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“Let nature be your teacher.” --William Wordsworth
In 2015-2016 I ran a Forest School pilot program. It was so fun, the feedback was so positive and the learning for the children so meaningful that I am implementing it as a part of our kindergarten learning rhythm for the 2016-2017 school year and dream someday of being able to do forest school weekly or daily. Forest School is designed to positively connect young children with nature through immersion programs that stimulate their innate curiosity about the natural world and happens rain or shine provided we can get to the mountain. There is no pre-determined curriculum, rather, our lessons plans flow organically from what nature presents us with each day. This school experience is modeled after the Waldkindergarten school as outlined in the award winning documentary, "Schools Out: Lessons from a Forest Kindergarten" (http://www.schoolsoutfilm.com). I believe that children learn best through direct experience with the natural world. My goal is to tap into their natural sense of wonder about nature while teaching basic environmental and natural science principles in the field. Unfortunately we don't have a forest or donated land available close by that we can use so we will spend 1 day a month over the course of 7 months up in the mountains of Mt. Charleston. In the fall we will use the Deer Creek Picnic Area for our Forest School days. This area closes when the freeze comes and from there we will move over to the Kyle Canyon Picnic Area Spot #11.
Students should come prepared for a day on the mountain and parents should be prepared for students to come home dirty, possibly wet, tired and exhilarated from a day exploring nature. A lunch with multiple snacks and water should be brought along in addition to a backpack packed with extra clothing gear for the day (think layers). Students should be able to manage all of their belongings themselves as it is a short inclined walk to the picnic area itself. Please ensure that everything is well labeled. While we can't make this program happen successfully without parent drivers, we have learned that children do not take as many risks in their learning when their parents are present. So we take enough drivers to get students to the mountain. We ask parents to work together to take turns so everyone that wants a turn participating on the mountain has an opportunity to do so. We also ask when possible that other arrangements be made for siblings as this is in fact a classroom experience NOT a field trip.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER, ONLY INAPPROPRIATE CLOTHING CHOICES
I cannot stress enough that the proper attire for all weather play is critical for the success of any outdoor program. Since my goal is to connect children with nature in a positive way and associate immersion with fun, proper clothing is probably the most important component of assuring this goal. I encourage you to read the chaperone training in addition to the winter clothing primer at the bottom of this page. I recommend specific brands for our forest school experiences based on research I've done on what other forest school organizations are using successfully. While they might be a bit more expensive at the outset I feel strongly they will result in a positive experience for your child. To help make it easier on your budget, consider shopping early to find sales and used "finds". Also please share information with other parents that will benefit our entire community.
Tentative Dates for 2016-2017 forest school are as follows (these are subject to change):
September: Friday 9/30/16
October: Thursday 10/27/16
November: Thursday 11/17/16
December: None
January: Thursday 1/26/17
February: Friday 2/24/17
March: Thursday 3/30/17
April: Friday 4/28/17 - Family Pot Luck Celebration
FOREST SCHOOL WISH LIST:
Bug boxes
Binoculars
Metal thermoses for hot water
Pocket knives suitable for little hands (5 total)
Fire starter sticks
Ball Peen Hammer (2)
Nails of various sizes
Hammock Straps (2 sets)
Plastic musical instruments (none where we use our mouths please)
Extra winter clothing donations for our back up box.
“Let nature be your teacher.” --William Wordsworth
In 2015-2016 I ran a Forest School pilot program. It was so fun, the feedback was so positive and the learning for the children so meaningful that I am implementing it as a part of our kindergarten learning rhythm for the 2016-2017 school year and dream someday of being able to do forest school weekly or daily. Forest School is designed to positively connect young children with nature through immersion programs that stimulate their innate curiosity about the natural world and happens rain or shine provided we can get to the mountain. There is no pre-determined curriculum, rather, our lessons plans flow organically from what nature presents us with each day. This school experience is modeled after the Waldkindergarten school as outlined in the award winning documentary, "Schools Out: Lessons from a Forest Kindergarten" (http://www.schoolsoutfilm.com). I believe that children learn best through direct experience with the natural world. My goal is to tap into their natural sense of wonder about nature while teaching basic environmental and natural science principles in the field. Unfortunately we don't have a forest or donated land available close by that we can use so we will spend 1 day a month over the course of 7 months up in the mountains of Mt. Charleston. In the fall we will use the Deer Creek Picnic Area for our Forest School days. This area closes when the freeze comes and from there we will move over to the Kyle Canyon Picnic Area Spot #11.
Students should come prepared for a day on the mountain and parents should be prepared for students to come home dirty, possibly wet, tired and exhilarated from a day exploring nature. A lunch with multiple snacks and water should be brought along in addition to a backpack packed with extra clothing gear for the day (think layers). Students should be able to manage all of their belongings themselves as it is a short inclined walk to the picnic area itself. Please ensure that everything is well labeled. While we can't make this program happen successfully without parent drivers, we have learned that children do not take as many risks in their learning when their parents are present. So we take enough drivers to get students to the mountain. We ask parents to work together to take turns so everyone that wants a turn participating on the mountain has an opportunity to do so. We also ask when possible that other arrangements be made for siblings as this is in fact a classroom experience NOT a field trip.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BAD WEATHER, ONLY INAPPROPRIATE CLOTHING CHOICES
I cannot stress enough that the proper attire for all weather play is critical for the success of any outdoor program. Since my goal is to connect children with nature in a positive way and associate immersion with fun, proper clothing is probably the most important component of assuring this goal. I encourage you to read the chaperone training in addition to the winter clothing primer at the bottom of this page. I recommend specific brands for our forest school experiences based on research I've done on what other forest school organizations are using successfully. While they might be a bit more expensive at the outset I feel strongly they will result in a positive experience for your child. To help make it easier on your budget, consider shopping early to find sales and used "finds". Also please share information with other parents that will benefit our entire community.
Tentative Dates for 2016-2017 forest school are as follows (these are subject to change):
September: Friday 9/30/16
October: Thursday 10/27/16
November: Thursday 11/17/16
December: None
January: Thursday 1/26/17
February: Friday 2/24/17
March: Thursday 3/30/17
April: Friday 4/28/17 - Family Pot Luck Celebration
FOREST SCHOOL WISH LIST:
Bug boxes
Binoculars
Metal thermoses for hot water
Pocket knives suitable for little hands (5 total)
Fire starter sticks
Ball Peen Hammer (2)
Nails of various sizes
Hammock Straps (2 sets)
Plastic musical instruments (none where we use our mouths please)
Extra winter clothing donations for our back up box.
forest_school_chaperone_training_2.docx | |
File Size: | 21 kb |
File Type: | docx |
forest_school_winter_clothing_primer.docx | |
File Size: | 19 kb |
File Type: | docx |