Our Story
In a world that is increasingly distracting and overstimulating, Garrett —a nature educator, father, and founder of Wander & Wonder Nature Club and Forest Schools—has dedicated his life to designing learning environments that reconnect children with themselves, their communities, and the natural world.
After relocating to France from the U.S., Garrett was inspired to create Wander & Wonder Nature Club—an accessible way for more children to experience the magic of unplugged adventures, guided by intentionality, curiosity, and connection. Whether it’s two afternoons a week or a Sunday morning in the woods, Wander & Wonder opens the door to a slower, richer rhythm—where nature leads, and wonder follows.
-J.J.R. Tolkien
"Not all who wander, are lost"
Meet our founder
Wander & Wonder Nature Club was founded by Garrett a seasoned educator and Level 3 Certified Forest School Lead Guide with over six years of experience leading forest school programs across the United States and Europe.
Garrett's approach is rooted in a simple conviction: young children learn best when they are free to move, explore, and wonder in the natural world. The forest is not a backdrop to learning — it is the curriculum. Through long, unhurried days outdoors, children build resilience, confidence, language, and a deep, embodied relationship with the living world around them.
Alongside Wander & Wonder, Garrett consults with international institutions including the Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, where he leads the forest program for the American and British sections. His pedagogy blends the rigor of established forest school traditions with a child-led, observation-based approach — one that honors each child's pace, follows their curiosity, and trusts the wisdom of unstructured time in nature.
At Wander & Wonder, every day is shaped by this philosophy: small groups, skilled bilingual guides, and the forest itself as the most patient teacher of all.
Screen-free adventures
Outdoor exploration, hands-on activities, and meaningful connection with peers to re-discover the joy of real world play, away from screens.
According to recent studies, including Harvard Medical School study, early and excessive exposure to screens—especially engaging, fast-paced content and social media—can be harmful to developing children. Studies show screen time is linked to anxiety, depression, impaired emotional regulation, and delayed language and literacy development in young children. Even moderate daily use (two hours or more) increases odds of speech or learning delays. Social media, in particular, can fuel comparison, distractibility, and dependency—interrupting the natural development of identity and self-esteem at ages when children are forming their sense of self.
Digital screens emit blue light that suppresses melatonin, disrupts circadian rhythms, and delays sleep—effects that are notably stronger in young children. Poor sleep, in turn, impairs cognitive function, emotional well-being, and self-regulation . Additionally, neuro-scientific and metabolic research suggests that habitual screen use in early life may alter dopamine and serotonin signaling—akin to patterns seen in substance addiction—affecting attention, mood, and nervous system balance.
Immersive nature experiences and unstructured, hands-on play offer a natural antidote. Research supports that exposure to greenery reduces stress, restores attention, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping calm and rebalance the body The Times. Studies link forest and green-space time with improved mood, reduced ADHD symptoms, and boosts in working memory, executive function, and resilience nationalgeographic.com. Through sensory-rich exploration—whether climbing, creating, or wandering—children build stronger neural wiring, emotional regulation, social skills, and a grounded sense of self, counterbalancing the overstimulation of screens.
