OWLS: Outdoor Wilderness Learners

OWLS is expanding! Our third Tuesday class is full and we have a wait list, so we are opening a first Tuesday of the month class that currently has availability for 7 children. If you've been on the fence about joining us, summer is a great time to escape to the mountain and get outside! Reach out for details or to enroll!

A child’s neurological system is naturally designed to seek out the sensory input it needs at any given point in time. So if a child is spinning in circles, it is because they need this input. If they are jumping off a rock (over and over again!) — it is because they need this input.

Let them!

Resist the urge to cry out, “be careful” or “get down from there!”

When we continue to prevent children from moving in ways they were intended to move, then we become the barrier to healthy child development.

Hello and welcome to OWLS: Outdoor Wilderness Learners! OWLS is forest school, meets conservation and education, meets adventures in the natural world! My name is Kristy and I'm a military wife and homeschooling mom who guides the adventures! In the past, OWLS was a full day drop-off program but with the demand for family participation so high, I have decided to launch OWLS Family Academy which is a once a month nature excursion for the entire family! Our days will be spent immersed in the natural world all around the Las Vegas Valley and outlying areas. At OWLS your children (and you if you want!) will hike, run, jump, play in the sand (and maybe sometimes the mud!), find amazing rocks, learn about bees, insects, mammals, reptiles, birds, local plants, fossils, gardening, survival skills, native people groups, historical accounts, native and non-native species, and the list goes on. They will become naturalists! We collaborate with local conservation agencies from time to time for unique and exclusive tours of local facilities that promote conservation and outdoor education. The structure of each OWLS meeting will vary based on what we are learning but our rhythm usually includes group time with semi-formal hands-on learning, a group game, a skill building activity/craft, and of course, lots of free play!

Time in nature and free play is important for the cognitive development of early learners because it stimulates creativity and problem-solving skills which are integral to executive functioning development. Studies show that children who play and spend time outdoors in nature have increased concentration and cognitive skills, including mitigation or ADHD/ADD symptoms. We believe anything we teach in the classroom can be taught outside, and often in ways that are more enjoyable for children.

The Details: OWLS is appropriate for early and upper elementary aged children, generally speaking ages 5 and up. Adventures are every third Tuesday of the month. Cost is $30.00 per child and includes all supplies. OWLS is usually a 4-6 hour time commitment depending on location. You are responsible for lunches and transportation. We travel all over the valley, from Mt. Charleston to Red Rock to Willow Beach, AZ. Some places we visit will require an entrance fee or a valid America the Beautiful Pass. If you do not have one, I suggest buying one OR if you have a fourth grader you may get a free yearly pass. Each OWLS Family Academy day will have open enrollment for a maximum of 12 kids. It is my desire to build a close knit group of people who love the outdoors and can commit to building relationships and adventuring alongside each other; therefore, I am asking for a monthly commitment. In my experience over the years, children learn better in environments where they know others and can be known by others. It is an integral part of the success of OWLS. I have taught OWLS for over 4 years with multiple different facets and am looking forward to adding family adventures to our schedule. Please take a look at the pictures to catch a glimpse of what we do at each OWLS gathering. You may bring younger siblings but parents are responsible for supervision of children. Please reach out if you have any questions or to register!