Natural Nests

08/22/2026

Big news times two! Registration for Backyard Classroom Summer Part 2 is officially OPEN ☀️🎉☀️! This nature and play-based enrichment club has been going strong for 4+ years but this summer we're expanding! If you have preschool or homeschooled kids ages 2–10, are near the area, and know you need to get learning and exploring outside more - the Backyard Classroom Crew is for you!

🌞 BACKYARD CLASSROOM in the PARK: Mondays, 11 AM – 1:30 PM (Aug 24 – Sept 28)
Dive into a weekly theme in this semi-structured class. Lessons are intermixed with art and activities to reinforce that week's lesson. Free play includes fun at playgrounds, riding bikes/scooters together, and rotating activities like parachute games, soccer, field games, chalk fun, and more!

🌞 NATURE CLASSROOM in the PARK: Fridays, 11 AM – 1 PM (Aug 28 – Oct 2)
Let's get outside and explore nature together! Nets, buckets, magnifying glasses, microscopes, guides, and exploratory aids will be supplied as we look closer at the parks and trails in our area. Travel-friendly arts and crafts and storytime with a living book is included.

Our spring AND summer (part 1) season sold out so secure your child's spot today!

LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP ➡➡➡ bit.ly/BCsum26

07/17/2026

Backyard Classroom is a place where kids are allowed to do things, try things, and learn things and that means we definitely get messy. It's more than ok. The kids are usually totally fine with it. But the caregivers... that's another story, for some of them anyways. This post is for those that have a hard time with it - the dirt, the stains, the chaos. I want to encourage you to change your outlook and your comments to the children because it is not (usually) chaos but beautiful chaos. It is freedom!

Some of you may have grown up having dedicated school clothes and play clothes. When you got home from school you had to change into "play clothes" 🙋‍♀️ because your parents ANTICIPATED you'd get dirty. At Backyard Classroom we learn through play so every event is both school and play so always wear the play clothes! This is why you always find me in tank tops (often with stains) and old bottoms btw!

Now let's define play clothes. Comfortable, breathable, preferably dark colored clothes that can get really worn and take a beating. A knit white article of clothing - nope! I'd also like to point out a shirt or pants isn't destroyed because of a few stains or paint marks. The child probably could care less so why do you? It is most certainly still wearable. Were you going to sell that T-shirt when they grew out of it? Probably not. Can you spare the $3 you may have gotten from it for the sake of childhood?

The majority of children's lives are spent playing which is their work, their school, their everything. They need play clothes with a side of nice clothes for nicer events, not the other way around!

Focus on their smiles, giggles, joy, and memories when you want to grab a wipe or scold them for the state of their clothes. Do you really want to turn their moment of freedom and joy into, well, anything else? When you allow yourself to sit back and let it be, you are practicing, and in time I promise you, the chaos will become beautiful chaos to you too. You will see the benefits of giving your kids this freedom and it too will bring you joy ☺️.

07/05/2026

Parents, do you need a break this summer? Or do your kids need to get out and let out some energy? Or do you want them living a 90s style summer like we had? Register for the Backyard Classroom Half Day Summer Camp - a nature and play based camp at my outdoor classroom/suburban homestead in . There are only 1-2 spots left on select weeks so seize the moment!

☀️ 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM Tuesdays & Thursdays
☀️ Small group with a 7:1 student/teacher ratio max
☀️ Ages 4-11
☀️ Outdoor classroom/suburban homestead near the Tantallon Marina in Fort Washginton

☀️ LEARN MORE: bit.ly/BCcamp26
☀️ SIGN UP: bit.ly/BCsummer26signup

If you haven't been to Backyard Classroom before we have:
☀️ A huge trampoline
☀️ Ninja gym
☀️ Zipline
☀️ Swings
☀️ Kid-friendly ax/star throwing
☀️ A big kid and little kid seesaw
☀️ Friendly chickens
☀️ Rock wall
☀️ Huge mud kitchen
☀️ Two climbing domes
☀️ Slide
☀️ Flower and edible gardens
☀️ And loads of outdoor toys!

