In the Summer of 2020, Charissa Waters called her friend Lindsey Rhodes Wonder. She had just been laid off at her environmental protection and ecology job with the State due to COVID. Lindsey was in her closet going through old music curriculums she used to teach. Charissa told her it was time they started up their school. Four years later, their school has morphed into something even bigger, the nonprofit Community Nature Foundation.
From LLC to 501(c)3: The Community Nature Foundation is Opening Doors for Local Kids and Teachers
At the height of COVID, Charissa, Lindsey, and a group of parents and professionals gathered together to start a school that could combat the side effects of social distancing. “We were concerned about how the pandemic impacted children’s development, mental health, emotional well-being and social skills,” shares Charissa, president of the Community Nature Foundation. “We wholeheartedly believe that outdoor education is the best way to learn and allow for healthy social interactions, boost immune systems and overall well-being, as well as build character and resiliency.”
So they developed a 100% outdoor school – one that not only met their personal goals of getting kids outside and learning about the environment and conservation, but also met requirements so they didn’t have to wear masks. “For the social-emotional development of little children, they need to be able to see their teachers’ faces and see each other’s faces,” explains Lindsey, Community Nature Foundation vice president and program director. “So, when we opened, we were able to do this all outdoor school without masking. And it was amazing.”
Just a year later, in 2021, they decided to move from an LLC, to a nonprofit, which allowed them to purchase another piece of forest near their school. Their mission now encompasses not just outdoor education, but conservation as well – to protect urban forests from development.
“There were no other land trusts or conservation organizations in the area that would help us protect this small but mighty community forest,” explains Charissa. “We developed Community Nature Foundation and Fern Gully Forest School to provide equal access to nature-based learning opportunities and organize community events and regenerative projects on the neighborhood scale.”
Community Nature Foundation purchased a forest parcel near their current property with a loan from the Washington Community Reinvestment Association. The piece has Indian Creek running through it, which has allowed students to learn about the importance of watersheds and water ecosystems.
Being a nonprofit has opened other doors as well. Community Nature Foundation can partner with outside teachers who want to teach after-school classes in the Olympia School District, for example.
Olympia Outdoor School and Conservation
The Community Nature Foundation offers preschool/early learning options, programs for homeschoolers and after-school classes, which happen at both their property and at nearby Olympia School District schools.
A lot of their program revolves around sustainability and conservation and restoration efforts. They teach kids about plant identification and edible native plants used for medicine and other purposes. Kids learn about ecosystems while being instilled with a love for nature. At the same time, they work on restoration by removing invasive species, picking up trash and planting and creating garden spaces.
“We also have fun community events that incorporate sustainability practices and education while raising funds for conservation,” adds Charissa. “Our forest school and youth character-building programs help kids to connect with the wisdom and medicine in nature and learn how to take better care of each other and the earth. We are cultivating a culture of kindness and care!”
Their school is made up of small groups to make sure each child thrives. “This encourages a close connection to the land, to the other children and to the teachers,” explains Charissa. “We are outdoor all-weather nature immersion education that is holistic, child-centered and learner-led. We allow children to develop themselves through healthy engagement with risk, problem-solving, creativity and self-discovery in a hands-on manner. We are a unique hybrid, Montessori and Waldorf-inspired, forest school with unstructured play that allows children the freedom to explore, assess risks, be creative and discover without predetermined rules. It’s been shown to foster cognitive development while boosting social and emotional learning.”
For homeschoolers, parents can choose the schedule that works for their family including time of day and how many days a week.
As a nonprofit, they are also able to offer a sliding scale for tuition, making it affordable to as many as possible. “We are also working on being able to receive state assistance to serve even more minority and low-income families,” adds Charissa.
Preserving More Olympia Forest
The Community Nature Foundation is currently hoping to purchase another parcel that would connect their two current ones. The acre is owned by a development company and is on the market for $175,000.
“This beloved part of the forest includes the big legacy cedar trees in the grove where the kids play and learn every day and where we create our solstice spiral walk each winter,” shares Charissa. “It is vital for wildlife habitat and connectivity on the corridor that connects with a wetland and Indian creek. As a small legacy forest in the city, it provides numerous invaluable ecosystem services as well, such as carbon sequestration, water filtration and other recreational and cultural values.”
You can help by donating via the Community Nature Foundation website and keep a look out for fundraising opportunities! Want to volunteer? As a nonprofit, they have volunteer opportunities including restoration and education programs. “We have community gardens and other projects we can always use help with,” Lindsey says. “We need to finish the fence and play area at the new community nature center before we can fully expand and begin having homeschool enrichment programs and other classes there.”
Getting outside is important for everyone’s health – but especially for growing kids. In an age where traditional schools have shorter recesses and kids spend all their time indoors in front of screens, the Community Nature Foundation offers an alternative – 100% outdoor education. Want to schedule a tour, learn about becoming a partner teacher or enroll your child? Contact them today to set up an appointment via the Community Nature Foundation website.
