Exploring Nature with Kids

Receiving a summer Whitman Internship Grant (WIG) meant everything to me as I spent my summer exploring nature with kids on a small farm. I have been involved in many types and methodologies of education, and my interest in how the outdoors can be experienced by children was piqued when I took Whitman’s Sociological Research Methods course. There, I researched the relationship between environmental education and future environmentally-positive attitudes and behaviors. This summer became the opportunity for me to experience the impact myself. The foundational values of a society often guide our actions, and getting to know the commitments of the families and farmers helped me understand the role of outdoor experiences in the actions of kids and adults, alike! 

Last winter, my major advisor recommended I contact the owner of Welcome Table Farm, a small, organic farm on the outskirts of Walla Walla, because of my career interest in education, curriculum development, and environmental values of a society. After reading just the description of the farm, I sent an email about my interest in a summer internship. The owner called me and soon we had a plan for the first day of my new internship. Four months later, the internship began, and I was tossed into the fast-paced days of activities, playtime, and science experiments with about a dozen kids each session. 

At the beginning of each week, my co-counselors and I would lead a tour of the farm for the new campers. We would point out the bathrooms and the barn (off-limits!), but we also talked about growing seasons and the farmworkers to contextualize their days on a small farm. The first day was also taste-testing day, and I enjoyed eating raspberries, green beans, and plums as much as the kids! The remaining days of the week were often dedicated to exploring, playing tag, and building obstacle courses. One week in July, I led a group of eleven 10 to 13-year olds in a farm-focused experience. This camp was unique because the week culminated in a market day! Each day, we got to harvest, wash, and prepare veggies and fruits for the farmers’ market. When Saturday morning came around, the campers met me by the bandstand in the Walla Walla Farmers’ Market in their teal camp shirts ready to help a couple of vendors. I am so proud of their hard work and understanding of the farm’s significance to their community.

While I enjoyed harvesting potatoes, catching insects with the campers and naming piglets, my favorite part of the day was “Creek Time” every afternoon. During Creek Time, the kids really showed me how outdoor play is a canvas for imagination and creativity. It seemed like every age group had extensive discussions about ecological systems and showed dedicated care for various aquatic creatures during their summer play time. Every day, my campers were truly able to connect with nature. 

My summer internship went by quickly, and I am so grateful for the support from Whitman College! The experience was academically and socially-aligned with my interests, and the connections to my community I made are unmatched. I highly encourage other Whitman students interested in outdoor experiences with children to contact this farm or reach out to similar organizations by reading other WIG blog posts and applying for a WIG to experience a summer like mine themselves! 

Mairi Sessions ‘27 (she/her) is a Sociology-Environmental Studies major from Decorah, IA interning at Welcome Table Farm. She feels her best on windy evenings in late summer.