120 Minutes

By Alex O’Brien

“The best classroom and the richest classroom is roofed only by the sky.”
– Margret McMillian, Pioneer of Early Childhood Education 

As our country, state, and community begins shutting down and the practice of ‘social distancing’ becomes part of our new normal, I was reminded of a recent study out of the European Centre for Environment & Human Health at the University of Exeter, which found that just 120 minutes in nature a week can promote a strong sense of physical and emotional well being. This goal seems to be something we should consider as we plan out our days working from home and learning remotely.

For those children lucky enough to call the Island home, it feels important to remind parents that there are over 200 miles of trails on the Island for you and your child to explore thanks to Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, other land conservation groups, and the State. To help you and your child get through this time, we have created several learning activities to help extend their education and support their emotional well being by encouraging outdoor exploration. 

Important Information: while we are encouraging you and your family to go outside, it’s important that you still follow the CDC, local, and state guidelines. If you or a family member has tested positive for Covid-19, we ask you to remain quarantined. 

 

  • Nature Scavenger Hunt
  • 5-4-3-2-1 Poem
  • Art Supply Gathering and Creating

 

Alex O’Brien is an Elementary Reading Specialist at the Fessenden School in West Newton, Massachusetts.  She has been lucky enough to spend every summer of her life on the Vineyard and after over 30 summers spent on-island she feels comfortable enough calling this island, ‘home.’  When not hiking the trails of Cedar Tree Neck or swimming at a local beach, you can find Alex at Beetlebung Farm where she has the good fortune of pursuing her passion for regenerative agriculture and the development of an equitable and sustainable food system.