The infants at RisingOaks Early Learning | St. Patrick, enjoyed creating mud art outdoors, exploring the natural materials around them and connecting with the land through play. Using mud and tiny pine branches as paint brushes, they experimented with making marks, lines, and patterns while discovering the different textures nature provides. The children were curious about how the mud felt on their hands, on the pine branches, and as it moved across different surfaces. Audrey enjoyed using the rollers, pushing them through the mud and watching the tracks appear behind them. She repeated this process several times, carefully observing the patterns she created. Thaniel, Logan, and Harnaaz loved exploring the mud with their hands, squeezing, spreading, and patting it while noticing its cool, squishy texture. They used their fingers and pine branches to create their own unique mud art. Max was especially interested in the scoopers, carefully filling, carrying, and dumping mud as he explored different ways to move and shape it. Being outdoors allowed the children to experience Indigenous ways of learning through direct connection with nature. Indigenous perspectives teach us that the land is our first teacher, offering opportunities to learn through observation, exploration, and respectful interaction. As the children used pine branches as paintbrushes and mud as a natural art material, they experienced the gifts of the land in a meaningful and hands-on way. They were learning that nature provides endless opportunities for creativity, discovery, and wonder.Through this outdoor mud art experience, the children developed creativity, sensory awareness, fine motor skills, and problem-solving skills while building a growing appreciation for the natural world around them. Their smiles, curiosity, and excitement showed just how much joy can be found when learning alongside the land.