Our Story
In a world that is increasingly distracting and overstimulating, Garret —a nature educator, father, and founder of AWE (Advanced Wholistic Education) 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
Garrett is an educator and co-founder of AWE Education (Advanced Wholistic Education), an innovative educational model that blends foundational academics with immersive, nature-based exploration. Designed for primary-aged children, the program fosters curiosity, independence, ecological awareness, and emotional intelligence.
Grounded in leading research on education and child development, Garrett creates forest-based learning experiences that support both academic achievement and holistic well-being. His vision is to expand the AWE model across Europe, building on the successful schools he has launched in the United States. He is currently working with the Savio group to strengthen their nature-centered pedagogy and has recently introduced Wander & Wonder Nature Club—an after-school program that welcomes children ages 5 to 12 for meaningful reconnection with the natural world, arriving this fall in a forest or green space near you.
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.
