FOREST SCHOOL SERIES

Preschool age Explorers will have a chance to experience Forest School alongside older students with modified activities. Explorers will participate in warm-ups, group games, and nature study based on observation and collection, while Engagers  will be more focused on written nature journaling and sketching. Explorers (4-5 years) will not use woodworking tools or do fire building, but will have modified crafts and more free and imaginative play with nature kitchen tools and fort building. Explorers will do weekly show-and-tell while Engagers do more storytelling around the fire. 

A limited number of Hands-on Helpers who are a committed and mature 11+ years old are welcome at Forest School! Big Kid helpers will assist pre-readers with literacy and writing and are an extra set of hands during tool work, fire building, and handicrafts. Reach out about this awesome leadership opportunity!

Nature provides both brilliant fine motor and gross motor development opportunity. It’s infinitely fascinating, inherently interdisciplinary, and yet not overstimulating. In an increasingly anxious and distracted world, nature offers everyday moments to cultivate the ability to truly pay attention. The created world ignites our sense of wonder, settles our brains, and stretches our abilities and imaginations. Nature is a multi sensory teacher who shows us that we are exquisitely designed, individually beloved, and yet, that we belong to something greater than ourselves.

NEW! Topic: Nature's Patterns: Strong Structures

Warm-up: Group Challenge - Create the tallest twig + clay towers. What shapes are strongest?

Mindful-Movement: Yoga Tree Pose hand-to-hand supporting eachother in a circle

Nature Study: Identifying "V" and "Y" Patterns in Nature 

Create:  Engagers: Slingshots (whittling, hand sawing), Explorers: Ash Tree Bark Rubbings

Picture Book: We Are the Branches by Joyce Sidman

Circle Sharing: Tell about a time you built something you worked really hard on 

Poem: Beehive by Betsy Franco

Hymn: When Morning Guilds the Skies 

Topic: Plant Life Cycles

Warm-up: Jumping jacks while skip counting by 10s

Mindful Movement:   Yoga Tree Pose, "dandelion breath" from Alphabreaths by Christopher Willard

Nature Study/Focused Attention Exploration: Edible Plant Scavenger Hunt

Skill: Fire building using flint striker, nettle scrambled eggs cooked over the fire

Picture Book: A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long

Circle Sharing: Practice Storytelling from a plants point of view (from seed to flower to fruit, etc)

Poem:  Flower in the Crannied Wall by Alfred Tennyson

Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth (same every time so they can memorize)

Topic: Birds

Warm-up: Cross-crawls (midline crossing exercise) while skip counting by 5s

Mindful Movement: Yoga "Eagle" Balancing Pose, 60 seconds Quiet Listening

Nature Study/Focused Attention Exploration: Bird Sights/Songs Identification Walk 

Handicraft: Making Bows and Arrows (whittling, knot tying, feather collecting)

Picture Book: My Spring Robin by Anne Rockwell

Circle Sharing: Practicing Exposition (If you were a bird... which would you be and why?)

Poem: Chickadee's Song by Joyce Sidman & Rick Allen

Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth

9:00am - Drop-off

9:05am -9:30am Warmup Mindful Movement, Breathing + Listening, Affirmations + Expectations

9:30am -10:00am Daily Topic + Activity Introduction + Focused Attention Exploration

10:00am - 10:45am Projects + Play

10:45am -11:45am Sharing Circle + Snack around the fire

11:45am - Hymn Sing + Cleanup

12:00pm - Pick-up

Children need the space to take risks, discover what their bodies can do,  and develop their own sense of personal intuition for safety and decision making. When they learn autonomy from an early age, they are more cooperative, helpful, and equipped to embark on bigger decision-making as they grow. This being said, there's a difference between some expected scrapes and bruises and serious injury. Our goal is always to safely support kids as they learn to use real tools, climb trees,  build fires, cook, and hone their outdoor skills  while maintaining clear expectations and hands-on guidance from leaders. Open communication and clear boundaries from both parents and leaders will be expected for a joyful and safe Forest School community. 

Bonus! Rachel is also a registered nurse, but plans not to need to use any of her emergency skills at our Forest School ;) 

Coming Soon! Your Child's  Gear  

Coming Soon! Your Child's  Packing List