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WILD, INSPIRED AND UNSTANDARDIZED
Our Story
"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees."
Thoreau
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Flower Mesa
At Flower Mesa, our programs are based on Waldorf pedagogy, which is lauded for its holistic approach to childhood development, fostering creativity, imagination and a deep sense of empathy and social responsibility.
We are a nature immersion program, which means that we are outdoors in all weather, and make use of a huge barn during storms or intense heat. Our goal is to help children feel at home in nature and to teach them the skills that make that possible.
Ms. Donna with our sweet Athena
Each class includes equine experiences, and the children develop strong relationships with our resident horses. Our days are filled with story, song, art, hiking and being in nature. We learn the stories of the arroyos and mesas, and we practice sitting in meditation and building fires. Mindfulness and self-reflection are essential in our journey together, and we practice the art of listening and conversation.
Children build confidence, strength and an expanded sense of self and community by joining a class at Flower Mesa. Reach out and find out more about the beauty we have to offer.
FLOWER MESA
Founder &
Lead Teacher
Donna Lynn
Donna Lynn is the creative spirit behind Flower Mesa Forest School. ​She is a warm and inspiring teacher, and she loves children. Her mission is to help them be in touch with their unique selves, offering them beauty and life skills that will build their confidence, awareness and contentment.
Donna is a seasoned teacher, with close to thirty years of experience. She began her career as a French teacher, after studying at The Alliançe Française in Paris. She went on to discover Waldorf education, which she loves, because it combines the arts, nature, conscious curriculum and a deep understanding of childhood development. Donna trained in Waldorf early childhood at the world-renowned Sunbridge Institute and completed her foundation year at The Waldorf Teacher's Development Association.
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Donna has a wealth of experience working with neurodivergent children. She has studied the remedial educational approach of Rudolf Steiner at the Association for a Healing Education and The Mulberry Center for Curative Education. She spent over 15 years pioneering in the field of remedial education, creating bespoke, holistic curriculum for these children.
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​Donna grew up in the bluegrass region of Kentucky, with its rolling hills, hollers and meandering rivers. There, she began her 30 year tenure as a Naturalist, teaching in Forest schools and leading nature expeditions for children and their families. Donna's love of nature is contagious and she is a spirited and inspiring leader in the wild. Donna has a son, who is now 22. She educated him at home, and drew on her holistic, educational background and her work as a nature immersion expert to create a unique educational experience for him.
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Donna is an artist who loves yoga, meditation and animals. She is a seasoned teacher, who brings wisdom, compassion and insight to her classes. She is so happy to bring her passions together in a nature school, and offer such a unique experience to the families and children of Northern New Mexico.
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The Waldorf Approach
Waldorf pedagogy is at the heart of our programs at Flower Mesa and it is a highly therapeutic approach. Unique to Waldorf, is the understanding that each child is a unique soul on a path of development. We look for the uniqueness and the beauty that each child brings. We honor childhood development, and the rhythms of nature. Our days are filled with art singing and storytelling.
Horse Experiences
We are blessed to have a wonderful small herd of horses that are a part of our classes at Flower Mesa. Dusty, Too-Tall, Silver, Freckles, Cloud and Baby (our foal) are our resident horses who give their grounding energy to the children. We offer horse time in every class, including grooming, feeding, observation and painting horses. The children love these experiences and develop memorable friendships with these wise animals.
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RHYTHM OF THE DAY
What our days look like
Children are dropped off in the yard of the Arco Iris house, where play time is happening. After drop off, we circle up to check in, using a talking piece. We discuss our theme of the day and to hear from each participant. We sing a few songs and practice a bit of yoga and breathwork.
When we are centered, we head over to the barn and spend some time with the horses. Our horse experiences include: observation, feeding, grooming and painting horses.
Next, we go on an exploration hike. We then settle down in our home base for the day. We set up camp and begin free play which includes an art/craft and or nature skills project.
Next, we share a meal together, (each child brings a lunch) and we have our story time.
After the meal, we have a rest time, which is a time for sleep, quiet, stillness and perhaps journaling or drawing.
After rest, we circle up for a check in and some singing, then we begin our trek back to the main house for pick up.
"Love her but leave her wild."
Atticus
