“At Little Roots, Big Adventures, I want to give children what I had as a child,” Maria Hoffman exclaims in a bright, enthusiastic voice. With Native American heritage, Maria grew up in the mountains of North Georgia and attributes her love of nature to her grandfather, who exposed her to the natural world while hiking and camping. She reminisces about walking barefoot in creeks, catching minnows, and chasing frogs and lightning bugs. 

That early love of nature and the magic of her childhood have inspired her life.  Now, she nurtures young minds through outdoor play and environmental education, which is what her Summer Camp, Little Roots, does. During the school year, she serves as an outdoor educator and teacher at the Renaissance School of the Eastern Shore in Daphne and proudly talks about all she has accomplished there. She created a brand-new outdoor education program and teaches a class called Nature Academy, with the curriculum written entirely by Maria.

“We have 6 garden boxes and a tortoise named Tilly.  Biology is the main subject for my classes. Because this area is ecologically so diverse, I want to teach kids to grow into good stewards of this area. Did you know we have more species of crawfish here than anywhere?! “ I learn something new with every interview.

The mission of Little Roots is to help children grow roots in nature, themselves, and within their community. This summer, at the Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education in Fairhope, she provides students with a space to get dirty, allowing them to build confidence, curiosity, and compassion. Campers explore native plants, coastal ecosystems, and biodiversity on the school grounds and the coastline of Mobile Bay. 

Campers are aged 7 to 14, and sessions are held weekly from 9 am to 1 pm. One of the things Maria is particularly excited about is the Trail Blazers Program, where high school students volunteer as counselors. At the Renaissance School, students are required to have volunteer hours to graduate, so having her former students as counselors is a perfect fit. 

“Teenagers sometimes lose their inner child, and I love watching the walls come down when they interact with the campers. There is a shift in their demeanor when they become responsible leaders and gain naturalist knowledge as part of their experience. Everyone who participates gets to be outside, be themselves, and build a connection with nature and each other. When I leave camp each day, my heart is so full.”

Maria is passionate about conservation and is involved in many beneficial endeavors. At the top of the list is a T-shirt that she has designed with 40 native Alabama species on the back. All the proceeds will fund oyster reef restoration in Mobile Bay. She founded the Alabama Foraging Society and plans to be involved in outdoor education programs at the Hope Community in Fairhope. She organizes Mobile Bay cleanups and is currently cleaning up the campus of the Organic School. Not only that, but she is also writing an outdoor education curriculum for a private school in Robertsdale. 

“Kids that love Nature become adults that care,” and Maria is a prime example of this statement. Outside experiences foster appreciation and respect for the environment, and bonding with nature increases the likelihood of eco-friendly practices. Maria is leading by example and is doing a great thing for the Scenic98coastal community!