Under the Willows
Under the Willows brings children into a natural outdoor setting where they grow through creative exploration, deepen their connection to nature, and build meaningful relationships.
Program Details
Type: Summer Day Program
For: Children
Ages: Up to age 12
Fees: Free
Capacity: 25 children
Dates
4 WEEK PROGRAM
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in JULY
Referrals
Referrals to Under the Willows are made through Access and System Navigation (ASN).
Nurturing curiosity, creativity, the joy of discovery, and play.
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Under the Willows… Where Children Grow.
Under the Willows provides the artists, materials, and physical-emotional space for children to develop their creativity and cooperation skills. With access to nurturing relationships, opportunities to explore the natural world and artistic expression, the children can experience themselves as whole unique persons with talents and abilities to offer not only in the Garden, but in their lives outside it!
About the Program
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Under the Willows is a summer arts, garden, and play program for children and youth who access mental health services at Lynwood Charlton Centre, providing opportunities for artistic expression, nature and play.
Born from a Revolutionary Idea
Dr. Ruth Pickering founded Under the Willows on a simple and powerful idea: alongside safety, care and support, children need a space that intentionally fosters joy, imagination, and fun.
Under the Willows emphasizes children’s strengths, curiosity, and the joy of creative exploration
Our Approach: Arts, Garden and Play
The Garden as Metaphor
Growth takes root when children are nurtured by:The freedom and choice to imagine, explore, and express themselves creatively through the arts
Time in the garden and in nature to explore, tend, and engage with the living world
Connections that foster belonging, supportive care, and joyful play
A Space to Be More Than Their Challenges
At Under the Willows, children take charge of their own experiences, discover what they can do, and celebrate their talents, capabilities and successes.Why It Matters
For over a decade, we’ve witnessed:
Healing through creativity, not just therapy
Belonging built through shared wonder
Confidence that spills into school, home, and life
"We don’t ‘treat’ kids—we treasure them. And that changes everything."
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Under the Willows nurtures every aspect of a child’s growth through an integrated approach:
1. Healing Through Joy, Not Just Therapy
We believe children who’ve faced adversity—whether poverty, trauma, discrimination, or violence—deserve more than crisis management. They deserve:
A safe space to create, play, and just be
Activities that nurture all parts of them (art, music, nature, community)
The freedom to discover their strengths (not just "fix" challenges)
2. Arts + Garden + Play = Transformative Magic
Most programs separate "therapy" from "fun." We blend them intentionally:
Art as Expression: Clay, dress-up, and drumming let emotions flow freely.
Garden as Healing: Planting and cooking teach care, patience, and resilience.
Play as Connection: Games and sandcastles build trust and joy naturally.
3. Under the Willows is a Community
Our activities support:
Connecting and collaborating with peers and mentors
Exploring, creating, and taking initiative
Celebrating achievements and discoveries together
“Through creativity, engagement with nature, and meaningful connections, children discover new possibilities.”
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The program, at this time, has the capacity to serve only 25 children each summer.
Thus, only children from families associated with Lynwood Charlton Centre have access to the summer program.
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Program Lead, Jody Boston interviews, curates and trains a team of multi-disciplinary, Hamilton- based artists who:
Are actively producing artistic work or performing in the community
Maintain composure, flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness in dynamic environments
Bring expertise in multimedia art materials, music, improvisation, acting, storytelling, or gardening
Embrace a connection-based, child-led, collaborative approach
Child and Youth Workers
Two dedicated professionals join us to support children who face challenges, ensuring everyone can participate fully.
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There are only two rules at Under the Willows:
Safety is the only ‘real and most important rule’ .
Children may choose any activity they like. They may change activities whenever they choose, or they may choose not to be in an activity.
Since most of the children have experienced and witnessed a variety of unsafe actions in their lives, the core program value is that the site, the materials and the practices among staff, volunteers and children are organized to create conditions for emotional and physical safety.
On the first day, we inform them that they may choose their activities, they may change their minds and go to another activity, they may offer their opinions (about the activities and the songs and the food), and, most importantly that “We don’t want anyone to be hurt here”.
We let them know that if “trouble” occurs and someone does get hurt, that no one will be punished and that we will all work together to make sure that “trouble” doesn’t return. In practice, we talk through each situation of conflict with those involved, blaming no one and developing alternative solutions.
What we have found is that if each child involved in a conflict is listened to respectfully, the conflict essentially dissolves. We do not label, nor do we ‘see’ either child as ‘victim’ or ‘perpetrator’, recognizing that it is not as simple as that. Each child is doing the best he/she can in the moment, each child is likely to react quickly to ‘perceived danger’ (because of previous adverse situations faced) and that a conversation often facilitates better understanding as well as options for solutions should future situations arise.
It is our sincere belief born out by thirteen year’s of experience, that by creating these particular conditions for emotional and physical safety, we optimize the possibilities for the children to engage, create, learn, develop, have fun, and most importantly, experience themselves as persons of value.
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The Under the Willows program is for children associated with any of the three partner organizations:
Lynwood Charlton Centre
Hamilton Interval House
Catholic Children’s Aid Society
If you are a parent or caregiver of a child (up to age 12) and are interested in the Under the Willows program, please:
Speak with your case worker to see if your child is eligible for acceptance into the program.
If your child is eligible, a preliminary intake form will be required for presentation to the program’s Advisory Committee who will make the final decision for admission.
Please note that there will be a waiting list if there are more referrals than openings.
