The World is Our Classroom: An Afternoon with Author Cindy Ross

Cindy's story begins in the Rocky Mountain wilderness on a unique and extraordinary journey: two parents leading their young children 3,100 miles on the backs of llamas. This Canada-Mexico trek illustrated to Cindy and her husband what experiential education can do. Inspired by the experience, they went on to create a new way of supplementing their children's education, focusing on two arenas for learning: the natural world and travel. A deep believer in Richard Louv's worldwide advocacy of reconnecting children to the natural world, The World is Our Classroom – (Skyhorse Publishing, NYC) shows us examples of how the rich environment presents a multitude of ways to teach and learn. One of the most concrete results of a childhood spent closely connected to nature is how it feeds creativity. Creative thinking and problem solving are essential to building and maintaining a healthy, sustainable world. In this age of world connection, it is also increasingly important to raise children who are broad-minded, empathetic and knowledgeable about other cultures. This can best be accomplished by transporting our children out of their insulated, narrowly-focused lives and into the big world. A group of Berkshire youth will open the afternoon's events with reflections on their experience on the Appalachian Trail and Mt. Greylock as part of the Massachusetts Youth Trail Summit. Cindy's talk will be followed by Q&A and book signing. The Stationery Factory
63 Flansburg Ave.
Dalton, MA 01226This event has ended, but we have lots of upcoming activities! See our activities page for things to do.