Setting Northern Michigan Kids Up for Success
Wilderness Forest Learning is led by Erin Fitzpatrick, an Internationally Certified Teacher who has mentored kids aged 3 - 18 in scouting settings, summer camps, public classrooms, and deciduous forests.
She received Forest School Leader Certification from Forest School Association in 2018. After 18 years education kids outdoors, Miss Fitz is realizing her dream of starting Traverse City’s only forest preschool with hopes of connecting children’s wild within to the wild around.
About Erin, aka Miss Fitz
Erin grew up making rafts on the Fox River in Algonquin, Illinois, enjoying the splendor of Lake Superiors’ shores while earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Northern Michigan University. aught Science in Emporia, Kansas on the Cottonwood River using a tiny school garden. After solidifying her Project-Based Learning (PBL) knowledge, she began incorporating more nature and collaborative cross-curricular projects on the banks of Kids Creek in Traverse City, Michigan.
After seeking a more theoretical foundation for the outdoors in her philosophy and pedagogy, she completed a Master of Science in Outdoor Education at the University of Edinburgh where she spent time in many lochs, rivers, and the sea. Her dissertation included research on choice of outdoor preschools in Scotland. After volunteering with the first nature kindergarten in Scotland, she became a certified Forest School Leader in 2018.
Erin has spent years teaching science and nature pedagogy in, through, with, and for the outdoors to students aged 3-14. She is delighted to come into the role of Outdoor Education teacher and will be very excited to continue learning about the natural world, teaching stewardship and care in the Commons and beyond.
In her free time, she hikes, gardens, rock climbs, paddles, and forages for all sorts with her three rescue dogs.
Having witnessed firsthand how spending extensive time in nature positively impacts children, she is excited to bring her expertise and passion for the outdoors to northern Michigan kids through forest preschool and other programs.
Wilderkin’s Approach
Learning at Wilderkin Forest Learning is play-based with documentation and planning occurring through the The Floorbook Approach. By taking a record of children’s interests through thoughts, drawings, conversations, and questions, we allow children to guide their own learning. We use this information to plan activities and learning paths that take children’s input into account, unlike traditional preschool programs.
This raises kids who love learning, setting them up for success as they grow and continue their education.
