Presenting November’s Sensing the Seasons Fall 2020

A collaboration between the Web of Life Field (WOLF) School and The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., and Enchanted Hills Camp

This month WOLF School collaborated with The Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa, to present Sensing the Seasons, a nature-based virtual program for students who are blind or visually impaired. The first of three sessions this school year, the Fall 2020 session of Sensing the Seasons brought students together online for nature exploration based around the flora, fauna, and environment that usually they would explore at beautiful Enchanted Hills Camp. Now in year two, the program’s multi-day offerings are currently virtual due to COVID-19, happening over a weekend, mirroring the past schedule that was originally offered at camp, as part of a residential outdoor education experience in the redwoods at Enchanted Hills Camp.  

The program description includes: “As the seasons roll on and the days get colder and shorter, it is a great time to take a moment to appreciate and learn more about nature. Participants will be learning how flora and fauna are affected by the onset of Fall, learn about recent changes to the space many of us love, and connect with our Enchanted Hills Camp friends!” Enchanted Hills Camp is still currently recovering from the 2017 Nuns Fire that destroyed much of the area around the camp and did extensive damage to buildings at the camp. Currently, fundraising efforts are underway to help rebuild from the fire’s damage.

This collaborative educational program will continue in upcoming months with its Winter and Spring Sensing the Seasons sessions that will take participants through seasonal changes that happen in the redwood forest at Enchanted Hills Camp. Hopes are that eventually these sessions may be held in person, but leaders and students are ready to be flexible to whatever is needed, including virtual programming. Desiree “Tumbleweed” Gant, WOLF School’s assistant director, was enthusiastic about working with the 16 students who attended last week’s program, commenting on how remarkable it is to be connecting and teaching about the outdoors while being online and indoors.  Working together with moderator, Jamey Gump, of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Desiree and WOLF Program Coordinator, Sergio Typhoon, provided fun activities based on changing seasons, local animal adaptations, and communication, fostered group discussions, and focused on how we can all make connections with our natural environment. 

Participants connected, compared personal experiences in nature, discussed their experiences of environmental change and engaged with each other from all over California. For more information on upcoming Lighthouse for the Blind Sensing the Seasons programs scheduled for February and April of 2021, contact WOLF School.