CLOUD

Who We Are

A group of moms (and dads!) who have a desire to see their kids thrive in community. We want our littles around other like-minded, Jesus-focused families. We spend time in nature as a way of learning and exploring. We nourish and move our bodies, slow down, and create space for connection.

This is less about academic learning and more about learning how to be in community. This is meant to be a social, relational, and life-giving environment for both kids and parents.

Each family has at least a three year old, and all age siblings are welcome to join. The hope is that the group would mostly include ages 3-8 (plus younger siblings). I love when younger kids get to be around older kids, and when older kids get the opportunity to lead, help, and set the example for younger ones. Community!

Our kids are still learning how to be with other people, so there will be sharing troubles, meltdowns, hard moments, and chaos. That’s normal! As parents, we are committed to helping guide and care for our children through those moments with grace and patience. So much grace!

Commitment

Thursdays 10:00 - 12:30 pm for the ‘school year.’

We will do a monthly park rotation in Seattle and surrounding areas. We are currently working on a list of good parks! Think Seattle, Edmonds, Bellevue, etc.

The hope is that each family would consistently join, but grace for real life, travel, sick kids, etc.

Rhythm

We’ll have a predictable schedule each week —

• Free Play

• Snack (Bring Your Own)

• Nature-Based Activity, Exploration, or Themed Learning (see ideas below)

• Words of Life / Memory Verse / Prayer

This is intentionally simple and low-pressure. There is no official “teacher.” Each parent contributes and helps where needed. It’s a shared group effort.

This is a mostly phone-free experience. Taking a photo or a quick call/message is great, but not a time for scrolling and staring at your phone. No iPads kids here!

Words of Life: Each week we give one kid encouragement (have each adult and kid share one - two positive words that they see in them).

Holy Spirit: Once a month the kids get 10 minutes to themselves in nature to try to hear from God. No pressure, but an opportunity to learn and grow this muscle. 

Memory Verse: A Bible memory verse for each month

Investment

Free! Everything else in life feels expensive, and spending intentional time with our babies and friends shouldn’t be :-) That said, we will occasionally split the cost of supplies or activities together. We are also working on an Amazon List of helpful supplies for the group.

Lesson Ideas / Examples

⁃ Grandparents: Invite grandparents to join us and share stories, skills, wisdom, or lessons from their lives.

⁃ Career Days: Invite different people to teach the kids about their jobs and answer questions. firefighter, baker or chef, nurse, pilot, florist, photographer, pastor, teacher, musician, chef, etc.

⁃ Art and Creativity: Paint with nature items, collect beautiful things in baskets, seasonal crafts, watercolor days, clay/play dough, flower pressing, nature journals, mud pies

- Life Skills: How to write a thank you card, how to mail a letter,  practice hospitality, learn kitchen basics, gardening, grocery store learning, seasonal fruits and vegetables, sharing and serving one another

Overall Goal

To create a slow, beautiful, grace-filled community where our kids can learn:

• How to be in Community

• How to Play

• How to Explore

• How to Encourage Others

• How to Enjoy Nature

• How to Know and Love God

• How to be Deeply Known, Safe, and Loved in Community