Tender Wildlings: A Summer Series
For 4-8 year olds
This series for children focuses on the cultivation of emotional resilience and connection with self, one another, and the natural world through nurturing ecotherapeutic experiences on the farm. Some of the activities will include: tending farm animals, making beauty with our hands, getting to know the wildlife, tending and harvesting from the summer garden, nature-based songs and storytelling, bug crawls, nature-connected mindfulness and emotional regulation practices, and games to develop awareness of both the inner and outer landscape.
Tender Wildlings: A Summer Series
For children ages 4-8
Week 1: July 8-11
Week 2: July 15-18
Week 3: July 22-25
Monday-Thursday 8:45a-2:15p
TUITION:
$220/week
OR
$420 for 2 weeks
$600 for all 3 weeks
Meet the guides
Shae Keane, M.A.
Shae is an ecotherapeutic guide and therapist who holds a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and a graduate certificate in Ecopsychology. She has a passion for the revitalization of the human relationship with the natural world, and the integration of relationship with plants, animals, wild landscape, and authentic community in the therapeutic process. She is particularly inspired by the meaningful impact not only the land, but also the animals, have on people and loves partnering with them in educational and therapeutic processes.
Shae is committed to contributing to the cultural movement of reconnecting self and community with nature. She understands a healthy relationship with the natural world to be foundational to mental and psychospiritual health and overall wellness. In 2019, Shae co-founded Seedkeepers Forest School, and served as a Co-Director and Instructor from 2019-2022, serving children ages 3-9. Prior to this, Shae worked as a senior field guide in the field of wilderness therapy, working with children and adolescents, and supported the launch of Emerald Arrow, a wilderness therapy program for young adults ages 18-30.
Following this, Shae developed and led trainings for wilderness therapy field guides with Blue Ridge Therapeutic Wilderness, where she worked as Program Developer. Shae now serves as Co-Director of the Earth School at Fauna Forest Farm, as well an adjunct professor in ETSU’s Nature-Based Therapy graduate certificate program. She has long had a love of supporting children and adults on their journey of remembering their roots in the earth, and specializes in facilitating nature-based therapeutic experiences.
During her counseling internship, Shae was grateful to have had the opportunity to work as a counselor with the Journey Center for Healing Arts in Johnson City. A particular highlight of her Counseling graduate program was collaborating with Dr. Bethany Novotny to co-found the ETSU Nature-Based Therapy graduate certificate.
She continues to pursue a vision of making nature-based therapy and nature-connection experiences accessible to all in East Tennessee.
Taylor Lynch
Taylor is passionate about nature (especially the beautiful Appalachian Mountains), mental health, and teaching. She is a graduate student at East Tennessee State University pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Environmental Sciences in 2022. Combining her passions for nature and mental health, she aspires to become a nature-based counselor who facilitates healing and emotional well-being among children and adolescents through therapeutic nature-connected experience and crafting. Outside of school, you can usually find Taylor connecting with nature herself— hiking, bird watching, or walking her dog, Lady Bagel.