The Wild Path Home: A Guide to Raising the Earth Stewards of Tomorrow

Many kids now get as little as 4-7 minutes of unstructured outdoor play a day while screen time soars. The Wild Path Home is a practical, research-based guide to raising connected, resilient earth stewards--from birth to the teen years.

What You'll Learn

Grounded in science and informed by Indigenous wisdom, this guide gives parents, educators, and community leaders the tools to nurture lifelong bonds between young people and the natural world. You'll discover:

• 30 age-appropriate "Landmarks" that move kids from discovery to action--from sensory play in early childhood to teen leadership and advocacy.


• Timeless stewardship principles--respect, reciprocity, responsibility--that strengthen belonging and ecological literacy.


• Hands-on outdoor activities and mentorship practices you can adapt to classrooms, camps, homeschool, and neighborhoods.


• Clear connections to mental health--how time in nature builds resilience, reduces anxiety, and fosters confidence and purpose.


• Screen-time alternatives that make it easy to choose outdoor play, community projects, and place-based learning.

Why This Book

In a tech-saturated world, outdoor education and nature connection aren't extras--they're foundations for well-being, learning, and climate readiness. The Wild Path Home blends outdoor pedagogy, environmental stewardship, and practical activities into one accessible framework you can start using today.

Who It's For

• Parents and caregivers seeking meaningful, screen-free habits


• Teachers, homeschoolers, and forest school educators


• Camp and youth program leaders, librarians, and community organizers


• Anyone ready to raise confident, compassionate earth stewards

Endorsed by Leading Voices

Without question, this is the finest book on raising children I have ever seen. -- Paul Hawken, author Carbon, Regeneration and The Book of Life

We need this book more than ever. This is my new go-to guide. What a treasure. -- Cathy Jordan, PhD, Director of Research, Children and Nature Network

Call to Action

If you want kids to feel at home in nature--and grow into capable, caring stewards--this is your roadmap. Buy The Wild Path Home today and start raising the earth stewards of tomorrow.

Jacob Rodenburg is an award-winning educator with over 35 years' experience and a master's degree in education. He is the executive director of Camp Kawartha, an innovative summer camp and leading outdoor education center, and has taught environmental education at Trent University for two decades. Jacob has helped to develop nearly 100 outdoor and environmental programs, has published dozens of articles, led scores of workshops and training programs, and has taught more than 100,000 students. He is author of The Book of Nature Connection and co-author of The Big Book of Nature Activities. Jacob's passion is finding creative ways to connect children with nature. He lives in Peterborough, Ontario.

Cathy Dueck is a lifelong naturalist who has worked in community-based environmental education for over 35 years. She is founder of the Peterborough Ecology Park where she oversaw the development and delivery of children's programs. Cathy taught in the School of the Environment at Trent University for 15 years and holds a B.A. in Environmental Science and a Master's in Canadian and Indigenous Studies. She served as lead writer, researcher, and co-ordinator for the Kawartha Region's Pathway to Stewardship and Kinship project, where she shared her passion for fostering community connection and environmental stewardship with people of all ages. Cathy has received many local, provincial, and national awards. She lives in Havelock, Ontario.