We'll stay cool with loads of water play and water games 💦 in our huge splash pad, trampoline sprinkler, water table, and sprinklers! I'm going to say no to drinking out of the house though 😉!

Summer camp is like an extended version of my classes which have been running for four years 🥳. You can get a peak into that program in the Backyard Classroom highlight reel and my feed. We'll have more time though so we can dive into longer projects like plant-based fabric dying, process art, chicken keeping, gardening, and more! The hands-on activities, read alouds, and group discussions reinforce that week's lessons. Children's ideas to enhance learning (and fun) are listened to as Backyard Classroom values child-led learning and is also nature and play based.

If you need extra care beyond camp hours, simply DM me! I'm happy to chat via message, video call, or phone and I can send you professional recommendations and parent reviews. A tour of the outdoor classroom is also available!

06/20/2026

Raising protectors. Raising innovators. Raising children to know their home.

“Let Nature be your teacher.” – William Wordsworth

“To raise a nature-bonded child is to raise a rebel, a dreamer, an innovator… someone who will walk their own verdant, winding path.” – Nicolette Sowder

“Nature is a tool to get children to experience not just the wider world, but themselves.” – Stephen Moss

Join us in-person in the area &/or follow for inspo and encouragement to get outside with your kids.

06/18/2026

The Summer Season of Backyard Classroom is officially FULL! Thank you 🙏🏼 to all of my returning and new families, referrals, and anyone who shared or liked a post. This homeschooling, homemaking, mamapreneur truly appreciates it!

🌞🌳 🌻 The Backyard Classroom Summer Half Day Camp still has spots though! The info is below or comment CAMP and I'll send you the info right to your inbox.

SUMMER CAMP - Drop-off program (or stay and work remotely &/or help out), Ages 4–11
🌞 SIGN UP: https://bit.ly/BCsummer26signup
🌞 LEARN MORE: https://bit.ly/BCcamp26

Get a sneak peek by clicking on my IG highlight titled Backyard Classroom -

🎯 THE BACKYARD CLASSROOM MISSION
Backyard Classroom nurtures curiosity, creativity, and connection through outdoor learning. By looking closer and digging deeper, children discover that even ordinary places hold wonder. Through exploration, creativity, movement, and play, they build friendships, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning—finding life’s greatest lessons right where they are.

06/12/2026

I can't get this cleaned up in two days but my summer season starts regardless. I was pretty darn ready for summer ☀️ but mother nature had a different idea 😔. No gale warnings 💨 here but evidently marine warnings apply to us but we didn't get any messages about that either. I just saw that in the forecast after the fact 😩. The storm was pretty tame but it started with a HUGE gust of wind which a neighbor thought was a tornado 🌪️!

Between all of this costly damage I'm going to be fundraising and collecting donations to help keep the running smoothly. I'm going to start selling handmade goodies made by me and the kids at class, native and edible plants, sourdough, vanilla extract, herbal infused oils, natural plant medicines, whatever I can. I had some at our spring field trip and it looks like I'll be doing that for classes and camp too. Send me your ideas! If you don't have registered kids in the program but want any of these goodies comment! A full product list is coming soon but for now, just tell me what you're interested in via comment!

DONATIONS of ANY AMOUNT CAN BE SENT TO:
Cash app - user $AbigailPari
PayPal - paypal.me/AbigailPari
VenMo - AbigailPari

Every $5 truly helps!

Funds will strictly be used to replace the canopies and provide much needed shade for the summer season. Any extra funds will go to help pay for the damage from the downed tree. Thank you in advance for supporting Backyard Classroom!

Even so, it will be slow going and the summer season is TWO days away! I was going to finalize lessons and activities but now I have to fit in yard clean up and the $$$ to pay for that.

