Teaching girls to be kind to themselves & to others.
With a little help from Mother Nature.
A blend of hiking + SEL-informed empowerment workshops for girls ages 5-14.
You can hike with us
About Kind By Nature
Created by Rachel Sutton, Kind By Nature is a self-empowerment program for girls ages 5-14 blending SEL-informed (social emotional learning) workshops and the power of nature + physical activity through hiking. To support growth, there will be separate dedicated hikes for each age group.
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Fueled by her own trying times of girl-hood, Rachel founded Kind By Nature to give young girls what she always craved when she was younger – community, mentorship, and self-care. And now more than ever, with youth enduring an isolating year of at-home schooling and separation from friends, Kind By Nature offers a much needed and safe way to get out of the home and into the great outdoors.
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An avid hiker, Rachel has experienced the gifts that physical activity and nature can provide the mind and the body. Inspired by studies showing that individuals open up more whilst in motion and in the outdoors due to its non-confrontational nature, the Kind By Nature workshops are designed to provide girls with equal parts sweat, self-reflection and connection.
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Each outing will begin with a meet + greet, fun icebreaker activities, followed by ~30 minutes of hiking, an engaging workshop supplemented with crafts at the halfway point, ~30 minutes of hiking back to our original meeting spot, and a warm-down to talk about our takeaways from the day.
About Rachel
Ask anyone who knows her and they'll tell you the same thing – Rachel is great with youth. A self-proclaimed kid at heart, Rachel's playfulness, unmatched energy and ability to connect with others have made her a natural with the younger generation. Rachel is an older sister, becoming a natural mentor at a young age, and has been a camp counselor, babysitter and nanny since she can remember, providing care for newborns to teens.
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Rachel grew up in South Pasadena, CA and is an alumni of South Pasadena High School and the University of San Francisco. After graduating college in 2014, Rachel went on to work at respected public relations agencies around the country. Though talented she is at PR, Rachel has felt a calling to work with youth for some time, leading her to create Kind By Nature in 2020.
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Rachel is currently enrolled in University of Colorado, Boulder's Social Emotional Learning certification course, and has received youth mentor training through NAMI. She also has a Mental Health First Aid certificate as well as CPR + First Aid certificate. And because you'd want to know your child is in good hands, Rachel is an upstanding, law-abiding citizen and can happily share fingerprints, background check, and references as requested.
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The Hikes
All hikes will mainly take place in Northeast Los Angeles (Pasadena, Glendale, La Canada, etc.). Sometimes we'll throw in a beach hike on the west side, too, but don't worry, Rachel will give you ample heads up on location so you can plan accordingly.
Each outing will be a total of 2 hours + 30 minutes, and the hiking portion will be 1 hour + 15 minutes max. All hikes will be no more than three miles long, and trails will range from easy to moderate.
Workshops
After hiking to our halfway point, we'll gather in a shady area on the trail and begin our workshop portion of the outing. Using SEL tactics and activities, the workshops will cover a different topic each time, including self-care, mindfulness, gratitude, friendships, and more. You can expect activities like crafts, meditation, and fun ice breaker games. ​
Rachel will supply each hiker with branded Kind By Nature notebook, a pencil, and additional craft supplies as needed.
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What To Bring
Prior to each hike, Rachel will send a detailed email with the meeting point and items needed. But, before setting out on our adventure, please come prepared with:
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A backpack
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Sturdy hiking shoes or running shoes
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Breathable workout attire
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Water bottle
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Protective face mask
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Any additional items you need like sunscreen, additional snacks, sunglasses, gloves, etc.
COVID-19 Safety
All hiker's parental guardian will be asked to fill out and sign a form to certify that neither the individual nor its family members have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms. If an individual has been exposed or experiencing symptoms, we ask that they refrain from attending to limit exposure to their fellow hikers.
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Though we'll be outdoors in nature, we require all hikers to wear a protective face mask during the entirety of the hike.
Two Hikes Package
$50
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Comes with two hikes and your very own branded Kind By Nature notebook.
Pricing
Three Hikes Package
$80
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Comes with three hikes and your very own branded Kind By Nature notebook.
First Hike
$30
*Each additional individual hike will be $32 after first purchase
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Comes with one hike and your very own branded Kind By Nature notebook.