Through creativity, engagement with nature, and meaningful connections, children discover new possibilities.
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Under the Willows is guided by Dr. Ruth Pickering, a retired Child Psychiatrist and community leader in Hamilton who has dedicated her life to children.
With over three decades professional work experience with children experiencing serious adversity, including poverty, abuse, trauma, neglect, marginalization and deprivation, Dr. Pickering observed in 1994:
“Whatever we do in these child service systems — reducing risk, improving behavior, keeping the children safe, modifying their behavior, medicating their symptoms — none of it is intentionally about bringing joy, stimulating creativity and imagination or having fun with them.”
Sadly, children’s services (which are, by design, focused on problems and ‘disabilities’) offer few opportunities for children to experience themselves as persons with abilities, of having personal agency, and of being seen to be persons of value.
Thus, after having the good fortune in 1994 to participate at the Spiral Garden in Toronto, Dr. Pickering was inspired to develop a similar arts-garden-play program in Hamilton.
The generous offer of the Board of Directors for Lynwood Charlton Centre to host the program “under the willows” at the new Upper Paradise site in May 2002, provided the ideal setting and access for children who would benefit from this unique outdoor developmental program.
With Dr. Pickering’s guidance, Under the Willows evolved into a collaborative partnership with three original community partner organizations: Lynwood Charlton Centre, Interval House of Hamilton-Wentworth (a Hamilton-based shelter for abused women and children), and Niwasa Headstart Preschool (a preschool program which serves and is operated by members of the Native community).
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Jody Boston, the Program Director (since 2014) is responsible for year-round oversight and development of the Under the Willows program.
Jody Boston, is also responsible for the recruitment and training of artists and volunteers and the implementation of the summer camp program.
Throughout the year, Jody works on planning each year’s program as well as a variety of outreach proposals to expand access of the Under the Willows program to more children and youth in the Hamilton community.
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In 2009 an Assessment was performed by the Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton who concluded that:
The program helped to improve the general disposition of participants. Specifically, the children were seen to be happier and more outgoing.
Some of the participants developed the ability to look at things differently, and consider others points of view.
Some of the participants developed an interest and attraction toward gardening and nature.
The program had the effect of reducing a number of antisocial behaviours. Specifically, there was a reduction in the negative behaviours of bullying and possessiveness among participants over the course of the program.
The following conclusions were generated through a synthesis of findings that emerged through the research process:
Under the Willows achieved its goals of seeing all participants through to the completion of the program and to “do no harm”.
Under the Willows has facilitated some of the same positive outcomes that have been observed through similar programs including the Spiral Garden and Cosmic Bird Feeder in Toronto and the Butterfly Garden in Sri Lanka.
Specifically, the program increased communication and positive interactions with family and friends. Participants became more polite and better listeners.
Most importantly, they conclude:
The program addresses a gap in the local child mental health system. Children with this level of behavioural issues are generally not accepted into mainstream summer outdoor recreation programs, and no comparable alternatives exist within the local child mental health system.
While the program addresses a gap it does not meet a need. With the capacity to accept a maximum of 25 children each season, hundreds if not thousands of children facing similar life circumstances will not benefit from the Willows experience.
Executive Summary: Assessment of the Under the Willows Program
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Donors are the roots of our program.
Every summer’s magic is made possible entirely by community generosity. Here’s how it works—and how you can help keep this transformative program growing.
Where Every Dollar Goes
Your support directly fuels:
People: Paying our Program Director, artists, and Child & Youth Workers
Nourishment: Healthy snacks and lunches (all provided free to families)
Materials: Art supplies, garden tools, and activity resources
Care: Maintaining our whimsical spaces (tea-house, rain shelters, activity sites)
Connection: Program newsletters and outreach
We intentionally waive all fees and offer transportation help so no child is ever turned away.
How We Keep Going (Against the Odds)
While most grants fund only "new" projects, we rely on:
Loyal Individual Donors (our lifeblood!)
Service Clubs & Local Foundations (for specific needs)
United Way (a declining but valued core grant)
The Challenge:
Operational funding is extremely rare—most grants want flashy "new" initiatives
We dream of expanding to reach more kids, but first need stable core support
How You Can Help Grow the Magic
Donate via CanadaHelps (secure, tax-deductible)
Spread the Word (share why Willows matters to you)
Connect Us (to organizations or individuals who value long-term impact)
LEARN MORE ABOUT DONATIONS
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Volunteers are the heart of our program.
At Under the Willows, our volunteers don’t just give their time—they help create transformative experiences for children who might otherwise miss out. From high school students to organic farmers, each volunteer brings something special to our program, leaving a lasting impact both on the kids and themselves.
Why Volunteer With Us?
Be a role model: Teens and adults alike inspire children through hands-on activities and genuine connections.
Grow your skills: Many volunteers discover new passions—some even pursue careers in child development, education, or mental health after their time here.
Join a community: Whether you’re planting in our organic gardens, building our beloved gazebo, or helping fundraise, you’re part of something meaningful.
How You Can Help
We welcome volunteers for:
Summer Program (4 weeks in July, Tues–Thurs, 8 AM–4 PM)
Seasonal "Working Bees" (garden prep, site setup/takedown)
Fundraising & Special Projects
Interested? Please visit connect with us.
How to Access Services
The program, at this time, has the capacity to serve only 25 children each summer.
Thus, only children from families associated with Lynwood Charlton Centre have access to the summer program.
Eligibility
Referrals to Under the Willows are made through Access and System Navigation (ASN).
Make a Referral