Project Info
Project Description
May 2026 – As Curriculum Coordinator, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help organize and write curricula and field trips for our Nature Adventure Camps and Homeschool Science Series. Curriculum development is a collaborative process amongst the education team. The process begins with topic and theme development, which are inspired by many factors including educators’ specialties and interests, current natural phenomena, and sometimes ideas for particular activities. For example, one of my interests is plastic pollution and solutions, which partially inspired the Mission: Zero Waste theme for the upcoming Summer Nature Adventure Camp. Field trips are an important component of the program; they provide unique opportunities to partner with a variety of organizations where keiki can learn directly from others in the conservation field about the week’s topic.
Each lesson and activity reflects our teaching style and philosophy, centered around experiential learning, sparking curiosity and instilling a sense of stewardship. Hands-on exploration through hiking, fishing and other outdoor activities immerse children in nature. We build in exploration time so that keiki can explore and make observations, fostering wonder, appreciation and respect for the natural world. Educators write curriculum about a wide variety of topics, finding ways to connect these topics to our forest location. For example, during our Deep Discoveries Spring Nature Adventure Camp, campers went on a hike to explore while learning about layers of the forest and how they compare to the layers of the ocean. They also played games in the meadow including Ocean Zones relay races. The goal is for each lesson and activity to be fun and engaging, leaving children feeling connected to the place, wanting to learn more, and eventually develop an interest in protecting natural spaces.
Curriculum is always aligned with our values: Aloha (respect), Mālama Pono (safety), Laulima (teamwork), Mālama ʻĀina (sustainability), Kōkua (make friends and have fun), and Kuleana (responsibility). We teach children to respect nature, their leaders and each other during their time exploring nature with us. Safety and teamwork are at the core of our curricula; we write activities and games that encourage, and often require, teamwork. Through teamwork, children make friends, gain experience collaborating with peers, develop problem-solving skills, all while having fun! We instill sustainability by designing activities and crafts with repurposed materials, and minimal new materials, whenever possible. We foster a responsibility to care for nature by including tangible solutions.
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the children excited to engage with what I have written, asking questions to learn more, making connections, and sharing how they will care for the earth. It makes all the effort that goes into creating curriculum
worthwhile.
