What if homeschooling was about more than completing lessons, checking boxes, and making sure our children are keeping up academically? What if education could be an opportunity to cultivate wonder, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning?
S4E11 – Cultivating Wonder Through Homeschooling & Nature Study | Camila Johnson – A More Beautiful Life Collective Podcast
- S4E11 – Cultivating Wonder Through Homeschooling & Nature Study | Camila Johnson
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One of the things I love most about homeschooling is the opportunity to create an atmosphere where learning becomes a natural part of everyday life. We have the freedom to slow down, follow our children’s interests, and introduce them to the beauty and complexity of the world God has created.
But in the midst of lesson plans, curriculum choices, and the everyday demands of family life, it can be easy to lose sight of that bigger vision.
This week on A More Beautiful Life Collective Podcast, I had the pleasure of talking with Camila Johnson, founder of Eden Institute and creator of Eden’s Table, a homeschool curriculum that brings together Scripture, nature study, and hands-on learning.
As a certified teacher and homeschooling mother, Camila brings a unique perspective to education. Our conversation explored the importance of recognizing our children’s individual gifts, slowing down to appreciate God’s creation, and cultivating an environment where curiosity and a love of learning can flourish.
The Beauty of Homeschooling: An Education for the Whole Child
One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is the opportunity to truly know our children and tailor their education to their individual needs.
Every child is uniquely created, with different strengths, interests, abilities, and gifts. Yet traditional education often requires children to progress through the same material at the same pace, measured against standardized expectations.
Camila shared how her experience in the public school system helped shape her understanding of education and ultimately inspired her to pursue a different approach.
Rather than viewing education simply as a process of meeting academic benchmarks, she encourages parents to consider the whole child.
What sparks their curiosity? What are their natural interests? How can we encourage their strengths while helping them grow in areas where they struggle?
Homeschooling gives us the flexibility to ask these questions and respond to the children God has entrusted to us.
It also gives us the opportunity to recognize that education is about more than acquiring information. It’s about developing character, cultivating good habits, learning to think carefully, and preparing our children for a lifetime of learning.
The Inspiration Behind Eden’s Table
Camila’s desire to create a more holistic approach to education eventually led to the development of Eden’s Table, a homeschool curriculum centered around Scripture, nature study, and practical learning.
The curriculum invites children to explore God’s creation through an intentionally slow and thoughtful approach.
Rather than rushing through a long list of topics, Eden’s Table focuses on studying one plant each week.
Children learn about the plant’s characteristics, where it grows, its historical significance, and the ways people have used it throughout history.
These lessons incorporate geography, history, science, biblical connections, and hands-on activities, allowing children to see how different areas of knowledge relate to one another.
I love this idea because it reflects something I think we can easily overlook in our approach to education: learning doesn’t always need to be divided into isolated subjects.
The world God created is wonderfully interconnected, and studying even one small part of it can open the door to an incredible variety of discoveries.
Visit A More Beautiful Life Collective Shop for bible studies, planners, and other resources.
Cultivating Wonder Through Nature Study
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was our discussion about the importance of slowing down.
We live in a culture that values speed, efficiency, and constant progress. We’re accustomed to moving quickly from one task to the next, often measuring success by how much we’ve accomplished.
Unfortunately, that mindset can easily find its way into our homeschools.
We feel pressure to finish another lesson, complete another workbook, or move on to the next subject.
But sometimes the most meaningful learning happens when we stop rushing and simply pay attention.
Camila described how spending an entire week studying one plant gives children the opportunity to notice details they might otherwise overlook.
They begin to observe the intricate design of leaves, the conditions necessary for growth, and the many ways plants contribute to the world around us.
What might initially seem like a simple nature study lesson becomes an opportunity to develop observation, patience, curiosity, and gratitude.
And perhaps most importantly, it provides an opportunity to direct our children’s attention toward the Creator.
Psalm 19:1 reminds us:
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (ESV)
God’s creation provides countless opportunities to recognize His wisdom, power, and care.
When we encourage our children to slow down and observe the natural world, we’re helping them develop more than scientific knowledge. We’re cultivating an attitude of wonder and appreciation for the world God has made.
Learning Alongside Our Children
Another encouraging reminder from our conversation was that homeschooling parents don’t have to know everything.
In fact, one of the greatest gifts of homeschooling is the opportunity to learn alongside our children.
Sometimes we approach teaching as though we must always be the experts, prepared with every answer and explanation.
