FOREST KINDERGARTEN
Play-Based Nature-Immersive
Kindergarten
FOR CHILDREN AGES 4 - 6
We refer to our early childhood program as a Kindergarten, according to the original usage of the term. In this mixed-age Waldorf-inspired program, children spend the majority of their time in our expansive outdoor classroom each day, rain or shine.
“Rest nurtures creativity, which nurtures activity. Activity nurtures rest, which sustains creativity. Each draws from and contributes to the other.”
Program Overview
Designed for children ages 4-6.
We offer half-day and full-day enrollment options:
Half-day: 8:45 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
Full-day: 8:45 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
Students may enroll in the 3 (M-W), 4 (M-Th), or 5 (M-F) day a week program.
Barring inclement weather, children spend the majority of the school day in our forest classrooms.
The Rhythm
Our program allows childhood gifts to unfold in a gentle atmosphere of beauty, natural elements, and human warmth. Through a daily and weekly rhythm that takes them both inside our homelike classrooms and outside to the forest, our children are given a solid foundation in which to learn and play. Consistency and simplicity are cornerstones of this program. Weekly activities consist of storytelling, song and movement, watercolor painting, drawing, finger knitting, sewing, preparing and sharing meals, tidying, and plenty of open-ended free play in the forest. This rhythmic structure builds security, confidence, and a sense of order that forms the beginnings of healthy life habits.
The Curriculum
The first seven years of a child’s life are devoted to the development of the physical body and play is the child’s work in the Kindergarten. Neural pathways in the developing brain are laid down through movement and imaginative play, building a strong foundation for later academic learning. Plenty of free, unstructured play encourages problem-solving, creative thinking, and facilitates healthy social interaction. Children learn through imitating the world around them and when given the opportunity to imitate that which is beautiful, meaningful, and true, then they are able to go forth in life with initiative and purpose.
The Classroom and Teacher
With 14 acres of land, our Kindergarten students spend their school days amongst the trees. When indoors, the children enjoy a warm home-like environment.
The Forest Kindergarten teacher models purposeful use of language, meaningful physical movement, and cultivation of beauty for the children. Our teachers are specifically trained individuals who, through rhythm, repetition, and reverence, create a wholesome environment that nurtures the physical, emotional, and social development of each child. As skilled naturalists, our teachers encourage scientific curiosity and engagement with the natural world.
Interested?
