What families are saying…
“We were so delighted that our son had the special chance to be a part of Gray's intrepid group of nature explorers. Gray helps the kids develop enjoyment of nature and curiosity about their world through many "secret" places tucked away in Toronto's abundant parks and wooded spaces. As a parent, it opened my eyes to the treasures that are woven throughout our urban environment. We now have a 4 year old that can hold court with even the most seasoned birder and nature enthusiast, but more importantly, he has a deep relationship with animals, plants, seasons and soil. That relationship is a lifelong gift that he (and we) will cherish forever.
Gray has a special talent for fostering positive relationships of interdependence and mutual respect. Challenges that come up between the kids are addressed directly as opportunities for each of them to learn how to interact with and appreciate one another for who they are. Our son grew in self-esteem and confidence and developed important friendships. Their program has important rhythms and routines with the flexibility to enable shared decision-making. He brought this home with him and often suggests a "morning meeting" when our own weekend home days are lacking structure!”
— Martha & Tyler
“We feel very lucky that we found Gray. Their unique, child-led nature program has been a big part of our now 5.5 year old kid’s development. Having spent time with Gray intermittently from the age of 1, our child then spent a wonderful 18 months in Gray's program as an alternative to Junior Kindergarten.
Together the children in Gray’s program discover a wide range of outdoor spaces in the Toronto area, in all seasons and all weather. We really wanted our child to be in nature as much as possible in his early years and Gray’s program was wonderful for that. An energetic and adventurous kid, he was immediately engaged and became calmer and more focused. He developed an awareness of the environment and learned about animals, insects, and the changing seasons. Gray is an expert birdwatcher and by age four our kid could identify many different bird species and knew how to use binoculars and a field guide! His favourite bird is the red-tailed hawk, he understands how to identify and avoid poison ivy and ticks, and he approaches all aspects of the natural world with confidence and respect.
Gray’s approach to childcare is loving, unfussy, adventurous, and practical: children return home extremely satisfied, tired, and dirty. Gray pays close attention to both the physical and emotional wellbeing of the small people in their care group. They are skilled at helping children work out conflict; they establish clear, respectful guidelines and boundaries for interaction; and they are very good at comforting upset kids (children adore Gray). Miraculously, Gray also somehow got our child to eat all his lunch — a task we and his current public school both find impossible to achieve. Eventually, Gray prepared our kid for Kindergarten, practicing some of the kinds of things he’d be expected to do in a classroom so that he was totally unfazed when he started indoor public school.
Last summer when Gray taught our child – in one day – how to fearlessly ride a bicycle without training wheels, his explanation was that Gray “has a special magic.” We completely agree and are extremely grateful to have found such a remarkable mentor and educator during a challenging pandemic year. “
— Alec & Jess
"Gray has played a really important role in the life of our son. There are so many skills, so many experiences, and so many insights that he has gained from spending time with Gray: hiking in numerous parks, dramatically improving his bike-riding abilities, and much more--all within the urban setting of the Toronto area. And when it comes to learning about the natural world, Gray has provided intriguing details in a hands-on way that is always fun and engaging: plants and animals of all kinds, from birds to insects. And our son's social skills have greatly benefited too, spending time and collaborating with kids with personalities and backgrounds. Gray is a truly supportive, responsible, and caring person. We are so grateful to know Gray.
— Kristen & Dan
“Our child spent close to 4 years in the loving care of Gray and so much of who he is has been informed by his time with Gray. As an elementary school teacher and outdoor educator, I could not have asked for a more ideal child care arrangement. Gray is a thoughtful, fun, and nurturing caregiver who has a deep respect for each child's individuality. Gray nourishes the spirits of the children in their care while also supporting them to understand their responsibilities to the wider community. Gray helped Neko to become a more aware and justice minded child who understands the importance of taking care of your friends as well as people you don't know yet. Gray is a miraculous educator who spends most of the time with children outdoors teaching them about birds, insects, trees and general nature awareness. They learn about gardening, and become young community scientists as well as being given lots of time for unstructured play and developing their imaginations through play in nature. With some of the children missing Junior Kindergarten, Gray helped to prepare them academically and ensured that Neko had a seamless transition into Senior Kindergarten where he is thriving and building on an amazing foundation provided by Gray.”
— Kim