Get Outside: How Guineafowl Adventure Co. is Redefining Outdoor Education
Dave Fatula is clear on why he started Guineafowl Adventure Co.: "The outdoors changed my life.
In a world where screens often steal the spotlight, Fatula witnessed the shift away from outdoor play in schools. The disconnect between children and nature troubled him, prompting him to take action.
"I know what [being in nature] did for me as a child," Fatula said. "[I] didn't need to be tough or guarded around nature."
“That’s one snowy snoot! Meet Pemi, Guineafowl’s CFO (Chief Flööf Officer) and unofficial but kinda official mascot.” @guineafowl_adventure_co
The timing couldn't have been more poignant. As the world grappled with the challenges of COVID-19's stay-at-home orders, people rediscovered the solace and joy of outdoor spaces. Fatula seized this moment, harnessing the collective yearning for connection with nature.
Fatula founded Guineafowl Adventure Co. to provide today's youth with the same opportunities he enjoyed. His mission? To remove obstacles and barriers, creating safe and supportive environments where kids could explore, discover, and connect with the natural world. Fatula instills values of environmental stewardship, including leaving no trace and preparedness.
Guineafowl Adventure Co. offers guided hikes for all ages and abilities. They also partner with schools, like The Advent School and Acera in Winchester, Massachusetts, to provide enrichment programming. Guineafowl Adventure Co. will collaborate with Advent and artist Kyle Browne of KBCreative for a unique program combining the arts and nature this summer.
For one week, participants will travel to different habitats across northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, exploring the natural world and creating art focused on their surroundings. Then, drawing upon their experiences from the first week, the participants will spend the second week diving into the design process and redesigning urban spaces that reflect the community's needs and the surrounding natural environment as part of Advent's Design at Advent Summer Program session City Remix.
The pairing of art with nature started after a Guineafowl Adventure Co. trip to the Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary. After their morning, the young hikers were hot and tired and settled around picnic tables for lunch. As Browne took out her sketchbook and started to draw, the children drifted over to see what she was making. After a while, a group of eleven kids were crowded around her, talking excitedly about the possibilities of being in nature and drawing their observations.
“We love our grand adventures in the White Mountains, but having local options to start the week off right is pretty great, too!” @guineafowl_adventure_co
Fatula is thrilled with what he has accomplished with Guineafowl Adventure Co. During his first hike with the company, he saw how a 12-year-old blossomed when given room to try new things. The child was first hesitant to tackle trickier parts of the trail. With encouragement from Fatula, they ran up a steep granite face unaided. They rewarded their nervous parents with a big smile backed by new-found confidence. Later that hike, as he stood with his group on top of a peak, Fatula paused to send a quick text to his wife, "This is exactly where I'm supposed to be."
How to Hike with Young Children:
Start small! Walk in a park or along a scenic trail.
Be prepared with water, snacks, and weather-appropriate clothing.
Embrace the pace. You'll take lots of breaks, which can be opportunities for reflection or observation of plants and animals.
Dave Fatula's favorite spots in Greater Boston:
Beaver Brook Reservation (Belmont)
Western Greenway (Waltham)
Whipple Hill (Arlington)
Wright's Tower and Rock Circuit Trail in the Fells (Medford)
Follow Guineafowl Adventure Co. @guineafowl_adventure_co.
Follow Kyle Browne @kybrocreative.
