future scientist
"A child's world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. "
                          - Rachel Carson
In his book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv reminds us that: "Nature inspires creativity in a child by demanding visualization and the full use of the senses... In nature, a child finds freedom, fantasy and privacy: a place distant from the adult world, a separate peace." At the Wakefield Estate, we are working to bring more children back into the woods!
"For the child it is not half so important to know as to feel. If facts are the seeds that later produce knowledge and wisdom, then the emotions and the impressions of the senses are the fertile soil in which the seeds must grow."
-Rachel Carson
 
These past months have proved that the Wakefield Estate is indeed fertile ground for learning.  Carson's words ring true to me as I have observed hundreds of Boston children expressing wonder and delight at nature's mysteries. Our task is to ensure that all children get the simple opportunity to take a walk in the woods, feel the moss on the trees, hear a hawk's cry and imagine...

 Mark Smith,
 Executive Director
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camo boy with frankie  
BPS students Get Out and Learn
During the next two weeks, the Wakefield Estate will host the final BPS school visits for this fall. Since early October, we have hosted over 900 elementary students from Boston Public Schools. Funding for bus transportation was provided by Boston Youth Environmental Network's Get Out and Learn Program. It has been both humbling and powerful to witness these young peoples' response to experiencing nature up close - picking up leaves and seeds or looking a crayfish or rooster straight in the eye. The wide eyed wonder and ear-to-ear grins have convinced us that these programs are essential and worthwhile. Our thanks to BYEN's GOAL program and our BPS partners for making it possible. We look forward to these students return in spring to witness our property revealing very different lessons about nature. 
holiday deco
Annual Holiday Decorations & Tablescapes Demonstration 
Last month's e-newsletter listed the wrong date for our upcoming Holiday Decorations &Tablescapes demo. As noted it will be held on Thursday but the correct date is Nov 19, 7pm - 8:30pm. Lisa Ahern of Cedar Grove Gardens will demonstrate some of her great ideas for easy and festive ways to make your home and table "shine" during the holidays. Enjoy some light refreshments at this special evening session where Lisa will include ideas about incorporating candles and other lighting in your decorations. All the arrangements created during the workshop will be raffled among those present at the end of the evening. Price for the workshop, which includes refreshments, is $20 per person; bring a friend and the two can register for $30. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call 617-333-0924.

WANT TO HELP?   
If you are interested in participating in any of the wide variety of work projects we have planned for the months ahead, including spring bulb planting, fall-clean-up and school programs, please call 617-333-0924 or email Erica Max to discuss your interests and hear how you can get involved. All ages and all interests welcome! 

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Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Staff:
Mark Smith, Executive Director - email: mark@dogwoodlanefarm.org
Erica Max, Landscape Supervisor and Educational Coordinator - email: erica@dogwoodlanefarm.org
Dave Cafaro, Grounds and Building Maintenance - email: dave@dogwoodlanefarm.org
For more information, call us at (617) 333-0924 or check out our website at wakefieldtrust.org