Education Programs
“Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the Earth.”
Taproot is an organization in which relationships are developed – with our food, with the environment, and with each other. Early experiences in nature are precursors to caring for the environment as adults. This can be as simple as walking in the woods or growing our own food. From younger years, Taproot believes activities such as unstructured, imaginative play in nature, gardening, and lovingly preparing wholesome, nutritious meals should be a critical component of education. Additionally, spending time immersed in nature as adolescents and young adults allows us to form life-long relationships with the natural world.
With a focus on food systems and the environment, our agricultural and ecological based education programs get children outside – into the fields and forests, mountains and crags, rivers and streams, farms and gardens – the geography of their childhood that connects them to place. Our slow education model engages children in outdoor learning by encouraging discovery, inspiring curiosity, and nurturing relationships.
outreach programs
We work with classroom teachers to provide meaningful learning experiences beyond the classroom walls by taking children outside to explore nature and dig in the garden.
“Farm and Forest Fridays is my child’s favorite thing about school. ‘It’s the best thing ever in the whole week’. I think this is a great program for the kids!”
Summer Camps
Children 4 to 12 years old are unplugged and immersed in nature, spending their days outdoors gardening and exploring the field, forest, stream, and wetland habitats of our Jefferson campus.
“Camp was above and beyond what I expected. She had a wonderful time and is still talking about it! She will be back next year!
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