New Nonprofit Bringing Nature Based Education to Girls in Missoula
What is the link between nature and a girl’s inner world? Earth Within Girls has the answer. EWG, a non-profit that offers nature-based education to children who identify as girls, teaches plant wisdom and self care to empower students to connect their internal cycles and natural environment.
It’s an unconventional approach to teaching upper elementary and middle school students about hormones, menstruation, and their changing bodies, but founder and program director Melissa Lafontaine knows it is an underutilized and necessary one. The idea was inspired by Melissa’s personal journey in healing her imbalanced hormonal cycle through plant knowledge and self-care.
Earth Within Girls started as an extension of Lafontaine’s MA in Environmental Studies: ‘Cultivating Earth Centered Children through Plant-Based Education’ at the University of Montana. She has been dedicated to the wonders of plants and children as both have been her greatest teachers of simplicity and joy. Melissa is the owner of a sustainable floral design business, Earth Within Flowers. EWG was originally part of Earth Within Flower’s DIY community workshop series.
With after-school programs, workshops, and summer camps EWG’s curriculum develops skills in plant wisdom, floral art, building friendships and confidence through unique activities that act as a bridge to seasonal and cyclical wellness. EWG offers a safe space for those who may not have a period as we all embody unique natural cycles outside of menstruation.
You can find EWG at after-school programs across Missoula, and in monthly Caretaker-Daughter Programs in the Spring and Fall. There’s also a summer camp in July! The program aims to reach as many girls as possible, so it provides scholarships to community members of socioeconomic, racial, cultural, gender diversity.
UPCOMING
Pressed Flower Moon Journals at Noteworthy Paper & Press
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
An evening of paper fun with Noteworthy Paper & Press. Build excitement for spring blooms by decorating journals with pressed flowers from last season. Students will make a beautiful journal and learn how to track the moon/seasonal shifts and menstrual cycles using your beautiful journal!Song Circle & Plant Walk
Sunday, May 21, 3-5 p.m.
An afternoon of solidarity and nature with Sacred Ally! The May Caretaker/Daughter Workshop series will examine local plants and blooms along a walk from Sacred Ally to a nearby park. There we will host a meditation and song circle focused on cycles and empowerment.Summer Camp: Forage & First Aid Kits Monday, July 10 - Friday, July 14
Campers will take cues from nature and connect to the wonders of plants. Kids will learn about ethical foraging, how to identify edible plants and how to make self-care and first aid kits. Kiddos will learn about botany, herbalism and medicine making while having fun frolicking around the woods of the 100 acre Learning with Meaning land within Missoula. We will make materials for our self-care first aid kits such as skin care, bug repellant, herbal honey bandages and more!
Ages 8 & up
$315 covers all materials, supplies and instruction
Register via the enroll page
Learn more at https://earthwithingirls.org/programming/foraging-summer-camp
