Kim Soles established Indigo Nature Arts in 2011. Her focus was to create opportunities for children to spend more time in nature. Indigo Nature Arts summer day-camp program was born. Other programs followed and included weekend, after-school and weekly home-school photography and art workshops. Kim’s background in the arts, combined with her lifelong studies of nature shape the programs she offers. Based on a holistic philosophy, Indigo Nature Arts incorporates child-led play, woodland hiking, fine arts, handwork, and essential nature exploration. All programs communicate the idea of staying present as the children develop motor skills, along with strength of body, mind and spirit.
In the late 1990’s, Kim began Art Muse program for young children in Park Slope, Brooklyn. After a move to Philadelphia in 2001, she was hired at a recognized landscape and architecture design studio while her daughter attended the Waldorf School of Philadelphia. Intrigued by Rudolf Steiner’s Waldorf Education approach, she maintained involvement within the Waldorf community which strengthened her perspective on artistic-inspired knowledge. Kim gained a clear understanding of the value of simplicity in childhood.
In 2004, Kim had the vision to form a community-inspired, therapeutic healing arts space. Mt. Airy Healing Art’s Space – MAHAS was founded. After revamping a two-story dwelling, she proposed a time-sharing system to alternative therapists from the Philadelphia area. MAHAS was an asset to the community and offered child play therapy, music therapy, body psychotherapy, private yoga, as well as provided workshops on the benefits of medicinal herbs, acupuncture and more. While maintaining and supporting MAHAS, she researched and experienced alternative healing methods which reinforced her beliefs. In 2006, Kim handed the established business over to a group of practicing therapists. Sustaining her living as a designer, and after becoming a single parent, she sold original designs to Anthropologie, a popular, Philadelphia-based retailer. Kim’s vision of MAHAS prospered and continues to thrive today as - Mt. Airy Psychotherapy & Wellness, located a few doors from where it began.
Kim’s work with children spans over an eighteen-year period. Her passion is sharing her diversity in artistic knowledge and encouraging children to engage in the use of all of their divine senses. Kim’s four years employment at The Wissahickon Environmental Center led to administrative and environmental education experiences before she launched and inspired art and nature programming. She has offered programs at various educational centers including: Awbury Arboretum – the Francis Cope House, The Cedars House, The Waldorf School of Philadelphia, the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently in the sixth year of Indigo Nature Art’s summer day-camp program.
Indigo Nature Arts summer camp programs are at full capacity. Children attend from more than twenty-five schools. Kim invites teachers and artists to assist and share their talents that align with her vision. Musicians, artists, yoga teachers, beekeepers, herbalists, and mindfulness teachers have worked with the kids in camp. She believes children desire to spend more time in nature, a longing that is now intruded on by screens. She has learned that children are also open and willing for self-care instruction. - “Children, all children, are ready to stop and take a breath. Actually, three breaths. Something inside them knows when it is needed. This helps them to call upon their most basic life-gift, - the breath.”
Kim's recent studies of the Yoga Calm for Children Wellness Program; a certified program designed for children established by Lynea and Jim Gillen, combined with her experience in nature arts programming, she has incorporated the five principles of Yoga Calm into Indigo Nature Arts and Wellness. Her goal is to guide children in physical and emotional wellness practices. - “The expansion and infiltration of technology, along with an erratic political climate and overuse of social media, I recognize and sense the tremendous need for children to engage in self-care. I wholeheartedly believe it is paramount for a healthful existence.”