Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christy Walter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Christy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

Most camps or childcare options out there are all about entertaining children. I get it…they need direction and guidance, and everyone loves some type of keepsake or make-and-take to bring home. At TimberNook, however, we do things differently. We are all about child-led activities and experiences and memories over tangible end products. We, as the provider, set up the environment to welcome open ended play. We encourage safety while letting their imaginations run wild. We believe in risky play and getting muddy and mixed age groups and lifelong lessons through self-identity.

Christy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Christy Walter, and in a word, I am a provider. At home, I provide love and laughter, loyalty and comfort, real and raw moments to my husband…through thick and thin. I provide for my kids in every way that I am able…soaking in all the moments along this wild journey of parenthood.

At TimberNook North Texas, I provide an environment for children to come and simply be kids. I provide them the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive at their own pace. I was an educator for eleven years- two as a substitute and nine in my own classroom. All of those years were spent within an elementary, and seven of them specifically in Kindergarten. I resigned from teaching and moved on to TimberNook because I saw beyond the walls. I knew the kids (especially the youngest) needed more freedoms and less rigid schedules, testing, and structure. I loved my time as a teacher, and it taught me so much, but I knew I could provide more being outside of the physical classroom.

It’s surely been a rollercoaster since leaving the schools and starting TimberNook North Texas in 2018. I’ve been through two locations, two childbirths, a pandemic, and many other loops and turns along the way. I’m proud that I haven’t given up yet, and I don’t plan to any time soon.

The look on the kid’s faces during our programming is worth it all….muddy hands, skinned knees, messy hair, paint covered shirts, and ear-to-ear grins! The parents sharing what we do with other parents is so special…sending photos or tagging other parents saying, “this is what I was telling you about.” The returning clients from summer to summer brings me joy….seeing the kids grow over the years and watching them be leaders to the new kiddos.

TimberNook North Texas is a simple concept based on getting kids outside and enjoying and respecting the outdoors. TimberNook North Texas is complex in the therapeutic benefits nature has to offer and in the opportunities these kids get to grow mentally, physically, and socially.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

As an early education teacher, I was constantly looking at how I could better serve my students. As the years moved on, and the kindergartners kept coming through…I was noticing more and more deficits. In a world driven by technology, the students attention span, their language, their social skills, and so much more…seems to be declining. I wanted to arm myself with the right tools to combat what seemed to be a growing problem. I began to look into books about child development. I came across Balanced and Barefoot by Angela Hanscom. As I was reading, I was highlighting and shaking my head in agreement to what was just about every single word. All of her research and observations were in alignment with what I was thinking and seeing. So what was the answer?!
She mentioned that due to all of her findings, this was why she founded TimberNook. Upon looking it up, and digging deeper, I realized that this was totally something I was a fan of and would love to be a part of. I searched for one near me, and when their wasn’t one even in the state of Texas, I realized I wanted to make this happen.
I felt like I met Angela by just reading her book, but once I spoke with her over the phone about her passions, I knew it was meant to be.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Lesson: step back but tune in Back Story: I’ll never forget when I was training to become a provider in New Hampshire. Here I am…a teacher for 9 years trying to observe and “step back but tune in.” I’m not going to lie. It was a learning curve to watch and not intervene because that’s what I was used to doing. The group of kids (a set of siblings included) was at the rope swing. They began to fight over who got a turn, how long they got, etc. I immediately wanted to casually go over to help “solve” their problem, but I saw Angela and other counselors witness it and not move or act on it. So I sat back and watched. Within maybe 5 minutes, this mixed age group (including siblings) had come up with a plan to make a line, take turns, count out loud (so each had the same amount of time on the rope), and even help the younger ones who wanted to try. It was eye opening to me that if you JUST give them a chance…they are so incredibly capable!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.timbernook.com/provider/timbernook-north-texas/
• Instagram: @TimberNookNTX
• Facebook: TimberNook North Texas