Coming Home to the Village
“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.”
- Gary Snyder
Yesterday was our first day back at Kindy on the Sunshine Coast - and we were absolutely blown away by the turnout from our community.
Rarely have we experienced a first week like this - our session was fully booked with old and new friends braving the mud to gather in circle once more.
Down the muddy path we went, past Grandma Fig, over the fallen log, and around the mat, hands and voices raised in song as we greeted the forest.
It’s always magical - but this day was extra.
Maybe it was the anticipation of waiting so long to return to kindy - a whole seven weeks had passed since we said goodbye at the end of Term 4.
But there was something more…
Homecoming - that’s the word I’m looking for.
There was a sense of homecoming, even for families who were joining us for the first time.
Some families had ventured into other realms for a term or two, taking time off to birth a new family member or explore other activities.
Some families came for a casual visit towards the end of last year, and had now returned to journey with us through a whole term.
Others arrived a little lost and seeking guidance, as the reality that their little ones were not coping with the return-to-school sank in. They looked around and found themselves on the threshold of the great unknown of homeschooling, looking for alternative pathways for themselves and their children - and feeling overwhelmed and confused about how to proceed.
Every family has a story - and every story led them to the forest, back to our roots, back to a village which is centred around the wellbeing of our children.
But it’s not just about the kids…
Families hold children, and communities hold families.
The forest, our Mother Earth, holds communities.
We are all held in a lateral web of interdependent relationships.
The forest thrives when we give it our loving attention and care.
Communities thrive when families show up with open hearts and a willingness to listen.
Families thrive when children are safely nestled in a network of relationships with fellow adults who have the capacity to give our kids the focus and attention they crave.
And when children are happy, families glow, which makes communities glow.
When we feel like we belong then our cups are filled, and we can give back to the earth in ways that matter.
It sounds so natural - and that’s because it is.
It’s a way of relating to each other and the earth that doesn’t require conscious thought - we sink into it with the muscle memory of a species who have been evolving in villages since our earliest days.
That’s why we can start the day as strangers - and leave feeling as though we know each other.
Because we belong together in nature…
With our children half-covered in mud, with shoulders to lean on, rewilding and revillaging.
Here, in the dappled shade of the forest, faces upturned in wonder and hearts full with the beauty of it all.
Here, we are home.
As we closed our first kindy session of the year, this was the feeling in everyone’s heart.
We gathered around basecamp for our gratitude circle, and when the kids were finished thanking the mud, the puddles, the friends and the trees, parents were invited to share what they were grateful for…
Community
Connection with like-minded people
Coming back to this space
Reconnecting with old friends
The forest
Sunshine
Meanwhile, two of our youngest Wildlings clambered half nude over the tree roots, as their mummas watched on with love in their eyes seeing their daughters barefoot on the earth, growing up in the embrace of a village centred around reconnecting to nature.
It’s just magical.
This is the world we dream of, right here.
This is our homecoming.
There’s a reason why it takes a village
The African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child", is as true today as it has ever been. However, many parents find themselves raising their children without a village in sight (despite being surrounded by people). In many places, the importance of human connection has been lost - but it's not forgotten.
"It takes a village" encapsulates the profound truth that raising children is not solely the responsibility of parents, but rather a collective effort involving the support and involvement of the broader community.
This proverb highlights the significance of interdependence and the invaluable role that neighbours, friends, teachers, mentors, and extended family members play in nurturing the next generation.
A strong and supportive community provides children with diverse role models, additional sources of guidance and wisdom, and a sense of belonging beyond the nuclear family unit.
Moreover, when families feel supported by their community, they are better equipped to navigate the challenges and joys of parenthood, fostering resilience, connection, and a shared sense of responsibility for the well-being of all children.
Ultimately, the notion of "it takes a village" underscores the profound impact of collective care and collaboration in creating a nurturing environment where children can thrive and families can flourish.
you don’t have to go it alone
If reading this has struck a chord with you, and you find yourself filled with yearning for a village to call your own, we have good news.
There’s still space for you to join us this term at forest school.
Join us as we gather in the wild places of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast to play, explore, learn and connect with nature.
Together, we are co-creating spaces that foster deep relationships and ongoing networks of support.
You don’t have to go it alone - the hardest part is just getting out the front door!
Click here to learn more about our forest kindy, playgroup and homeschool programs and secure your spot today.