08/25/2026
There’s a lot of learning happening on The Hills. And it started before anyone climbed them.
Before students were given the opportunity to explore and play here, we completed a risk assessment together. We slowed down. We noticed. Students identified what could be risky, talked about what could happen, and considered the choices they could make to keep themselves—and one another—safe.
Then, they played.
Risky play is an important part of nature-based education. When children have opportunities to climb, balance, jump, navigate uneven ground, and test what their bodies can do, they’re developing more than physical skills. They’re learning to assess a situation, make decisions, solve problems, build confidence, recognize their own limits, and adjust when something doesn’t feel right.
Our goal isn’t to remove every risk from childhood. It’s to help children develop the judgment and awareness to navigate risk well.
On The Hills, that means we don’t simply tell students, “Be careful.”
We teach them how to notice. How to think. How to choose.
And then we give them room to practice. 🌿
