Thank you so much to The Philosophy Learning & Teaching Organization for their support of our 2022 philosophy walks & symposia series on nature. – Marisa Diaz-Waian, Director of Merlin CCC
About Our 2022 Philosophy Walks & Symposia Series on Nature
In addition to our regular Spring-Fall philosophy walks, we are delighted to be offering two specialty walks focusing on our relationship with nature.
The first walk takes place in May and features guest speakers Patrick Judge & Dennis McCahon. Here we’ll be looking at place, climate change & urban design and some of the practical implications posed by our changing environments.
The second walk takes place in October and marks the return of our annual Halloween Hayride Philosophy Walk for Kids. In this outing, led by Mitchell Conway (and featuring guests Martin Richard & Michael Chapman), we’ll go “into the wild” together — exploring nature (and our place as wild things within it) through storytelling, improv, and activities.
These two walks also tie in with our 3-part philosophy symposia series in September, featuring guest speakers Martin Ogle & Lailani Upham, which explores Gaia Theory and Indigenous perspectives on nature.
About The Philosophy Learning & Teaching Organization
PLATO’s mission is to empower preK-12 students through philosophy. Their innovative educational programs serve thousands of students, teachers, and parents nationally and internationally, with an emphasis on reaching students in underserved classrooms and communities.
PLATO’s programs foster critical thinking, tolerance and understanding of diverse viewpoints, self-confidence, reasoning skills, and much more. Since 2016 PLATO has funded a wide range of innovative philosophy programs around the US, including summer camps and institutes, community activities, ethics workshops, curriculum development, outreach programs, philosophy clubs, and many more. Many of the programs funded by PLATO take place in public and other non-traditional settings, and all seek to broaden philosophy’s reach around the United States.
In 2022, PLATO merged with The University of Washington’s Department of Philosophy’s Center for Philosophy for Children. Their new website replete with lesson plans, online publications, and more is a great resource for all things philosophy! Learn more about PLATO here!