Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebekah Highlander.
Hi Rebekah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
True Life Connection LLC started as a dream in a little girl’s heart! This little girl’s dream was cultivated through experiencing the freedom from playing “house” with cousins on a farm, counting the wondrous stars in the mid-western sky, and exploring the amazing way the human body was designed for connection to others, nature, and our Creator!
When I was studying Occupational Therapy, I was consistently drawn towards the pediatric population, especially seeing alarming evidence that key developmental skills were being impacted by a more sedentary lifestyle. As soon as I graduated and took my boards, I became certified in the child-directed outdoor play approach, TimberNook, and brought it to Loudoun County, VA! TimberNook play is a nature-based, unrestricted, child-led, transformative play experience for kids of all abilities! It seeks to restore this primary “occupation” a child has (play), for the sake of restoring key developmental skills and health!
After getting these group programs up and running, I added more services under True Life Connection LLC, including 1-on-1 nature-based occupational therapy, homeschool programming, after-school enrichment, and more!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Outside of the entrepreneurial learning curve, a sizable struggle has been in determining how to both meet the community needs, and the financial needs of operating a small business all while adhering to the state regulations as a drop-off program in Virginia. We are not associated with any state park, school or church, and because it is play-based, we are not considered an instructional program. However, since opening our programming in 2021, we have run within these constraints, and continue to adjust program options to meet these needs! We are currently planning to pause on summer camp programs and pivot to provide field trips to our local schools and homeschools, all while continuing to provide nature-based 1-on-1 occupational therapy!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
True Life Connection grows confident, capable, and connected kids with pediatric nature-based occupational therapy and forest play groups! We have been providing group play programs through TimberNook Loudoun County since 2021! We are proud of all the kids we’ve seen overcome challenges and grow in confidence through our programs! I (Rebekah) keep the business mission-oriented and family-centered, personally communicating with parents on each child’s unique skill and growth! We see the child as a whole, considering their unique skills within each area of development (Social, Cognitive, Motor, Sensory), and their caregiver/family support system!
Current program links:
1-on-1 Nature-based Occupational Therapy Inquiry: https://forms.gle/gFLbgri7LYeMUMU98
Homeschool Programs Fall (Thursdays in Oct): https://forms.gle/5WerMq3TZh7i5ogX6
“School’s Out” Programs Fall: https://forms.gle/zoYn55YkLfxGHuqY7
truelifeconnection.com
https://timbernook.com/providers/timbernook-loudoun-county/
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Though True Life Connection LLC is not a Christian organization, my husband and I are believers in Christ and have chosen to continue to ask for guidance in God’s plan for the business. Personally, the word “risk” makes me want to curl up inside, but we’ve definitely had to take some risks! Sometimes that looks like pursuing a new program, sometimes it looks like choosing to pause or stop a certain program! We take risks, like starting new types of programs that end with either being paid or unpaid for the work that’s required. This risk has held even more weight the past 3 years as we have grown our family with my daughter (2.5 yrs) and son (8 mo)!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://truelifeconnection.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567261528668
- Other: https://timbernook.com/providers/timbernook-loudoun-county/
