The Way Back Project

Play is sacred work—and grown-ups need it, too.

The Way Back Project is bringing more play, nature, and connection to school communities!

We offer:
🌱 Professional development exploring child-led play and outdoor time in all weather.
🌱 Hands-on team building to help school staff connect and recharge.
🌱 Consulting to create inviting outdoor spaces and bring nature into daily school life.
🌱 Custom school trips and on-site experiences for Pre-K through high school, connecting your curriculum with child-led play.

Let’s make room for curiosity, muddy hands, fresh air, and time together.

Interested in bringing us to your school? DM us or email [email protected].

Share this with a teacher or school leader who would love to get their community outside! Tag them below! 💚

⭐️Volunteer Spotlight⭐️

Meet Lee! She’s a millennial mom of two, the founder and co-owner of The Kids Treehouse, a STEM crafting club on Staten Island, and someone who is always embarking on new journeys.

Recently, one of those journeys led her to realize just how much she had centered her life around fear—fear of failing, flying, sharks in pools, and, honestly, nature!

She decided to challenge herself to live beyond those fears, which led her to enroll her son in Forest School last year. What started as a challenge quickly became something she absolutely fell in love with. Being outside, surrounded by fresh air, trees, and the beauty of nature, felt freeing and grounding. It helped her realize just how deeply we belong to nature.

Now she’s back as a volunteer, grateful to experience all that wonderful energy among the trees and meet new friends along the way.

As someone who loves creating opportunities for kids to explore, make, build, and learn, Lee is especially excited to bring that same sense of curiosity and wonder to this community.

She can’t wait to see you there!

⭐️Volunteer Spotlight⭐️

Amal is an artist who loves fashion, art, nature, adventures, and spending time with the people she loves. She is happiest when she’s creating, enjoying the outdoors, or sharing a good laugh.

Amal has worked with children in many ways throughout her life, including teaching in early childhood classrooms. She loves the freedom and imagination that come so naturally to children and believes adults have just as much to learn from them as children do from adults. She enjoys getting outside, getting messy, encouraging curiosity, and giving children room to explore the world in their own way. She’s excited for all the adventures, discoveries, questions, and fun that Forest School will bring!

⭐️Volunteer Spotlight⭐️

Erika Steels is a mom of three beautiful children, a passionate teacher, and a skincare enthusiast. Spending time outdoors in all weather is her jam! Whether she’s skiing on the slopes, swimming in the ocean, or hiking in the woods, she cherishes every moment spent in nature.

Being involved with the Way Back Project is an honor for Erika. She is thrilled by the opportunity to inspire the next generation to value and embrace the natural world. She cannot wait to learn alongside the children because she believes they teach us just as much as we teach them