Hi! Welcome to Learn Wild, I’m so excited you’re here!

 

I’m Jen, creator of Learn Wild VA. I'm a wife and VA Mom to 3 - an active 7 year old and a rookie twin Mom. Aside from being a wife & Mom, I’m a former educator and outdoor enthusiast with a passion for play-based education IN the outdoors!  I believe that nature is good for our mind & bodies and should be accessible to everyone. It's always been important to me to spend time outdoors and I grew up doing just that. As a former educator and Mom, I quickly realized the disconnect between learning & playing outside. Unfortunately, the value of simply going outside to play got lost among the hustle & bustle, screen time,  standardized tests, & the push for early academics in our modern society- but playing outside IS learning & what better classroom then nature herself? While I’m busy raising my own wild ones, I find joy in sharing our adventures with others and spreading our love for playing outside. 

 

I created Learn Wild VA because I've seen the amazing benefits of old fashioned outdoor play first hand. When my oldest son was in preschool, I served on the Board of Directors where I helped design & implement the schools first outdoor classroom. The benefits were astonishing and I couldn't stop there! It became clear to me that this type of early education was limited as is time spent outdoors as a whole. My primary goal with creating Learn Wild VA is to bridge the gap between the "played outside 'till dark" generation & our busier, less accommodating modern society. I love sharing our favorite easy, nature-centered outdoor adventures in hopes of providing the courage & inspiration for others to get out into the wild outdoors, with the kids & without hesitation. Trust me, it will be so worth it!