In Her Element

As Rebecca quietly built their campfire, the children sat on their stumps transfixed, and sweetly sang their fire song. It was such a simple, pure moment. Everyone, even the most squirrelly among us, was totally grounded and focused:

"The fire in the sun

Feeds the fire in the trees

Feeds the fire that we light tonight

Fire

Fire

Burning brightly

Heal (shield) us with your light"

The Mups spent most of their day in the woods on Friday, which is not a rare occurrence. It was, however, unusual for me to be with them out there. Rebecca Golden, their amazing teacher, facilitated an abundant day full of developmentally perfect opportunities for play, problem-solving, collaboration, physical exercise, science, geography, and more. It was as if the Center School's mission had been injected into the very veins of the class.

I have known Rebecca since I arrived at the Center School in 2007. She brings incredible knowledge as an educator and one of her gifts is her deep connection to nature; and she inspires it so easily in her students. Rebecca's first environmental educator experience was at an environmental education center on Puget Sound. She got a degree in science education at Antioch New England. She has taken workshops with the Vermont Wilderness School, taught nature, farm, and fairy camps at the Orchard School in Alstead, NH for many years, and has taught at the Center School for almost 15 years. With this combination of experience and passion for the great outdoors, Rebecca is a relaxed and confident facilitator of fire building, of rugged outdoor play, and trekking. Her students are given lots of agency: I watched with great appreciation as she turned the hike we were embarking on totally over to them. They navigated their way to their beloved Mup Valley, and we didn't get lost once! Rebecca has faith in kids. And she loves them; a Center School teacher through and through.

I love our teachers!

With great admiration,

Charlie Spencer

Head of School