On Sunday, October 16, 41 members of the EAVP family hiked the 2.2 mile round trip to the summit of Bog Mountain in Wilmot. Members of the current preschool class were joined by siblings, parents, and grandparents. Some of our 2016 graduates even returned with their families to make the climb.

We were gifted with a perfect fall day with warm temperatures and clear skies. Foliage was at its peak and the views were outstanding.

Bog is not an easy climb – it is a section of the Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway Trail System that is deemed a “moderate” climb, but even the youngest preschoolers persevered. Along the way children took note of their surroundings, remarked upon it and asked lots of questions.

“What kind of leaf is this?”

“These rocks and roots are in my way.”

“Those mushrooms look like pancakes.”

“What happened to this tree?”

“I walked on my feet the whole way. No one had to carry me!”

We watched as children helped each other on the “hard” parts, checked in with each other to be sure they were doing okay, and then celebrated together when they reached the top.

At EAVP we know how important spending time in nature is. Each school day we spend hours outside and we bring nature into our classroom every chance we get. Our family hike was a fun way to get everyone together for fun, fresh air, and exercise.

Did you know that spending time outdoors supports creativity and problem solving? It reduces stress, enhances cognitive ability, and has shown to improve academic performance.

While we will continue our daily practice of spending time outside at our school gardening, playing and learning, we hope that our Bog Mountain hike is the first of many opportunities for us to spend time together in nature with our families.