Root & Trail

10/14/2026

Caddisfly larvae says, "peek-a-boo!"

"Science is about cultivating a perpetual condition of wonder in the face of something that forever grows one step richer and subtler than our latest theory about it."
Richard Powers

10/14/2026

I don't want to have those conversations anymore. The ones where I call up a program or message a group leader ahead of time and start from scratch, asking questions to see whether it's something we can try. They're necessary, but extremely uncomfortable.

And when parents contact me to ask about our groups, I want to be a breath of fresh air - one of the people with whom these things are easy to discuss. Routine yet warmly received. Not shocking. Not weird. Not deflected.

Let's do things differently 💗

10/13/2026

When the group knows it's your favorite and makes sure you're always invited in -

and they literally couldn't care less if you play differently, if you can't always come, or if you might get worn out sooner than them and go home early.

When you come, you hear your name called, and they have a spot for you 💗

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Yes, Art Club is a club... 🎊💃🏻🕺🏻🎊

but that doesn’t mean it’s an art-supply free-for-all. 🎨🙃🤣

Every week, we introduce a new skill, technique, material, or way of working and give our artists the opportunity to practice it.

We demonstrate.

We experiment.

We offer resources, instructions, and individual help.

Then we let the artists to decide what to do with what they've learned.

Use it today. Practice it for a while. Save it for another idea. Combine it with something else. Make it their own.

Everyone may be introduced to the same new skill,

but no two artists use it quite the same way.

Every piece that comes out of Art Club is one of a kind.

Because skills aren't just steps to follow.

They're tools artists can draw on when they have an idea they want to bring to life. 👩‍🎨🧑🏼‍🎨🧑🏻‍🎨👨🏿‍🎨👩🏾‍🎨

10/08/2026

This is why we meet at the same location for at least 9 consecutive weeks.

Why we pick a specific river or creek for each school year.

Why we pick a "class tree" for each school year.

We build familiarity, knowledge, and sweet memories.

Because caring deeply for a place starts with knowing it, and we know it best through spending time with it.

10/08/2026

It's October. The Shenandoah Valley is gorgeous and comfortable and full of things worth noticing.

This clip is from a 15 minute walk with my dog.

Not a hike or a full afternoon in the forest.

Take a minute to step outside and breathe it in 💗🍃🍂

10/04/2026

Sometimes supporting a nonprofit looks like making a donation...

And sometimes it looks like sending us a box of rope, art supplies, field guides, tools, or other things that will be in kids’ hands a week later.

Our Amazon Wishlist is full of things we’d love to add to Root & Trail, and with Prime Big Deal Days coming up next week, you may even catch some of them on sale.

If you’d like to give something tangible, take a look:

🌿 https://a.co/01oK0pBy

Thank you for helping us build a community where children of varied abilities can learn, play, create, explore, and grow together.

10/02/2026

It's tiiiiiiiiiiiime!!!

10/01/2026

What if we just... did things differently?