Kids invited to play in nature in this early childhood program at The Mishawaka Res

MISHAWAKA — Newly launched this year, the Wildsong Early Learning Community will offer a couple of days for children to enjoy nature play at The Mishawaka Res as a way for families to learn more about Wildsong’s nature-based program.

The free nature play days will run from 10 a.m. to noon July 2 and Aug. 6. Children of all ages are welcome to wade in the creek and explore trails on a scavenger hunt, among other activities, and also to meet Wildsong staff.

Janelle Phillips, founder and director of Wildsong, said she’ll lead her early childhood program for ages 3 to 6 at The Res, a public nature reserve, where she’ll rent the nature center and use the creek and woods to base the nature-based curriculum. It entails giving children time to freely play and explore in nature.

The fall semester will begin the last week of August, with plans to offer a spring semester, too. Enrollment is now open and will be capped at 12 children per day with two teachers.

For more information, visit wildsongelc.com.

The Res is southeast of Lincoln Way East and Capital Avenue at 13950 Scout Lane, Mishawaka. Follow small brown signs from Lincoln Way just east of Capital Avenue. 

South Bend Tribune reporter Joseph Dits can be reached at 574-235-6158 or [email protected].

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Wildsong uses nature play for early childhood education in Indiana