Right in the heart of Paris, it is possible to immerse yourself in rich, wonderful nature. Les mercredis buissonniers give children a chance to disconnect deeply from the urban world. A time to play freely and let their imagination run, in complete safety, with woodland life professionals.
Every Wednesday, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., a small group of up to 15 children, ages 6 to 12, meet to spend the afternoon in the woods. The children can play freely outdoors, take part in a suggested activity, individually or as a group, rest, and discover the richness of the nature around us (birds, trees, etc.)... What are les mercredis buissonniers? Spending about 3 hours on site in a natural space will allow them to carry out the projects they feel drawn to and enjoy a break outside. Activities will vary according to their interests and the seasons: building cabins, doing treasure hunts, land art, woodworking, working with clay, using tools, crafting, climbing trees, using plant-based paints, making herbariums, contemplating, listening to stories, inventing them, singing, tracking... Regularity is important to offer our children a nature break every week, so the group can bond and everyone can make the spaces their own, feel comfortable there, and get to know them in every season. This is why registration is by trimester. Try a discovery afternoon at Bois de Vincennes Meet at 12:30 near place de la Nation. We take the RER to Fontenay sous bois to go to lac des Minimes. We have lunch by the lake. You pick up your children at 4:30 p.m. at place de la Nation. Who leads the sessions? Valentine Bourrat. Nature educator since the birth of my daughter in 2015. An unconditional nature lover, I put my whole heart into passing on connection with living things. I began by leading groups of children in Paris, at Buttes Chaumont (Les Petits Sauvages). My two years of experience in Quebec then allowed me to train in the “nature mentoring” pedagogy: gratitude circles, sit spots (meditation), songs, group games, and ancestral woodland living techniques (basketry, pottery, friction fire). This is the pedagogy I am eager to share with your children, with joy and safety. Moïna Fauchier Delavigne. Former journalist and author (L’enfant dans la nature, 2019 Fayard, and Emmenez les enfants dehors ! Robert Laffont, 2020), I have been working for 5 years on the subject of education and connection with nature, and I have two children (ages 9 and 11). Today I am committed to promoting regular access for all children to natural spaces, during school time or outside school. I work with the association La Fabrique des communs pédagogiques and give talks on the need for nature and what can be put in place in schools, playgrounds, local authorities... I began leading weekly outings at Bois de Vincennes with a group of children just before Covid.
Source: paris.fr — photo: VB