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Nature-based Occupational Therapy
Forest Play Programs
Traditional Crafting Classes
Located in beautiful Hunterdon County, NJ & Bucks County, PA
Holding time and space for imagination & creativity...
Focusing on natural strengths...
Creating transformative play and maker experiences!
Craefting:
Confidence, cReativity, Connection
PLAY IS A CHILD'S WORK...
...CRAEFT IS A CHILD'S CALLING
Children are Makers, Naturally
A stick and a string become a fishing pole
A pile of rocks in a creek bed becomes a sculpture
Natural Strengths
+
The Great Outdoors
+
The "Just Right Challenge"
Improving Sensory & Motor Skills
Building Confidence
Encouraging Creativity
Getting More Connected
WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NATURE
doing, being, becoming, belonging...
...Make the Doing MAtter!
-Wilcock, A. A. (1998)
In EVERY SESSION:
Making Moves
Nature Exploration & Hikes
Nature offers endless opportunities for sensory experiences & movement challenges.
A great way to meet those sensory needs:
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Reaching for that branch to use in a weaving project
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Scanning the wood-scape for that perfect color to make natural inks and dyes
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Climbing up that hill to pick the flower for eco-printing (and then rolling down that hill...of course!
Making craefts
Traditional Skills &
Heritage Crafts
for 21st Century Skills
What are Traditional Skills & Heritage Crafts?
Meaningful & Real-Life activities
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Natural materials
-
Open-ended, creative
-
Flexible process
Why Traditional Skills &
Heritage Crafts?
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Hand-eye coordination, postural skills, motor planning
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Problem-solving, planning, organizing, competence-building, flexible thinking, & creativity
-
The Maker Mindset
Making Tea
Tea Time
A traditional social experience & natural opportunity for:
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Social skills, emotional regulation & executive skills needed for school and home
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Sharing, turn-taking, pacing, and cooperation, & effective communication
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Explore the timeless tradition of tea rituals present across cultures
The teas offered are herbal,
caffeine-free, and organic
Spring water is always offered
as an alternative
OUR SPECIALIZED APPROACH IS INSPIRED BY:
"the hand is
the instrument
of intelligence"
Traditional Occupational Therapy Perspectives
Current Evidence-Based Practice
Sloyd and The Froebel Kindergarten
Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Waldorf
The Arts & Crafts Movement
The Maker Movement
...Maria Montessori
"when making crafts,
people progress through
a cycle of emotions from
uncertainty to satisfaction,
pride, and a sense of efficacy
by the end."
...Emma Harris, BHScOT (Hons)
"Play gives children the chance to practice what they are learning"
...Mr. Rogers
So...why Nature?
-
limitless sensory experiences
-
encourages curiosity
-
stimulates social interaction
-
offers the "just right challenge"
-
builds resilience
- supports critical thinking
The great outdoors is the ultimate co-facilitator for creativity, play, and development.
Occupational Therapy
Nature-based OT services are designed to address sensory, motor, & attention differences
We offer OT services for children ages 5-14 years old.
Individual OT services
Weekly Small Group OT
WildcraeftWorks
Virtual Makerspace
...Coming Soon
Consultation Services
Learn how to bring Therapeutic Craefting
to your therapy or school program
Forest Play Programs
Our outdoor Forest Play programs consider child-directed Play as an essential and meaningful experience of childhood.
We offer Forest Play programs for children ages 3-12 years old.
TimberNook
WildcraeftWorks is a certified provider offering:
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Week-long summer camps
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Weekly TimberNook Days
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"School's Out" Mini Camps
Mud Kitchen
Natural Dye Kitchen & Craeftery
Alpacas, Angoras, and Agri-fun ...Coming Soon
Traditional Craeft Classes
Classes are suitable for all ages & skill levels, and are held in the beautiful outdoors
All materials are provided,
including tea (if desired)
Wet Felting & Needle Felting
Visible Mending, Sashiko, Speedweve
T-shirt Yarn Crochet
Denim Yarn Rag Rugs
Upcycling Wool Sweaters
And, etc....
“Man, through the use of his hands,
as they are energized by mind and will,
can influence the state of his own health.”
ABOUT
Registered Occupational Therapist
Certified TimberNook Provider
Founder of WildcraeftWorks
Stay Connected
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