Soil and Sky grew out of years in classrooms and public schools—where schedules stay full and screens often show up as a prize. That setup can quiet a moment, but it rarely settles the feelings underneath. Here, the day is slower, smaller, and rooted outside.
Children explore, move, tell stories, and get their hands dirty while learning how the natural world works: the trees, the clouds, where water goes, how food nourishes us, and how we care for our space together. The rhythm draws on Waldorf and Montessori-inspired ideas—warm structure, not a rigid script.
No big center. No screens as the default “treat.”
Just patient, structured playtime with someone who is really teaching—not only
watching.
Meet the Founder
I started Soil and Sky as a former classroom teacher and public-school substitute who has worked with children my whole life. I am also a parent of three, so I know how loud the week can feel before anyone even asks for a snack.
Today, I nanny for a small circle of families, write nature-based curricula they can follow, and send home recaps after each learning block so grown-ups stay in the loop. My teaching blends child-led time outside with gentle routines inspired by Waldorf and Montessori philosophies: songs for transitions, care for the senses, and respect for each child’s pace.
I have taken professional development in supportive behavioral strategies through a family connection to an ABA agency, and I am especially patient with children who need a calmer setting, clearer expectations, or extra time to feel safe. Many families find me through word of mouth. For families I have not met yet, I send a short intake questionnaire so care can match how your child learns from day one.
This work is personal to me. Children talk about me when I am not in the room, and they often do not want the day to end. That is the bar I hold: not babysitting alone, but teaching through every snack, cleanup, and barefoot sprint.
Small groups, one-on-one care, and event support with a nature-first curriculum you can see and talk about at pickup.
Small-group outdoor learning
These sessions are for one or more children to explore, move, create, and learn through nature-based play—seasonal crafts, scavenger hunts, stories, sensory play, walks, and group games tied to what’s alive outside.
Families receive a written recap and nature-learning themes after our time together, so you know what we touched on and how to keep the thread going at home.
Personalized outdoor play and enrichment for individual families.
For parents who are stretched thin—this is the extra hands that still teach. We might make lunch together, sing cleanup songs, practice kind words, or build tiny routines (even silly ones) that help with transitions like potty time—always through play, never through shame.
Some children simply do better one-on-one or in a very small pod than in a loud center. If big settings have been hard on your child, we can move at their pace outdoors.
Best for: families who want individualized attention, gentle structure, and a partner in outdoor learning—not “just a babysitter.”
Hosting a birthday party, wedding, family gathering, or outdoor event?
Soil and Sky provides attentive child support with playful activities that keep children engaged, safe, and happy while adults enjoy the event.
Activities may include nature crafts, movement games, story circles, scavenger hunts, sensory play, and quiet reset activities.
Best for: birthdays, weddings, family parties, and community gatherings.
Why Nature-Based Play Matters
So much of childhood now lives indoors, on a clock, and within reach of a tablet. When screens become the main “reward,” it can be harder—not easier—for children to settle when the device goes away. Soil and Sky offers a different rhythm: body first, wonder first, then rest.
Outside, children get room to regulate big feelings, try again, and take pride in what they do, not only what they watch. That builds confidence, language, empathy, and problem-solving in a way that sticks—because it’s connected to real mud, real friends, and real tasks.
The goal is simple: more fresh air, more kindness, more movement, and play that earns its keep.
Moments at Soil & Sky
“Our family hit the jackpot when we met Desiree. Her grounding energy and kind heart matched with her educational background and outdoor play curriculum have continued to be an anchor for our daughter. We can’t recommend Desiree and her Soil and Sky program more highly, and truly are so grateful for her! ”
“Our child asks all week when they get to play outside with her again—and they actually talk about the trees and the songs on the ride home.”
“We needed someone patient who could meet our child where they are. The one-on-one time and smaller setting made a real difference in how they treat their body and their words.”
“It is not ‘just childcare.’ We get a recap of what they learned, ideas to keep going at home, and the sense that someone truly sees our kid.”
Tell us about your family, your child’s age, and what you are hoping for—recurring small groups, one-on-one support, or event care. If we have not met through a mutual friend yet, expect a few gentle questions about how your child learns so we can plan with care.
Soil and Sky will follow up with availability, session options, and next steps.
Reach out anytime at desireesmithlove@gmail.com
