River Oaks Academy

Educators we want your genius. The @EFC Pesticide Free Soil Project @pesticidefreesoilproject has joined forces with the @theabundanttable and @rodaleinstitute ...to bring a no-till organic pumpkin patch to you through video and narrative. Over the next 7 weeks, our team of activists will film and photograph at the farm to bring you rich content to share with your classrooms. Let me know if you want to help build curriculum to enhance the experience and impact. There is power in the collective! See more

Team ROA is virtually unstoppable! #virtualmeetings

Dear Pack, We are closely monitoring developments related to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus and following the guidance of local government and state aut...horities. The safety of our guests, staff, volunteers, and our animals is paramount, so we are taking all necessary precautions surrounding this developing situation. Wolf Connection is located in a rural area of Los Angeles County, is not open to the public, and only hosts pre-arranged private visits managed by a small, highly-skilled staff. We are still open and offering special encounters with our wolves and wolfdogs. The outdoor experience allows for ample distance between participants, should a person feel they want to take that precaution. All upcoming Wolf Connection events will proceed as scheduled, and as we continue to monitor the impact of the virus, and the government and public health requirements, we will respond accordingly. If you are experiencing any physical discomfort or symptoms leading up to your scheduled visit, contact us immediately and do not come to Wolf Connection property. For more information on symptoms, go to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/. Guests who have registered for and prepaid their event and request to reschedule will be issued a credit that can go toward the cost of another event in the future. This credit has no expiration and can be transferred to friends or family members. If you have further questions regarding this policy or your visit to Wolf Connection please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you, The Wolf Connection Team See more

Artistic learning goals are held up as equals to academic standards and teachers work hard to design lessons that highlight content through art.

Children’s ability to move and play are being restricted more than ever. We are trying to protect them by saying No climbing, No running, No spinning, Th...at’s too dangerous, and Get down from there! However, research shows that the drastic decline in risky outdoor play in kids is creating behavior problems. By constantly hovering over kids, restricting their movement, and diminishing their time to play, we are causing more harm than good. According the to American Academy of Pediatrics (2013), a recent study shows that the average child spends eight hours a day in front of screens (television, video games, computers, smart phones, and so on). Older children and adolescents are spending an average of eleven hours a day in front of screens (Hanscom 2016). That’s a huge amount of time spent in front of screens, which provide little to no proprioceptive or vestibular input. In prior generations, this time was spent outdoors or in play. In order for kids to listen, focus and learn to sit still for a period of time, they must develop both proprioception and vestibular sense. The most critical time to develop a child’s proprioception and vestibular sense is before age six. With all the time spent in front of screens and telling kids to sit still, avoid climbing, and stop jumping, it’s not surprising why kids won’t listen. Proprioception is what tells you where your body parts are without having to look at them. This is the sense that helps you make sense of gravity. It’s the reason you can switch from the gas pedal to the brake without looking at your feet, or bring popcorn to your mouth without taking your eyes off the movie screen. Without properly developed proprioception, kids can push too hard during tag, fall out of their seat at the dinner table, or trip while walking up stairs. Vestibular sense provides information about where the body is in relation to its surroundings. This is the sense that helps you understand balance, and it connects with all the other senses. When the vestibular system does not develop properly all other senses will struggle to function properly. Without a strong vestibular sense, kids will have no choice but to fidget, get frustrated, experience more falls and aggression, get too close to people when talking, and struggle with focusing and listening. Because they literally cannot help it. In order for kids to learn to listen, focus and follow directions as they grow, they need to develop proprioception and vestibular sense by experiencing many physical challenges during childhood. Without it, kids can’t pay attention in school because they are too distracted by their own bodies. When children jump, swing, spin, pick up rocks or dig in the dirt, kids are doing exactly what they need. They aren’t intentionally doing it to get hurt, act rambunctiously, worry you or get messy. They are doing it to help themselves become safer, calmer and happier kids. https://themilitarywifeandmom.com/why-kids-wont-listen #neurochild #childdevelopment #letthemplay

Artist brings Lego sculptures to life Credit: JK Brickworks

Open communication

Check this out...great opportunity for Parent and teen!!!!!!

Let the summer begin!

Great New York Times article on adventure playgrounds and the importance of risky play for childhood development, including health, socialization, and overcomin...g aggression. "Engaging in risk is actually very important in preventing injuries." -Dr. Mariana Brussoni. reDiscover's Cardboard Playgrounds bring this kind of play to schools and festivals, while Tinkering School LA camps provide lumber, tools, and freedom to build for a whole week at a time. #adventureplayground #tinkeringschoolla https://www.nytimes.com//adventure-playgrounds-junk-playgr