A Parent’s Plea for Outdoor Learning in Kentucky

“Southern Voices” is a reader-submitted platform. In this heartfelt piece, Kelly Wright Henrion shares how her children’s experience at Kentucky’s Thrive Forest School shaped their confidence, creativity, and deep connection to the natural world — and why access to programs like this matters.

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I am writing to share my support of House Bill 496, to expand high-quality childcare options, and to better support forest preschools as they serve families like mine across the Commonwealth.

My children attended Thrive Forest School at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve in Goshen, KY, and it has been an invaluable part of our family’s life during the past five years. Thrive Forest School began in 2017 as the first nature-based, all-outdoor preschool in the Louisville area.

Our daughter started Thrive Forest School in 2021, as soon as she turned three years old. My son and I would hike throughout the nature preserve (with him in a pack on my front or back) while we waited for her morning session to end.

He was so excited when he finally turned three and could attend Thrive as well. He completed his preschool year at Thrive, and both of my children, now ages eight and five, will spend five to six weeks at Thrive Nature Camp this summer, as they have done the past several summers.

Although they have spent occasional weeks at other camps over the years, their request is always, “Mommy, can you sign us up for every week at Thrive this summer?” In a world dominated by screens and other flashy opportunities for kids, this is an incredible testament to the leaders and educators who have created such a powerful connection for our children to the land and forest of Creasey Mahan, in particular, and to the environment, more widely.

For both of my children, their love of the forest and awe of natural things stems from their time at Thrive Forest School. They are creative problem-solvers and never express boredom, as they can invent games out of sticks, acorns, and rocks. Each day, rain or shine, heat or snow, my children know how to dress appropriately and are eager to be outside. A motto of Thrive is “Green time instead of screen time.”

As my children join other school communities, the teachers always positively remark that they can tell my daughter and son have attended Forest School because of their confidence, kindness towards other students, comfort in the outdoor world, love of nature, and ability to climb trees!

Thrive Forest School at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve is a magical place. We are grateful for having the choice to send our children to this innovative preschool. As a working mom, I look forward to visiting Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve for peace, exercise, and to connect with nature. As a family, we love to visit Creasey Mahan on weekends to hike, picnic, and explore the fantastic Forest Friends Playground.

As a former teacher and school leader myself, I wish that all children had access to an outdoor program such as Thrive Forest School. The benefits of spending time in nature are well-researched and documented. Thrive and Creasey Mahan are the antidotes to a world that is increasingly dominated by technology and busyness.

I’ve seen firsthand how difficult it is for programs like Thrive Forest School to grow under current regulations, which were built solely around traditional indoor classrooms. Current rules often create barriers for non-traditional preschools, like Thrive, including limiting program hours and the ability to offer full-time care for working parents.

Ultimately, the current process in Kentucky does not reflect or allow a full range of childcare and preschool offerings, especially when parents want to send their children to nature-based programs.

This is why HB 496 is important. It would create an opportunity for positive change and a licensing pathway for nature-based childcare programs across the Commonwealth. This bill prioritizes safety and accountability while recognizing that learning can happen outside a four-walled classroom.

By modernizing policy to align with practice and parental choice, this bill would responsibly expand access and enable more children to benefit from high-quality, early learning programs like Thrive Forest School.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting House Bill 496 to allow more children to reap the benefits of learning and playing outside, just as my family did with Thrive Forest School at Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve.

Take action: Tell your legislators that you support HB 496. Thank you.

If you have a story to tell, take a look at the guidelines for Southern Voices submissions here.

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