Davis Forest School

At the beginning of this school year, we asked our teens what they wanted more of.

Their answer was simple: challenge.

What we’ve learned alongside them is that young people are often capable of far more than we give them credit for. They want opportunities to discover their strengths, find their edges, contribute meaningfully, and be seen for what they can do.

This past weekend, a group of our teens gathered for a rites-of-passage camping trip as their final journey together this year. For 36 hours, each teen was invited to camp solo — like spokes extending from a central hearth — tending their own fire through day and night.

We gathered on a beautiful 60-acre property in Nevada City. Our stewardship commitment to the land was to help reduce accumulated fuel by tending and burning piles of debris throughout the weekend. Under the light of the blue moon, surrounded by oak and pine forest, we felt deeply connected to both the work and the place.

When the solo ended, families were there to welcome their teens back.

The experience was physically demanding, emotionally stretching, and deeply moving. It reminded us why rites of passage matter. In a culture that offers few meaningful thresholds into adulthood, young people are hungry for experiences that ask something of them, and that honor who they are becoming.

Growth asks us to put ourselves out there. To have courage. To risk something. To step beyond our comfort zone. To allow ourselves to be held by community while discovering our own strength.

We hope to continue creating opportunities for this kind of challenge, reflection, nature immersion, and reverence for youth. These experiences leave a lasting imprint, inviting young people to meet themselves in a new way.

May we continue to trust our youth.

And may we allow this work to change us, too.

—

Special thanks for Jason Spencer for hosting us this weekend, and to facilitators Natascha, Jenna, Kevin, and Ariana for helping make this weekend possible.

Here are some pages from Forest Mentor Becky’s nature journal. She only started nature journaling a few months ago and never considered herself an artist before this. Becky has been such an inspiration to both staff and children — a reminder that we can all start where we are, stay curious, and surprise ourselves along the way.

“Nature journaling has become one of my favorite nature connection routines because it helps me tune in to all the tiny details of the space around me and to tap in to the endless curiosities I have. I feel so much more connected to myself, the land, and the relationship between us when I have spent some time journaling.

I just want to validate that it can feel scary to start, but how powerful this routine can be!” — Becky

We took our Dragonfly Teen Naturalists backpacking to Loch Leven Lakes this past weekend — four strenuous miles in, and four miles back out.

We had no bathrooms and no comforts beyond what we could carry on our backs. Our motto was, “If we forgot it, we didn’t need it.” We had each other and alpine lakes, tired legs, smoky clothes, stunning views, and a pasta dinner that took 2.5 hours to cook over coals and a campfire.

We are so proud of these teens, of how much they’ve grown and challenged themselves over the past few years. This trip is usually the culmination of our year together, but for some of us, it’s also the beginning of the next challenge: a rites of passage camping trip next weekend.

More soon.

Today is Big Day of Giving! 🌹

Big Day of Giving is an annual fundraiser supporting nonprofits across the greater Sacramento region.

If you believe every child deserves equitable access to nature and land-based learning, we invite you to donate to DFS today.

Donations are open until 11:59pm tonight: https://www.bigdayofgiving.org/organization/Davis-Forest-School/

Thank you for helping us grow a connected, resilient community alongside so many inspiring nonprofits and community weavers. 💫

Late winter and early spring at DFS: butterflies all around, fire building, play in fog, epic tree climbing, all-day paddle boarding, hand-made rafts, and tulips made out of pistachio shells.

Keep on running into the light. 💫

Thank you to Forest Mentors Vanessa, Natascha, Jenna, Naomi, and Allison for the pics. ❤️

🌳 Due to popular demand, Connor is leading another Forest Bathing walk in Davis on Saturday, May 2nd from 9-11:30 am!

Join us for a restorative afternoon of Forest Bathing - a gentle, mindful practice that emphasizes slowing down, awakening our senses, and connecting with nature (and ourselves) on a deeper level.

Despite the name, Forest Bathing does not involve water or actual bathing. It is the practice of “bathing” in the atmosphere of the forest - immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, textures, and rhythms of the natural world.

During a Forest Bathing walk, you will be invited to use your senses to intimately explore the natural world in the presence of a supportive community of practitioners, led by Connor Rosenblatt, a certified guide in Forest Bathing and Forest Mentor at Davis Forest School.

🍃 Link to register can be found in our bio, under “Adult & Family Workshops”