• Children arrive dressed for the outdoors.

• The half-day program is completely outdoors and focused on exploratory play.

• Forest Preschool is aN outdoor program for children ages 3-5 (at least 3 years old by August 15)

• 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 facets of Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, Montessori, and other inspired teaching philosophies to create a holistic approach to the growth and development of young learners.

• School Year: August through May with Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring Break, and other 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 school 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 completely toilet-proficient (potty trained) in order to attend Wauhatchie School. The outdoor environment is not conducive to pull-ups/diapers and any students unable to potty independently with no help from an adult are not ready to attend this outdoor school setting.

DRESSING APPROPRIATELY

Appropriate clothing for Forest Preschool 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 and will be discussed at length before school begins in the fall.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Special school and weekend events will be planned at Wauhatchie Forest School to provide a continuation of the Forest School experience for the entire family and create a community for our learners.