Trout lily empanadas, close encounters with deer, epic backyard shelters, intricate nature mandalas—the digital format didn’t stop our Wild Ways Teen Program from getting wild! Teens became instructors, creating videos of how to make face paint with natural pigments, how to make cordage, and a series on fine-dining camp cooking!
We started each Zoom call with gratitude and as the weeks went by at home, a theme emerged: After the initial boredom and frustration, teens shared how being at home changed their relationships with their families, siblings, and in many cases, made them much more aware of day-by-day unfurling of spring and their connection to nature.
Teens were highly attuned to the wild edibles growing and new bird songs emerging from the trees. Even more exciting, over the weeks, students shared a newfound inspiration and self-motivation to explore; instead of waiting for prompts from parents or teachers, they realized they could initiate nature connection—by learning a new craft, taking a walk, or spending a night sleeping under the stars. Students used this energy to craft the most beautiful “Wild Spring Dining Zine,” each creating a hand-drawn entry about wild edibles they got to know.
The culmination of our semester was a solidarity solo camp out—each of us spent a night outdoors by ourselves cooking our own meal (many with foraged wild edibles!) and making shelter. The morning after our night sleeping outdoors, we got together on a call to process any fears that had come up, share what we learned about ourselves, and report on the the delicious things we cooked over the fire. We closed our semester with powerful words of gratitude. We are grateful for the curiosity and adaptability of students, which kept the embers of learning lit all semester long!
—JJ Luceno
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