But meaningful learning often begins with a question we don’t know how to answer.
Why does this plant grow here but not somewhere else? How did people use it hundreds of years ago? What makes its leaves different from those of another plant?
These questions can lead us down wonderful rabbit trails of discovery.
Rather than feeling pressured to immediately provide an answer, we can model the process of learning by researching, observing, asking questions, and discovering together.
And in doing so, we’re teaching our children something far more valuable than any single fact.
We’re teaching them how to learn.
The goal isn’t simply to raise children who have memorized a particular collection of information. It’s to cultivate young people who are curious, thoughtful, and equipped to continue learning throughout their lives.
Creating an Atmosphere That Encourages Learning
As I’ve been thinking more about the kind of atmosphere I want to cultivate in our home, conversations like this have been particularly meaningful.
Our children are shaped not only by the lessons we teach but also by the environment we create and the habits we model.
Do we make time to notice beautiful things?
Do we encourage questions and curiosity?
Do we demonstrate a love of learning in our own lives?
Do we allow room in our schedules for exploration, discovery, and wonder?
These are questions worth considering whether we homeschool or not.
An atmosphere of learning doesn’t require an elaborate curriculum, expensive materials, or perfectly planned activities.
Sometimes it begins with something as simple as taking a walk, examining a flower, reading a beautiful book, or following a child’s question a little further than we originally intended.
The ordinary moments of our days provide countless opportunities to cultivate curiosity and appreciation for God’s creation.
And often, those are the moments our children remember most.
Try a Free Week of Eden’s Table Homeschool Curriculum
If you’re interested in incorporating more nature study into your homeschool, Camila has generously provided an opportunity to explore Eden’s Table before purchasing.
You can download a complete free week of curriculum for either of the following levels:
- Sprouts: Kindergarten through 2nd grade
- Seedlings: Grades 3–5
Each sample provides an opportunity to experience the curriculum’s approach to Scripture, nature study, and hands-on learning.
Download Your Free Week of Eden’s Table Curriculum
Save 10% on Eden’s Table Curriculum
Camila has also created a special discount for A More Beautiful Life Collective readers and listeners!
Use code CAYCE10 to receive 10% off anything in the Eden Institute bookshop, including the printed curriculum sets for both Sprouts (K–2) and Seedlings (grades 3–5).
Explore Eden’s Table Curriculum & Save 10%
Affiliate disclosure: I earn a 10% commission on purchases made using my discount code, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting A More Beautiful Life Collective!
Building a More Beautiful Life Through Wonder and Curiosity
One of the things I took away from this conversation is the reminder that cultivating a beautiful life often requires us to slow down enough to notice the beauty already around us.
It’s easy to become so focused on accomplishing everything on our schedules that we forget to appreciate the opportunities right in front of us.
Homeschooling provides a unique opportunity to cultivate an atmosphere of wonder, but the principle extends far beyond education.
Whether we’re teaching our children, managing our homes, pursuing meaningful work, or simply going about our daily responsibilities, we can choose to approach life with greater intentionality and gratitude.
We can make room for curiosity.
We can cultivate habits of observation and appreciation.
We can recognize the beauty and wisdom of God’s creation in the ordinary moments of our days.
And perhaps, in teaching our children to slow down and notice the world around them, we’ll rediscover a little of that wonder ourselves.
Listen to My Conversation with Camila Johnson
If you’re a homeschooling parent or simply someone who wants to cultivate a richer atmosphere of learning and curiosity in your home, I hope you’ll listen to this conversation.
Camila offers thoughtful encouragement for approaching education with greater intentionality, embracing the freedom to learn alongside our children, and using nature study to point our families toward the beauty of God’s creation.
You can listen to this episode of A More Beautiful Life Collective Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.
Connect with Camila Johnson & Eden’s Table
Camila Johnson is a certified teacher, homeschooling mother, founder of Eden Institute, and creator of Eden’s Table homeschool curriculum.
Through her work, she encourages families to embrace an approach to education that nurtures curiosity, integrates biblical teaching, and helps children develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Explore her curriculum, resources, and homeschool encouragement:
- Website: Eden Institute & Eden’s Table
- Free Curriculum Sample: Try a Free Week of Eden’s Table
- Curriculum Shop: Shop Eden’s Table
- Instagram: @edenstablehomeschoolcurriculum
- Facebook: Eden’s Table Homeschool Curriculum
- Pinterest: The Eden Institute
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