I don't even know how to clean up the canopies because they are so bent we can't collapse them. I guess we have to figure out how to transport them to the dump 🤷‍♀️. This totally stinks 👎.

P.S. We only saw the canopy damage last night after a MASSIVE gust of one - literally one - and my husband and I ran outside during the storm to take the tent portion of. Otherwise it would act like a sail and potentially damage more property. Then we ran inside to avoid being struck by branches 😨.

Send a message to learn more

05/12/2026

A snapshot at what we've been up to this spring 🌷. Homeschooling is a lot of work but a lot of people forget to mention the fun we have too!

✔️ Hikes and playground visits every 1-2 weeks
✔️ Homeschool Social Studies Showcase & our start with project based learning
✔️ Martial arts 3-4x a week
✔️ Kickball class/intro
✔️ Learning how to skate, skate meetups, skate parks
✔️ Gardening: weeding, mulching, planting, watering
✔️ Arts and crafts
✔️ Playing outside for hours nearly everyday and taking the challenge
✔️ Family dinners cooked from scratch every single night

"Children learn from anything and everything they see. They learn wherever they are, not just in special learning places."

- John Holt

If you want to see how children learn outside of the classroom, follow along on my journey homeschooling three kids all birthed within 5 years. No curriculums. No curated content or unrealistic aesthetic. Real life as a homeschooling crunchy mama who is finding a way to make it all work on a budget. And if you're in the area join us in real life! Link in bio for my locals only email list where I send out monthly homeschool focused meetups, hikes, enrichment classes, and more!

05/08/2026

The Spring Season of Backyard Classroom is officially FULL! Thank you 🙏🏼 to all of my returning and new families, referrals, and anyone who shared or liked a post. This homeschooling, homemaking, mamapreneur truly appreciates it!

🌞🌳 🌻 The Summer Season of Backyard Classroom's Classes and Day Camp still has spots though! The info is below or simply sign up for the newsletter and get it straight to your inbox along with info on our FREE meetups and hikes throughout .

SUMMER CLASSES - Caregiver attends with child, Ages 2–9
🌻SIGN UP: https://bit.ly/BCsummer26signup
🌻 LEARN MORE: https://bit.ly/BCsummer26

SUMMER CAMP - Drop-off program (or stay and work remotely &/or help out), Ages 4–11
🌞 SIGN UP: https://bit.ly/BCsummer26signup
🌞 LEARN MORE: https://bit.ly/BCcamp26

🎯 THE BACKYARD CLASSROOM MISSION 🎯
Backyard Classroom nurtures curiosity, creativity, and connection through outdoor learning. By looking closer and digging deeper, children discover that even ordinary places hold wonder. Through exploration, creativity, movement, and play, they build friendships, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning—finding life’s greatest lessons right where they are.

05/07/2026

If you have kids 9 and under in the DMV area, join the Backyard Classroom Crew on outdoor adventures, many of which are free! Join my email list for updates on the happenings. This month we...

🌷🦋🌸 Start our caterpillar/butterfly lessons with LIVE caterpillars which will metamorphisize into butterflies which we'll release in my outdoor classroom/suburban homestead later this month.

🥾🐢🚶 Hike through Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary with fellow homeschoolers with the aim to see turtles, otters, birds, and more! This is a little kid-friendly hike with lunch/snack half way through.

🛹🚴🛴 Skate, bike, scoot, mingle, and play at the playground at Tantallon North Neighborhood Park which has a paved loop. Last month kids brought kites and I'm bringing my parachute for 90s nostalgia and fun!

🌻🌞🌳 Last chance for the early bird discount of Backyard Classroom Summer Classes & Half Day Summer Camp: bit.ly/BCsummer26signup

Link up with fellow and get outside with us! Find your people, let the kids be wild and free, and get some much needed sunshine 🌞.

👉👉👉 SIGN UP at https://mailchi.mp/db3fb836d2e6/backyardclassroomcrew

I don't think I've ever sent than two emails in a month so don't worry about your inbox being flooded!