NATURE TOTS (2 – 4 yrs)

Nature Tots will be a gentle, playful introduction to the Art and Wilderness Homestead at Woodside for our youngest explorers. Thoughtfully designed for toddlers and their caregivers, this is a low-pressure, nature-forward experience – a place to explore together outdoors. Here at the homestead, we center all our programs around “learn by doing.” When we approach the land as students- hands in soil, eyes lifted to the sky, senses fully awake- we begin to notice that creation is alive with meaning. The earth becomes a classroom of Allah’s ayät (signs), inviting reflection, gratitude, and awe.

Each gathering will begin with a warm welcome circle and some time with our rabbits, sheep and chickens. From there, we’ll enter the garden for an activity, enjoy a seasonal tasting table experience, and then go out on a petite adventure into the forest. Afterward, we’ll return to a closing circle with thikr and a goodbye song.

These moments nurture their fitrah-their natural inclination toward recognizing and loving their Creator. As they dig, plant, build, and taste, they join nature’s quiet chorus of dhikr, surrounded by a world that glorifies Allah in ways seen and unseen.

Through these embodied experiences, we also plant early seeds of care and compassion. Children begin to understand their role as khulafa’- stewards of the earth and its people- learning that tending the land and serving community is both a responsibility and an honor.

NATIVE FOODS CULINARY EXPLORATION

Step into the rhythm of the seasons with this three-part outdoor education series for the whole family, rooted in ancestral foodways and Islamic values of shukr (gratitude), amanah (stewardship), and mizan (balance). From September’s abundant harvest to October’s hands-on transformation and November’s preparation for rest, participants will explore what it truly means to live in relationship with the land. Together, we will gather, ferment, bake, preserve, and share food—reconnecting with time-honored traditions like sourdough, lacto-fermentation, herbal preparations, and open-fire cooking, all while reflecting on food as sacred rizq (provision).

Designed for all ages, this immersive series invites families to learn side by side through sensory-rich, hands-on experiences in nature. Children and adults alike will build practical skills in seasonal harvesting, food preservation, and ecological care, while engaging in storytelling, reflection, and simple outdoor living practices. Each session nurtures not only self-reliance and connection to the earth, but also a deeper awareness of our role as caretakers—honoring the cycles of creation with intention, humility, and joy.

ANIMAL AND SOIL FIELD STUDIES

Imagine a child as comfortable with soil as with technology, recognizing plants not through screens but through the tales told by leaves and roots.

Beyond conventional education, our programming offers a tactile journey where children learn the value of biodiversity, organic farming, and the roles within an ecosystem. They come to appreciate the sun, conserve water, and cherish the act of planting seeds that yield nourishment.