Welcome To The Willowood Adventure Society

Hello Friend!

I’m so glad you’re here! I wanted to give you a behind the scenes look at why and how the Willowood Adventure Society came to be and to invite you to join me in the noble task of helping our children become little world changers marked by strong character. 

I’m Cheyenne the illustrator and author behind all of the little critters you and your little one will meet during your time with the Willowood Adventure Society. Before getting married and having our little Wild One I went to university where I changed majors multiple times. There were so many things I wanted to learn but none of the majors I chose really suited me. That all changed one day when my Race and Identities professor pulled me aside after class. He asked me what my major was, I told him and he promptly told me I needed to go talk to the Dean of Philosophy and change my major. It was definitely one of those moments you always remember, a defining moment. I listened to his advice and suddenly this rather sheltered very shy little Christian girl became one of the only girls in a department of super smart, super opinionated men. Together we wrestled with the big questions of life. We investigated metaphysics, discussed existential reality and pondered ethics and morality. Through it all I discovered that the best way to communicate the truth isn’t through debates or arguments... it’s through telling a story and living in such a way that others get to see the truth of that story lived out. 

Humans young and old need stories. We need examples to see and feel and follow. 

The lessons I learned as a philosophy major and from serving with children and youth for over a decade have convinced me of the importance of helping the next generation become young men and women marked by good character... and the best way to help isn’t through moralizing lectures. The Willowood Adventure Society was born out of a desire to provide my little one with activities and stories that would help him see and experience what it looks like to have good character. In my search for supplementary curriculum and activities I discovered that most of the products and programs designed to encourage the development of virtues and good character are not particularly kid friendly. Either they approach character development as if it were a course to set along side math, science and other subjects and devoid of an element of fun, or they are aesthetically unappealing to my preschooler. I found myself wishing for books I could read to my toddler with fun quirky detailed illustrations like the Richard Scarry books he is so captivated by but with the ethos of The Book of Virtues that I grew up reading. With the hopes of creating cute and engaging characters and fun character building stories I began writing and drawing. The characters that make up the Willowood Adventure Society have been developed with the help of my Wild One who is a budding art critic and loves animals! 🙈 If he gets excited about an illustration or character they’ll likely find their way to this little corner of the web. 

The philosophy of the Willowood Adventure Society revolves around the notion that young children learn best through play and by being provided with good stories. As such it is my goal to provide you with cute printables and engaging stories to equip you as you endeavor to help your Wild Ones grow in virtue and strong character.

I’ll be posting more behind the scenes content about the development of the little critters that make Willowood home along with content about why we’ve chosen to focus on play and stories as the tools we use to equip you as you help your Wild One CULTIVATE CHARACTER ONE MOMENT AT A TIME.

I’m excited to go on this crazy parenting adventure with you!

Blessings,

Cheyenne