Where Generations Grow Their Wild Hearts Together

Every Wednesday morning, as little hands glue and piece together their projects at the Sea Goat Farm Stand in McKinleyville, you’ll often spot a few smiling grandparents joining in, cutting paper leaves, threading beads and sharing stories as their grandkids laugh beside them.

Wild Hearts Learning isn’t just a children’s program; it’s a space where generations come together to slow down, make memories and rediscover the simple joy of creating side by side.

The Little Critters Class is for children ages 2 to 5 and the grownups who love them. Each session makes creative connections with animals, nature, each other and the magic of early childhood. In the afternoons, the Wild Makers Class of 6- to 12-year-olds features stories, nature-inspired crafts and snacks that spark imagination and eye-rolling dad jokes.

I’ve been touched to see how many grandparents have made our classes part of their weekly routine. Some come every week to cherish an hour of shared creativity with their grandchildren. Others bring visiting grandkids from out of town, looking for a special way to spend time with them during a short visit. I’ve even had seniors come with a friend’s child because their own grandchildren live far away. They always say it gives them a little “grandparent fix.”

Mari Wilson comes with her 3-year-old granddaughter, Avery, every Wednesday. It’s become their special time together.

“What I enjoy most is watching my granddaughter listen and learn,” Mari said. “It’s why they call it “grand-parenting” — it’s the best.” She smiles as Avery pats Bunnies, the class’s cuddly Holland Lop rabbit who loves to sit in little laps.

Coming to the classes reminds her of being a parent again. “It magnifies the joy,” Mari said. “Every minute I get to spend with her is the blessing of my entire life, to be with my grandchild. It’s priceless. Priceless as good health.”

Deborah Reeves comes weekly with her 7-year-old granddaughter, Annabelle. She stays for the class just so she can watch the joy on Annabelle’s face as she creates. “This is precious time,” she said. “Time where she can be creative and enjoy exploring the magic of allowing her mind to run free through play.

“These are memory-making moments for both of us…a wonderful bonding time,” she said. Deborah also enjoys seeing the other caregivers’ eyes light up as brightly as the children’s do. It’s “time well spent—the smiles and the hugs!”

For me, creating Wild Hearts has been a way to overcome some life challenges with the best medicine I can think of — children’s joy. I grew up in New York surrounded by horses, hikes and muddy boots, and this gives me a way to share those outdoor adventures and my love of the natural world with others, and with my son, Henry—my greatest teacher.

Margaret Lewis directs Wild Hearts Learning in McKinleyville. For information, visit wildheartslearning.com or contact her at 707-362-5282.