• Junior Kindergarten is a preschool extension or stand-alone transition program for children ages 4 to 5 (at least 4 years old by August 15).

• Children arrive dressed for the outdoors with all suggested gear in a backpack.

• The half-day afternoon program is completely outdoors and focused on learning through play and exploration with some time dedicated to kindergarten preparation skills and activities.

• Admission priority will be given to students enrolled in our forest preschool program Mondays-Fridays. These students will transition directly to Junior Kindergarten after forest preschool ends at 12:00. Junior Kindergarten teachers will plan and train on Friday afternoons (hence the Monday-Thursday schedule for students). Some of this planning time will be dedicated to working alongside Kindergarten teachers to ensure continuity in learning between programs. 

• All learning is seasonal and nature-based, and connected to the children’s daily outdoor discoveries. We incorporate best practices in Early Childhood Education including Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, Montessori, and other inspired teaching philosophies to create a holistic approach to education.

• Jr. Kindergarten remains a play-based early childhood learning program with an emphasis on social & emotional development and increased communication skills. Through occasional centers and focused activities, early literacy, math, and science skills will be woven into our afternoons of learning together.

• School Year: August through May with Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring Break, and other major holidays aligned with the Hamilton County School Calendar.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY AND CURRICULUM

Friedrich Fröbel, a German educator, opened the world’s first outdoor “kindergartens” (German for “children’s gardens”) more than 150 years ago. He believed young children should spend their time playing in nature and away from so much emphasis on learning letters and numbers. Today, across Europe, thousands of these “forest kindergartens” have been established where children spend their entire class time outdoors year-round.

Forest Kindergarten is play-based and allows children to develop their skills and habits over time and at their own pace. Children learn naturally to be self-motivated, cooperative, respectful, grateful, and aware of their impact on the earth. Children experience outdoor adventures in all weather conditions. The Forest Kindergarten is made as safe as is reasonably possible, in order to facilitate children’s risk-taking. It provides a complete immersion in nature helping to build a child’s sense of place in the world.

Research strongly supports the idea that young children, particularly ages 3-6, learn best through direct experiences with the world around them. Being outdoors provides them with not only fresh air, but it also encourages imaginative play, creativity, hand-eye coordination and balance, physical strength and mental clarity. By tapping into their innate sense of wonder about nature, we can help children learn basic environmental and natural science principles, as well as respect for all living beings. Lessons flow organically from the natural rhythms of the seasons and from the children’s daily discoveries. There are no set lesson plans: each day is shaped by the animals, insects, birds, amphibians, weather and foraging that is encountered, providing spontaneous teachable moments.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Children must be able to follow directions carefully, show respect towards other children and their teachers and be able to communicate effectively. Children must be toilet-proficient in order to attend.

DRESSING APPROPRIATELY

Appropriate clothing for Forest Junior Kindergarten is CRITICAL to the success of the program. “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing choices.” Clothing guidelines are available in the parent handbook.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Weekend events will be planned at Wauhatchie School to provide a continuation of the school experience for the entire family.