a life where your kids are confident, happy, & healthy from spending more time outside.
where they look at trees instead of screens & they gain an understanding of our worldly rhythms.
a place where kids of all ages can be themselves & gather to learn & encourage each other without the pressure of schedules & tests!
What is Barefoot University?
Our communities meet each week for forest school activities and nature exploration that align with our yearly Rhythm. Our weekly activities teach nature-based sciences and outdoor skills. Our focus may be nature, but activities expand to cover art, citizenship, local history, math, science, life skills, physical education, critical thinking, and more! Our communities also do field trips and community service projects throughout the year that often align with our activity themes.
Leaders help facilitate the meet-ups, but parents are their child‘s teachers! It’s important for parents to know what the activity is beforehand in case your children need additional instructions or you want to take the activity deeper.
If you’re looking for a group that makes everyone sit in a circle and learn a lesson, BU may not be for you. We encourage participation, but we also encourage free play and exploration!
Heath and Louella were nominated for Barefooter(s) of the month by their leaders. They said, "Heath has been part of Barefoot Powhatan for all six years, making him one of our original Barefoot kids. He has grown up alongside this community, and his quiet, independent personality makes his consistent commitment to Barefoot especially meaningful. Heath shows up every single week, works through his activity, and takes pride in completing his projects. One of my favorite things is seeing how much he enjoys working alongside a Barefoot leader on his projects. Heath may not always be the loudest person in the group, but his presence, consistency, and willingness to participate have been a meaningful part of our Barefoot community for six years. Louella has also been part of Barefoot Powhatan for all six years and is one of our original Barefoot kids. She is quiet and tends to be more reserved, but when she finds someone she connects with, she forms genuine friendships with people who share her interests and personality. This year has been a little harder for her socially as she has worked to find her people, but she has continued to show up every single week and give her best. Louella consistently completes her activities before leaving and continues to participate even when things aren’t always easy. Her six years of commitment to Barefoot, quiet perseverance, and willingness to keep showing up are exactly the kind of qualities we love to see celebrated in our Barefoot kids."
We couldn't be more excited to have Heath and Louella as our Barefooter(s) of the Month! They sound like amazing Barefooter(s)!