Syd's Nature Kids

04/16/2026

Just one more day until this conference kicks off!! I am so looking forward to it. Not too late to get your tickets!

04/11/2026

I am SO excited and grateful to see an opportunity like this coming to our area!! Check it out 🌱

Hi, I’m Leslie — founder of Creekside Academy here in Ona, WV.

If you’ve ever felt like traditional school just isn’t the right fit for your child… you’re not alone.

And if you’ve considered homeschooling, but you’re not sure you want to do it completely on your own… I understand that too.

That’s exactly why Creekside Academy was created.

Creekside is a hybrid learning program for students in 4th through 6th grade.

As we open in our first year, we’re starting with these grades intentionally, with plans to grow and expand in the future.

Students are enrolled as homeschoolers through the county, but come together in a classroom setting two days each week.

📚 Monday & Wednesday | 9:00–1:30

During that time, students are taught by a certified teacher, build friendships, and stay supported and on track academically.

On the other days of the week, families continue their child’s learning at home with structure and support.

It really gives you the best of both worlds…

the flexibility and personal connection of homeschooling,
with the structure, support, and community of a classroom.

Creekside students meet at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Ona, WV.

We are intentionally small, because we want every child to be known, supported, and encouraged.

This isn’t just about academics — it’s about creating a calm, positive environment where kids can truly grow.

If this sounds like something your family has been looking for, I would love to connect with you.

You can message me here 🤍

04/10/2026

“Ms Sydney I found some flowers for you” 🌼

Some of my favorite words 🫶🏻

Almost every day on the playground, my sweet little students excitedly bring me what most would call weeds. But to them, they are beautiful treasures. And it’s been reminding me of two things….

🌱 Nature invites wonder so effortlessly.
Kids don’t see weeds, they see beauty and they want to share it.

🧩 Learning is happening in the little moments.
“Wow! How many did you find? Let’s count them!” Sharing excitement and connection is what makes learning stick. It matters to them.

We don’t always need perfect lessons or Pinterest worthy activities. So much growth is happening right in front of us, in the simplest moments 💛

04/08/2026

Another excellent local opportunity! I am looking forward to this experience! 🐦

04/08/2026

Full schedule for the Radical Family Wellness Conference next weekend 🎉

I am really looking forward to hearing so many of these women speak and pour into me & my family. I think it’s going to be such a life giving couple of days. I would love to see some of you there!

Link to purchase tickets below 👇🏼🎟️

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/radical-family-wellness-conference-tickets-1979358089328?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

04/06/2026

“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle…” — Ecclesiastes 11:6 🌱

I have been working in our garden and this verse keeps popping into my head.

Gardening has a way of reminding you that you can’t rush growth. You can’t control the outcome. You just show up, tend to your plants, and trust the process.

And sometimes it looks messy.

Isn’t parenting the same?

We are constantly sowing seeds; trying to instill faith, connection, curiosity, confidence, etc.

The beauty is that you don’t have to know what will “work” or get it all right.

God handles the growth.

We just keep showing up.
We keep sowing.
And trust that God’s hand is doing the work.

Thank you Jesus for your promises, for being faithful, and for bearing the weight for us! 🙌🏻

04/03/2026

Pausing scheduled weekly meet-ups until further notice. We are quickly approaching due date for our little girl and I can’t commit to a scheduled time in this season.

However we will still be getting outside as much as possible and hope you will too! 🌱🥾🐌🐞🪏

Can’t wait to see you all so soon with another little one in tow 🫶🏻

03/30/2026

Join us tomorrow outside! ☀️

I’ve had some people ask what the meet ups consist of…

It’s just moms and littles meeting in the woods to play. We let them lead and that usually ends up in the creek 😅

It’s nothing structured or planned. Just a group to help each other get outside more. As a working mom (whose also in her third trimester 🤰) I needed some accountability bc evenings can be tough and it’s always easier to get out there with other people 💚

03/29/2026

🌿Holy Week 🌿 I have always loved the symbolism of Easter in the spring. The way we see the rhythms of life, death, and renewal everywhere we look.

As new life is popping up everywhere, we’re reminded that first seeds had to buried in the ground before they could grow. The trees had to lose their old leaves before new growth could return.

Spring is a direct reflection of the Cross. ✝️

What looked like loss was actually the greatest victory. What seemed like the end was only the beginning of new life through Jesus.

It’s so powerful to me that the Lord has given us a world that points back to Him. From the very beginning he has used creation to be our teacher.

This Holy Week, I hope you’ll step outside with your children. Slow down and notice the small details. Let nature be your classroom as you talk about what this week means because they are never too young to hear the story of hope, sacrifice, and redemption that comes through Jesus. 💚🌱

03/26/2026

Do any other full-time working moms feel like getting their hours outside can be really hard?

Trying to get outside in the evenings but the to-do list just never ends? 😵‍💫

I find myself torn all the time. All I want to do when we get home is spend the evening outside, but there’s also dinner to make, lunches to pack, and everything to get ready for the next day. It can really feel like a lot.

One thing that’s helped me so much is prepping ahead—either full meals or just components. On Sundays, I’ll batch cook chicken to keep in the fridge so I have it ready to throw in recipes, or double a recipe and freeze half. It makes those busy evenings feel so much lighter.

Tonight was a perfect example: I pulled spaghetti sauce and meatballs from the freezer that I made last month, boiled some noodles, and dinner was done in 15 minutes. 🤌🏻

We even got to eat it outside on the patio which made it a win-win! ☀️

If you struggle with this too, what are some ways you make it happen? You are not alone in the struggle!

03/25/2026

How cool is this?! We saw some of the beautiful boxes up yesterday during our meet up and some people were asking questions I didn’t have the answers to. Now you can learn all about it! 💙🐦

03/24/2026

🌿🌿🌿

🌿 Radical Family Wellness Conference Speaker Spotlight 🌿

Supporting families, children, and healthy childhoods, this conference highlights voices who combine faith, nature, and practical tools to help kids thrive.

✨ Meet Sydney Skiles ✨

Sydney Skiles is the founder of Syd’s Nature Kids, a mission inspired by her love for child development, faith, and the natural world. She encourages families to embrace play, trust child-led experiences, and reconnect with the wisdom of nature—believing that God intentionally designed it to nurture imagination, resilience, and sensory-rich learning.

A Christian, mother, and special education preschool teacher, Sydney brings professional expertise and personal conviction to her work. She inspires parents to lean into play and trust that it is enough, helping children thrive in a world that often prioritizes early academics, over-scheduled days, and screens.

Through Syd’s Nature Kids, Sydney calls families to reclaim childhood—not just for their children’s development, but for the health, joy, and wholeness of the entire family.

💛 Don’t miss her session to learn how play, faith, and nature can transform your family’s life.

🎟️ Grab your tickets and join us!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/radical-family-wellness-conference-tickets-1979358089328?aff=ebdssbdestsearch