W.I.L.D. Programs

W.I.L.D. programs are Waskowitz learning experiences designed for times when school is not in session—professional development days, school breaks, weekends, evenings, and beyond. While these programs happen outside the traditional school day, they share the same mission, vision, and commitment to experiential, place-based learning that guide all Waskowitz programs.

What’s different?

W.I.L.D. expands the audience. These programs welcome kindergarteners through adults, creating opportunities for families, caregivers, and community members to learn alongside one another outside.

What Makes W.I.L.D. Unique

W.I.L.D. programs are grounded in curiosity, creativity, and action. Participants of all ages are invited to slow down, explore deeply, and engage with the natural world in meaningful, hands-on ways. Whether you’re joining us for a single day or a multi-day experience, W.I.L.D. programs emphasize connection—to place, to others, and to learning that lasts.

Programs range from:

• One-day experiences
• Multi-day programs
• Weekend and evening classes

W — Wonder

Spark curiosity and close observation of the natural world.
Participants are encouraged to slow down, notice details, ask questions, and develop a sense of awe and curiosity about the forest and the living things around them. Wonder is the starting point for deeper learning and connection.

I — Imagine

Foster creativity, imagination, and multiple ways of thinking.
Through creative exploration, participants consider how place, culture, art, and lived experience shape the ways we understand and relate to nature. There is space for curiosity, storytelling, and seeing the forest—and ourselves—from new perspectives.

L — Learn

Support experiential, place-based learning through hands-on discovery.
Learning happens through doing, observing, and reflecting together. Participants build understanding of ecological concepts, relationships, and systems rooted in the local environment, using the forest as both classroom and teacher.

D — Do

Encourage action, collaboration, and confidence.
Participants practice skills, work collaboratively, take risks, and apply what they’ve discovered through movement, exploration, problem-solving, and care for the natural world. W.I.L.D. programs empower learners to act with confidence and intention.