and love to build connections with our community.
We are rooted in nature connections and hold intentional space for all children to come and grow with us.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
There are many books, apps, and podcasts that we love, these are just a few Books:
Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children Paperback –
by Angela J. Hanscom
A Year of Forest School: Outdoor Play and Skill-building Fun for Every Season by Jane Worroll and Peter Houghton
Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens: The Handbook for Outdoor Learning
by David Sobel
Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature Paperback –
by Jon Young
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
by Richard Louv
Sharing Nature with Children, 20th Anniversary Edition Paperback
by Joseph Cornell
Tell Me a Story: Stories from the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America
by Louise deForest editor (Author), Deborah Grieder
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Resources:
https://www.caforestschools.org/home
https://wenurturecollective.com/
https://www.wildrootsschool.org/
http://www.berkeleyforestschool.org/
https://www.parkspluscreation.com/spire-school
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allfriendsnatureschool.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allfriendsnatureschool/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allfriendsnatureschool
