Our Forest School is
Play-based and Place-based
with a child-directed, emergent curriculum
What is an emergent curriculum?
Rooted in the work of early childhood theorists like Dewey, Piaget, and Vygotsky, emergent curriculum is a process where teachers plan activities and projects in response to a specific group of children they are working with, taking into account their skills, needs, and interests. It can be practiced at any grade level.
A Day at our Forest School
We begin our time together with movement and free play, engaging with materials around our “forest classroom” alongside a large, mixed-age group of children ages 3–10. Around 9:45 AM, our 7–10 crew—the BlueJays—get our backpacks on and head out to another space on the farm, whether forest or field. We have a snack, read a chapter book together, and then venture out. Choice is the name of the game: children can engage with the materials we’ve provided or play freely as they feel pulled. We pause from our play to investigate for a bit: noticing, wondering, comparing, & collecting, while documenting our findings in our nature journals. After lunch, we usually transition to a different spot on the farm, guided by the children's interests that day. Our days also feature group games, fire building and cooking, imaginative play, fort building, arts and crafts, and team challenges, among other adventures. We wrap up our day together with a gratitude circle and a brief mindfulness practice.
Enrollment Details
To be eligible, children should be at least 7 by September 1st.
9am-3pm on
Tuesdays September through May
30 Days notice required to unenroll
Program Fees 2026-2027
Program fees are split into 10 equal monthly payments beginning August 15th, with the final payment due May 15th.
$2,150 for year ($215 due per month 8/15-5/15)
Inquire about space for drop-ins or short term enrollment