We are Forest Friends: friends to nature and friends to each other. Three mornings a week in (almost) all weather, Emily and Laurel will accompany preschoolers through the woods, over rocks, across logs, and into puddles to immerse ourselves in the beauty of the natural world. We will nurture in your child their innate ability to recognize the beauty all around them--in both the natural world and in their friends--and naturally grow to care deeply about both. As teachers, we too will be careful observers of the beauty we see in your child: their unique interests, abilities, and qualities that they are already using to make this world a better place. And will continue to hone throughout their lifetime. With this bigger picture in mind, we will focus day to day on:

Character Education

We believe that a child's (and adult's) most important work is to learn how to be a good friend: to one another and to the planet. Friends work together cooperatively, friends share, and friends respect each other. Friends learn to be gentle, wait patiently for their turn, and to resolve conflicts peacefully. Friends learn to recognize the beauty in nature, the beauty in one another, and the beauty in themselves, even when that beauty is not immediately apparent. Like when it is pouring rain... 

Science and Nature

We search for bugs and learn about their behavior.  We study flowers and draw them.  We look for animal tracks, identify them, and follow their paths. We use all our senses to observe the change of the seasons.  We build fairy houses, slide on our bellies like penguins in the snow, make leaf rubbings, and build bridges across streams.  We find wonder in the natural world around us.

Gross Motor Skills and Fine Motor Skills

We practice climbing over rocks and roots, balancing on fallen trees, and navigating sandy slopes. We use sticks to draw pictures and write letters. We collect and categorize small rocks and shells. We make art with natural materials. We practice yoga in our morning circle. As the child's awareness of their body in space develops, so does their coordination, balance, dexterity, and self-control.

Early Literacy and Math

We play letter hunting games and practice letter recognition, letter sounds, and early reading suited to each child's abilities. We play hide-and-seek and practice counting. We use stories and objects in nature to practice addition and subtraction. We write in our nature journals daily. We read books and practice storytelling, acting, and imaginative play.