Off the Beaten Path | Along Dusty Trails

Nature and community inspired intervention

Specializing in connecting children with diverse abilities to themselves, their communication capability, their community and the natural world

‘Nature and Community Inspired’ speech-language pathology service is an innovative and experiential (and experimental!) service delivery model partially borne out of COVID-19 requirements, partially out of best practices in child development, and partially out of the unconventional dreams of this SLP.

The natural world inherently offers an abundance of exciting provocations and materials that spark joy, curiosity, and exploration. The goal of ‘nature- community inspired’ communication sessions is to use the natural environment, materials, and provocations to spark inspiration and creativity that intrinsically spurs the development of speech, language, communication, and social skills. This may mean spending a portion of each session walking in the community, bringing nature materials inside the therapy room, and/or roaming outside for the entire session and rolling with whatever opportunities come our way!

Sessions may involve a combination of structured adult-directed tasks and unstructured ‘emergent’ opportunities whereby we follow the child’s lead, embedding communication opportunities and strategies within their interests. We approach each session with the flexibility to allow opportunities for the session to evolve depending on the child’s interests and the natural communicative opportunities that present themselves that day. Individual communication goals will be embedded and targeted through exploration, inquiry, conversation, and natural provocations as we explore and discover the outdoor space. (Assuming individual session), parents observe and participate in the session, coached by the SLP about strategies to support the child’s goals. Each child’s program (i.e., the proportion of time spent in structured/unstructured activities) will look different depending on their individualized needs, interests, and the therapeutic environment.

Nature and Community Based Groups

Social groups where children meet their own unique, individualized goals, within the context of peer interactions and community/nature experiences. Click text or photo above for more information!

Nature/outdoor facilitated intervention (individual)

Let's leave the therapy room and explore the natural spaces throughout the community of Inglewood and surrounding area. We can explore the many exciting features of Pearce Estates park, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, where the Elbow River meets the Bow river or hit up a local playground and see what communication opportunities unfold.

Community based intervention (individual)

Let's leave the therapy room and wander around the historic and so funky community of Inglewood and surrounding area. We can practice street safety, order some snacks or shop at the many establishments depending on your community-based goals.

Harlowe the therapy-dog-in-training (maybe!)

As soon as this little one prances towards you with her full-on wiggle bum, you'll be in love! Harlowe is an Irish Setter, 1 1/2 years old with loooots to learn, but has the sweetest temperament and absolutely loves everyone! If you've got a little animal lover, let's practice communication skills while walking, training and playing with Harlowe. Or maybe even your little one is afraid or tentatively curious of dogs, and you want to expose them to positive social/play experiences with dogs in a safe and linguistically scaffolded environment. We can collaborate and create what you need!

To those who stay put, the world is but an imaginary place. But to the movers, the makers, and the shakers, the world is all around, an endless invitation”

Most of the time, kids don’t need to be shown how to connect with nature. It’s ingrained in their DNA. Rather than seeing nature connection as something you need to teach young children, the real key is simply to take them outside and let them do what comes naturally -- Scott Sampson

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Nature and community inspired intervention

Specializing in connecting children with diverse abilities to themselves, their communication capability, their community and the natural world

To those who stay put, the world is but an imaginary place. But to the movers, the makers, and the shakers, the world is all around, an endless invitation”

Most of the time, kids don’t need to be shown how to connect with nature. It’s ingrained in their DNA. Rather than seeing nature connection as something you need to teach young children, the real key is simply to take them outside and let them do what comes naturally -- Scott Sampson