Academy in the Wild coming back in the fall

Posted on August 11, 2023 by admin

By Kenyon Stronski
Westwind Weekly News

Programs in Magrath for Academy in the Wild will be returning this fall on Sept. 14. 

On their webpage, Academy in the Wild says, “Despite the countless research that tells parents how good it is for their children to spend time playing outside, they are spending more time indoors than ever before. We are such a risk averse society that often children are wrapped in cotton wool to ensure they come to no hard, but this also denies them so much growth.”

As a result, the program believes children need to take some risks so they can start to explore their true potential and confidence. 

“Yes you can get hurt from climbing a tree or hammering nails and running at high speeds through the woods. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it; the lessons we learn from failure are just as important, if not more, than what we can learn from success.”

Academy in the Wild introduces kids and families to the concept of ‘risky play’ which they say is natural for all kids as it is a thrilling and exciting activity. They admit that while it does involve some risk for physical injuries, “it is play that provides opportunities for challenge, testing limits, exploring boundaries and learning about injury risk.”

They say the benefits of this risky play has been acclaimed throughout the world as imperative to raising a mentally healthy child. 

Academy in the Wild schools are focused on encouraging unstructured outdoor play. This allows children to play at heights, running fast through the woods, playing through all weather and with tools under supervision and with elements. 

“All outdoor play has its inherent risks of falling, cuts and bruises, sun exposure, and most minor injuries; we support opportunities for risk in children’s play. We also maintain our duty of care to children and families. We do this through working with and empowering children to listen to their bodies, and work with them to understand, assess and mitigate risk themselves. 

Beginning Sept. 14 the camp will run from 12:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Thursdays for 10 weeks.