April 23, 2024

101: Therapeutic Forest School: Perspectives on Nature-Based Wellness with Tamara Wineland from AdventureME & Trek Outdoors

40 minutes

This episode is an Outdoor Classrooms Tour and Talk with Tamara Wineland from AdventureME and Trek Outdoors. A licensed micro-forest and nature school serving children ages 3-5 in Black Forest, CO. Their approach is not an unsupervised free-for-all, but a behind-the-scenes facilitation of exploration and learning. They use a blended pedagogy that allows children to form their own understanding of their world and their place in it with a focus on healthy and authentic development which builds self-confidence and teaches them to be respectful of themselves and others. In this episode learn why they are really proud to be a part of the Black Forest and how they take every advantage to develop socially, emotionally, and academically within this community. So while they have 10 acres to play on, they will occasionally venture out for a field trip to continue to make connections across these developmental areas in their traveling classroom BUS.

Meet Tamara:

As a mom of 3 boys, one with a rare congenital heart defect, Tamara Wineland sought alternative approaches to education, health, and well-being early on. She stumbled upon the forest school model in 2009 during her research in her Master’s studies and was immediately drawn to the pedagogy. In 2020, she started AdventureMe Forest and Nature School in Colorado Springs, CO. upon completing immersive experiences and training with various programs throughout the United States. The noticeable benefits of time spent in nature for ALL children, and especially those identifying with additional needs, led her on a path of discovery as she trained and worked to launch a program in 2022 integrating therapies and play in a peer-supported outdoor environment. Today, Tamara serves as founder and visionary of TREK Outdoors and continues her work with the AdventureMe Forest School.

Contact Tamara: