Your Child and Nature Have Been
Waiting for Each Other.
Five lessons of story, song, and elemental adventure for children and their adults.
Watch a child with a puddle. Or a stick. Or a roly-poly discovered under a stone. They don’t need to be taught wonder. They already carry it.
What they need is time. Presence.
An adult who will slow down and look with them, make up stories, lie in the grass, and say: this world is alive, and you belong to it.
Children’s Adventure: Kinship with Nature gives you the structure, the ideas, and the activities to make that happen — a little goes a long way.
What’s Inside the Course
Five lessons, each built around one of the great elements of life: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. Each lesson includes:
Sharifa brings circle time to life — story, song, and movement for your child
Song lyrics to print and sing along together
The story source, with a link to order the book
Practical activities: outdoor play, crafts, foraging, art, and more
A curated picture book list
Suggestions for making a Sacred Space and Gratitude Bundles together
The course also includes:
A guide to outdoor movement and child development
Natural bug solutions, so fear of critters doesn’t keep you from the green world
A curated fairy tale list with age-appropriate guidance
Personal reflections on Nature connection for children with disabilities
The Five Lessons at a Glance
Lesson 1: Earth and Minerals. Get your hands in the soil. Find a stone that wants to come home with you. Make something magical from mud and clay.
Lesson 2: Water and Plants. Go out in the rain. Adopt a tree buddy. Plant seeds and sing to them. Learn to forage something small.
Lesson 3: Fire and Animals. Light a candle at dinner. Put up a bird feeder. Find your child’s animal guide. Make something beautiful with beeswax.
Lesson 4: Air and Humans. Dance with ribbons in the wind. Tell stories about heroes. Celebrate the gifts your child already carries.
Lesson 5: Ether and Unseen Beings. Build fairy houses. Talk with the weather. Make room at bedtime for the angels. Celebrate the unity of all life.
Giving Back
This course is offered as a gift to families and educators everywhere.
Choose the amount that feels right for you.
Every enrollment helps us keep it accessible for those who need it most.
Your generosity makes it possible for more children to experience the magic of this work.
If you are able to give more, you are directly supporting a family that cannot.
To make a larger donation or support the work of ONE directly, visit our donation page or contact us at info@natureevolutionaries.com.
Ten percent of course revenue will also be shared with Lakota Waldorf School, an independent, non-sectarian, and tuition-free K-8 school. Lakota Waldorf School was founded in 1993 by parents from the Oglala Lakota Tribe.
This course was made possible by the generous support of the Margaret Jacobs’ Charitable Trust and the donated time and content of Sharifa Oppenheimer and April Thanhauser.
aBOUT sHARIFA
Sharifa Oppenheimer is a beloved Waldorf educator, author, and storyteller whose connection with the natural world is real, potent, and big enough to share.
When Sharifa tells a story, children (and adults) are transported. Her adult course “Kinship with Nature” has touched thousands of lives, and this children’s curriculum brings that same magic directly to your child. Her book, Rewilding the Human Heart, is a beautiful companion for the adults on this journey, too.
The mother of three grown sons and grandmother to many grandchildren, Sharifa now lives with her husband in an enchanted forest in Virginia, continuing to share her devotion to the sacred, relational nature of life.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to take the adult Kinship with Nature course first?
Not at all. This children’s curriculum stands completely on its own. That said, if it calls you deeper, you are warmly welcome to explore the adult course. You can check it out here.
What ages is this for?
The stories, songs, activities, and book lists are chosen to work across a wide range of ages. Most families with children between roughly 2 and 7 will find rich material here — and the fairy tale guide is organized specifically by age to help you choose well.
Do we need to be outdoors?
Being outside is at the heart of this curriculum, but most activities are adaptable. The course includes a full section for children with disabilities and notes on meeting every child where they are.
How long does each lesson take?
The videos are short, less than 15 minutes. The activities are open-ended: you might spend twenty minutes or a whole afternoon. There is no prescribed time, only an invitation to slow down and notice.
Can teachers and school groups use this?
Absolutely. Many activities are well-suited to classroom and school garden settings. Please reach out to us at info@natureevolutionaries with any questions.