Our first week of Forest School is finished. I was scared. Truly.
When my incredible child care licensor first visited my home over three years ago, she looked around and said, “You seem like you’d be a great candidate for an Outdoor Nature-Based license.” I blinked. That’s a thing? I had no idea. After she left, I started researching — and what I found felt like home. Washington is a pioneer in licensing Outdoor Nature-Based Programs. How cool is that? That moment planted a seed, and I’ve been working toward this vision ever since.
So now that it’s real — actually happening — it’s been surprisingly scary. I care deeply about this work. I have a clear and intentional vision for what I want to create. But even so, stepping into something new is vulnerable.
And that’s exactly why our theme this week is the courage to try something new.
Each child in our program — and their families — are doing something new right alongside me. And already, we’re witnessing something beautiful: children lighting up with joy. They’re exploring, connecting, creating. It reminds me why we’re here. It brings me back to that original vision: joyful living.
At Riverside Forest School, our mission is just that:
Building a foundation for joyful lives.
But what does that look like in practice? How do we help children preserve the joy of childhood — and build the tools to carry it with them into the future? We have a few ideas.
Community
Research shows that close-knit communities lead to longer, healthier, happier lives. We’re cultivating that here — across ages, families, and years. Children who “age out” of our program can return as volunteers, mentors, or even interns. We want to create lifelong belonging.
Our daily rhythms are shaped by the unique children we serve. We listen. We adapt. We connect not only with each child, but also with the families they come from. This is a place where you can come as you are, feel seen, heard, and supported.
We also want to prepare children to exist joyfully in all communities — by modeling kindness and respect, guiding them through healthy conflict resolution, and helping them recognize how to care for themselves and others.
Mindset
We approach mindfulness in a developmentally appropriate way: inviting children to explore where they feel emotions in their bodies, noticing their breath as both a guide and a tool, and making space to quiet their minds — even if just for a moment.
We practice gratitude. We reflect. We celebrate progress, not perfection. These aren’t just nice ideas — they are the building blocks of resilience and optimism. And that’s essential for a joy-filled life.
Physical Activity
Children need to move. Their brains, bodies, and emotions thrive with active outdoor play. And it’s not just about exercise — it’s about discovery, challenge, and freedom.
Outdoor play supports better sleep, improved focus, and healthier regulation. Whether we’re climbing, running, building, or simply exploring, we’re honoring what children’s bodies need to grow well.
Self-Acceptance
Here, children are invited to show up exactly as they are. There’s no pressure to fit a mold. We honor sensory needs, emotional cycles, and different ways of engaging.
We teach children to name their feelings without shame, to recognize their strengths without comparison, and to trust that their way of being is valid. When a child learns to love and accept themselves just as they are, they’re building a foundation that can weather anything.
Self-acceptance doesn’t mean staying the same forever — it means believing you are enough, even as you grow. And that is joyful living.
Connection to Nature
When children build a relationship with the natural world, they aren’t just becoming future stewards of the Earth — they’re becoming happier humans.
Nature offers rhythm, beauty, and grounding. It helps us slow down. Regulate. Reflect. It reminds us that we are part of something bigger — and that we belong. When we explore the forest, observe the seasons, and care for living things, we are practicing presence and cultivating awe.
Nature doesn’t rush us. It meets us where we are. That’s a powerful model for how we can meet children, too.
We are only one week in, but already, the joy is tangible. Children are laughing, learning, and connecting. Parents are showing up with trust and curiosity. And I’m standing in the forest — sometimes still a little scared — but mostly full of awe.
Thank you for being on this journey with us.
With so much gratitude,
Cameo
Founder, Riverside Forest School
Riverside Forest School 
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