At Ohmapi, the best lessons happen outdoors. Last week, our students discovered balance, courage, and curiosity on a slippery mud hill. Jumping, sliding, and splashing through puddles, they learned through play — building confidence, resilience, and joy with every muddy step.

In our first Community Spotlight, Kelsey Nover sits down with ceramics instructor Jesse Hanshaw to talk about harvesting clay, building a kiln, and why working with natural materials is about relationship, not just results.

Through a hands-on nature lesson at The Ohmapi Nature Project forest school students explored deer anatomy and learned about muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments with guidance from our neighbor and educator, Woniya. By observing closely and asking questions, the children connected the lesson to their own bodies and the natural world, gaining a deeper understanding of life, nourishment, and the connections between humans, animals, and the environment in Nevada County.

Before we take, we give thanks. Through a real-world encounter with death, Ohmapi students explored the circle of life, learning to honor what is given and return what remains to the Earth.