Imagine Childhood Exploring the World through Nature, Imagination, and Play - 25 Projects that spark curiosity and adventure

For children, potential is limitless, curiosity is an electrical current, and every moment is open to the possibility of the unexpected. Day-to-day life is filled with adventure. Road blocks are invitations to try new routes. And the world is vast and expansive. This book is a celebration of childhood through the crafts and activities that invite wonder and play. It invites us all to explore the joy of making things and learning about the world with a child's perspective and with our children at our side. With intriguing essays on the science of nature, the wonder of imagination, and the joyful work of play, along with insightful recollections of childhood from a variety of contributors, the unique projects are balanced by writings that make the ideas come to life. This book presents twenty projects and activities that are meant to speak to the way children engage with the world. Some of the projects have detailed step-by-step instructions, others are more free-form and interpretive in their structure. In either case, they are stepping-off points--activities that spark curiosity, an adventure, or an investigation. These projects are not about what is produced in the end (although that part is fun too). They're about the process of getting there. They're about the conversations that happen while making things together. They're about getting to know the world inch by inch. They're about exploring imaginary universes and running through real forests. They're about living in childhood . . . regardless of your actual age. They're about being a kid. Projects include: Part One: Nature Seasonal Capes Earth House Bird of Paradise Mask Maple Leaf House Nature Fairy Color and Shape Activities Zoetrope Magic Lantern Projector Part Two: Imagination Tree Shadows Tents Wands and Other Enchantments Boats for Sailing Imaginary Seas Marionettes from Nature Mapping Part Three: Play Paint Can Banjo Steel Drum Bows and Arrows Lawn Bowling Rube Goldberg Machine Exploration Bag Game Seeds Wishing Kites

Sarah Olmsted grew up in Colorado and spent much of her time exploring art, science, and the nearby foothills and mountains. After receiving a bachelor of fine arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute, she spent some time as a freelance children’s furniture designer/fabricator, which eventually led her to the Field Museum of Natural History. There she worked in exhibit design, developing interactive educational activities for permanent and traveling exhibitions before moving on to cofound imaginechildhood.com in 2008.