Discovering Nature As Our Greatest Teacher, Healer, and Classroom

With InDiGO, springtime is a season of fun and adventure, where the boundaries of the classroom expand to encompass the great outdoors.

We had a blast testing out our new outdoor classroom at school and embarked on epic field trips back to Pearlstone's beautiful 180-acre campus. We paved empowering pathways within ourselves as we discovered where our water comes from, persevered in starting a fire, and learned to identify edible and medicinal plants. We conquered our fears on night hikes and the high ropes course. We drummed, danced, sang, and ate fresh and delicious food. Amidst the thrill and excitement, we practiced quieting our steps, minds, and voices to better engage with the forest.

Welcome to our spring newsletter, where tales of exploration, resilience, and newfound knowledge unfold. Join us as we witness the eyes of these four-hundred young stars light up as they discover themselves outdoors. We celebrate the sense of belonging these students felt within nature's embrace and the invaluable lessons they learned beyond the confines of the traditional classroom.

As a city and as a nation, we are recognizing the need to attune to our young people rather than require them to attune to an old and outdated system. The great news is that the leading research and the federal government agree we must stop teaching subjects or disciplines and start teaching our students. Check out this graphic from the article (at the link above) showing how increasingly integrative approaches increase student engagement.

InDiGO goes an essential step further with our UNIFYING approach. Rather than begin education at the "convergence" of subjects, we begin with the students themselves and allow the subjects to EMERGE. Rather than handing students a milkshake, the lesson becomes a real-life exploration of the ingredients and the planet's history that made it possible for us to enjoy such tasty treats. 

The problem with the milkshake model is that the ingredients are unhealthy. The milkshake model still centers the subjects (not the kids), just mixing disciplines together more. Why not make something healthier, like a smoothie? Then the ingredients are natural, relevant, and good for the kids. All metaphors aside, making smoothies on a bike blender is a great, potentially unifying experience, connecting students' favorite fruits with health, nutrition, sustainability, engineering, farming, planetary cycles, math, and more!

How do we get from where we are now with separate subjects and standardized tests to healthy learning environments with engaged and thriving students and teachers? Do we throw out the standards completely? Or, can we meet many standards simultaneously in meaningful and relevant ways? InDiGO's framework is a blender that allows teachers to create unified learning smoothies with their students that everyone can enjoy!

Reforming education is no metaphor, though. In addition to subtle yet profound shifts in our mindsets and policies, transforming our current system also requires real work with lots of kids, teachers, and partners. Thank you to all our staff, collaborators, and donors who helped make this legendary school year possible.

Camp Small recycled huge trees and used the city's tree truck to lift the logs into place for our outdoor classroom. Burrell Motor Coach provided 28 buses and drivers for each student in the whole school to attend two field trips, including overnights for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. InDiGO's stellar staff created memorable integrative expeditions surrounding every field trip with each of the more than 400 students in the fall, winter and spring. We are continuing our learning adventures over the summer with a new program at school and more adventure camp scholarships than ever before! 

InDiGO works with other non-profit leaders, schools, and inter-agency officials within the BCCN, the BCPSS, and JHU to develop best practices and research tools to optimize outdoor learning and realize the Baltimore Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights. Please check out our Impact Spiral to learn more about our strategy. Arlington Elementary is taking leadership within Baltimore City by expanding their approach to include more outdoor learning, field trips, and integrative teaching. As a STEM leader and certified Maryland Green School, the innovations we are developing with Arlington have the potential to become a beacon for other schools. Pearlstone is integral to this region's nature-connection movement and is increasing access to its campus and programs for BIPOC who would not otherwise have access. 

Thank you to all the adults who are helping transform education to better serve the next seven generations! Most of all, thank you to the kids for lighting up and shining with InDiGO all school year!

The fun continues this summer with 20 overnight camp scholarships, 70 day camp scholarships, and an exciting new program with 60 students at school. Please check out our light-filled YouTube videos, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and share our work with anyone aligned or who might be inspired.

We are honored to have designed and helped install this beautiful start to optimizing outdoor learning in Baltimore City. With multiple uses as a balance course, gaga court, and outdoor playground, this classroom's seating capacity is over 100 students. We are grateful to have this space to teach, learn, and play in, and look forward to future improvements such as shade structures, drinking fountains, a stage, and more! We anticipate partnering with Camp Small again to build more outdoor classrooms in the future.

Check out this video of our 5th graders reflecting on their recent overnight experience and all they learned with InDiGO throughout the school year. Thank you for leading the Arlington Eagles this year and letting your spirits fly!

Thank you, 4th graders, for sharing your vision of a more harmonious world through your art and music. We practiced the elements of Hip Hop (Graffiti, Breakdance, DJ'ing, MC'ing, and Love) and discovered their roots from throughout the world as we stood on the shoulders of our Ancestors to shine our greatness.

Thank you, third graders, for learning to steward the Earth and catalyze change through our thoughts, words, and actions! There is no such thing as away. Everything goes somewhere, and this group is learning to take responsibility.

Thank you, 2nd grade, for learning what it means to be the star you are! Always remember to shine your unique light to its full power and potential! These 2nd-graders understand how we are made of star stuff more than many adults. They truly learned the history of the universe and their place within it at the leading edge of evolution. The InDiGO team was blown away by the capacity of these students to not only grasp the content from within their 2nd-grade curriculum, but also scientific concepts from various fields such as astrophysics, geology, biology, evolutionary psychology, and more!

Thank you, 1st graders, for deeply internalizing the value of knowing we are one planet, one family. These first graders understand respecting and protecting ourselves, each other, and the Earth. They know how we are all interdependent and they practiced tools for resolving conflict, sharing, and making friends: one planet, one family!

Thank you, Kindergarten, for learning to find harmony as we navigate space in our relationships! These 90 kindergarteners carry love within them wherever they go and know how to lend a compassionate hand to anyone in need.

Thank you, Pre-K, for beginning to learn who you are as stewards of the Earth. These Pre-K know they are in an interdependent exchange of breath with the trees. They can teach you about the wonders of the water cycle and our place within it through a song. They know that we are made of mostly water, which comes from elements born in the stars. 

In Baltimore City, InDiGO works in concert with youth, teachers, school district officials, government agencies, outdoor centers, and community organizations to help make the Baltimore Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights a reality.

Each of InDiGO's programs help actualize ALL of the rights listed here. Thank you for the work of the BCCN to help us create a Baltimore where all children are guaranteed the following:

Please support us by forwarding this newsletter to anyone you know who may be interested in or inspired by our work. We are building a network of young people, educators, and advocates to help us discover Nature as our greatest teacher, healer, and classroom.

We go to great lengths, including awesome costumes, to create healthy learning environments for students to learn, grow, discover, and thrive. Big shout out to the InDiGO team for their passion and dedication to transforming education. Gino Hannah as a tree that sings, plays guitar, and illuminates our interdependence with plants and animals! Adam Candelaria as Rainbow Crow, who sings, raps, resolves conflicts, and makes friendships! Zen Xaria as DJ Star Fox, who helps us find harmony as we navigate space in our relationships! Talbolt Johnson as Bolt 3000, who reminds us to steward the Earth and catalyze change through our thoughts, words, and actions! Iya Keturah Monroe, as Galaxy, reminds us to shine our unique light to its full power and potential! Gabriel Pickus as an Eagle who reminds the Arlington Eagles to let their spirits fly!

Click here to meet the team and learn more about the Star Squad.​