Roots Wildschool is a weekly nature playgroup for kids ages 2-6 and their caregivers. We meet outdoors, rain or shine, in the greater Anne Arundel county area of Maryland, to cultivate the joys of connecting with the natural world in community. Our home base park will change periodically but we will typically stay on the same site for an entire season. Kids will be able to observe seasonal changes, site-specific ecosystems and build more confidence within a single nature setting. We believe this will allow for a more immersive, profound and productive experience. 

We are a semi-structured child-led, nature-immersion program. We believe in unstructured free play and emergent learning. We offer activities (ie. here are some materials, what do you think you can make with them?) and introduce new concepts (ie. pointing out species of plants/fungi on a guided nature walk), but ultimately we take cues from the children and encourage them to follow their interests.

Spending time in nature is critical for our children's development. Research repeatedly shows the benefits of outdoor time for physical health, mental health and emotional wellness. If that’s not enough, here’s a list of 100 more reasons including better sleep, natural immunity, microbiome support, liver function, and so much more. 

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We didn’t set out to be nature enthusiasts when we became mothers. We didn’t know we’d be splashing through puddles with our kids on a chilly Fall day or joining meetups in the freezing temperatures of Winter. Didn’t know we’d be oozing our toes in mud on a sunny Summer day or laying in the middle of a Spring trail to watch a turtle cross. What did happen was we watched how being outside, exploring nature, and open-ended play completely transformed our children's lives. No book needed to tell us, no studies needed to show - we saw it with our own eyes. We hope to share the same enthusiasm for learning outside with kids that we now feel with you, alongside your own children.