Wynsum Desert Learning Center - Phoenix Arizona

On November 7, 2022 my entire world came crashing down. My children and I were in a tragic car accident that took the lives of my children. Gwyndolyn was 16 and Rowyn was 15. I survived with severe injuries which I am still recovering from. They were my entire world. My saving grace is that I was able to homeschool them and spend every single day for the last 11 years with them. They were the most amazing people I knew and the world would have been a better place with them in it.

The year that followed has been the hardest year of my entire life. I lost my children, my husband (who filed for a divorce shortly after), my business, my dreams, and I had to leave the state that I fell so deeply in love with over the last 4 years. I had relocated back to Georgia from Arizona so that I could be closer to my family. I am no longer the person I used to be. I have dealt with complex grief and suffer from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I questioned God almost every day asking why I survived and they didn't. From what I have been told I shouldn't have survived either. After I was told that I realized that I am still here for a reason and I do still have a purpose. So I started to think about what my future looks like and what I can do to help others and carry on Gwyndolyn and Rowyns legacy.

Gwyndolyn and Rowyn were both nature lovers. They were each just a few days old when they went on their first hikes. Gwyndolyn had a love for all animals and had a magical way of getting any animal domestic or wild to come to her. She was like a modern-day Snow White. She aspired to be a wildlife biologist and work for Arizona Game and Fish or Working Dogs for Conservation. Rowyn was passionate about birds and helping kids with disabilities get outdoors. We spent 5 or more days a week outdoors learning and exploring. In 2017 I started homeschool a forest school in GA, called Educating Children Outdoors, so that my children and I could share our love for nature with other homeschoolers. In 2018 we moved to Arizona where my passion for environmental education and sharing about the natural world grew 10 fold. In 2019 I started a homeschool desert school program that grew from 2 programs in one city to 11 programs in 4. And of course Gwyndolyn and Rowyn were right there beside me. Not only did they attend as students but they also helped teach. Since they were going to be headed off to conquer the world soon I had started thinking long and hard about buying my own land to open a desert learning center. After the accident, I gave this dream up.

When I was hit with the realization that God has kept me here on earth for some greater purpose I realized it was to make the desert learning center a reality. So I am moving back to Arizona in May because that is where my heart and soul are. It is where Gwyndolyn and Rowyn flourished and found their passions. The community science projects they convinced me to help them start, the Phoenix Metro Christmas Bird Count and Greater Phoenix City Nature Challenge are there, which I have still been running from Georgia. Arizona is where I am meant to be.

So I will continue their legacy and am starting to raise funds to purchase land and open the Wynsum Desert Learning Center. Wynsum, which contains the wyn that is in both of their names, means joyful or childlike depending on the spelling. The logo contains their favorite animals, Rowyns spark bird the hummingbird, and the animal Gwyndolyn was devoted to help saving the wolf. And it includes their favorite colors purple and orange.

The funds raised from this campaign will be used to help purchase land and/or create learning spaces. I am in the process of looking into becoming a 501c3 so that I can also apply for grants. I will post updates on the GoFundMe page to keep you updated on milestones, you can also check the website www.educatingchildrenoutdoors.com for updates.

Donors will be highlighted on our website and eventually be listed on a sign on our property.

Thank you, Gwyndolyn and Rowyn's mom Kathy Balman