Forest School

Classes include:

- Kindergarten (JK/SK)

-Grade 1-3

-Grade 4-8

*Classes may be combined in cohorts or adjusted as enrolment shifts

Runs Tuesday and Thursday 9:15am-3:30pm 

(2 Day Program  Grades K-3 or 2 or 1 Day for Grades 4-8 or combined with our 3 Day Holistic Alternative School)

Forest School is a program during the school year that gives children a full day in nature. We provide intimate class sizes with highly skilled Educators on our school site at Reroot Organic Farm and Forest in Harriston Ontario. The benefits of nature play are countless and exposing children to a full day of nature and being in the forest can open so many doors as well as enhance their ability to learn on their other 3 days of schooling (if that’s the route you take). We are an ally with Public Schools and Homeschooling families to support and enhance the children's educational experience. 

By being a part of our forest school your child will build skills in:

-open ended play

-engage in risky play with the safety and support of an educator

-learn about nature, animals, and the natural world around them

-develop creative play skills

-reap the benefits of forest bathing

-develop a love for the natural world in all weather

-develop gross and fine motor skills, balance and coordination

-reduce chances of anxiety and depression

-enjoy fireside cooking and the warmth and community of our friends

​-develop executive functioning skill such as problem solving and confidence development

Some considerations regarding Forest School:

All students must:

-be able to engage in routined bathroom breaks

-be able to be safe and follow adult instructions around safety of boundaries and aspects such as fire, water and climbing

-bring their own lunch, snacks and water bottle along with spare gear and clothes in a backpack. 

-being able to carry a backpack and physically access the spaces can be a challenge and children will learn stamina, flexibility, and a growth mindset

Some comforts:

-Small class sizes

-Follows The Owl's Nest Holistic School Curriculum 

-Uniforms to make messy play feel more manageable 

-We thoroughly engage in conversations about listening to our bodies and weather throughout each day, season and moment

-Self-regulation and building executive functioning skills are at the forefront of learning

-We have a heated indoor multi room classroom for when needed (includes a cubby room, washroom with composting toilet and warm running water, K-Grade 3 classroom with an electric fireplace, Grade 4-8 classroom room, and a preschool room)

-We have an enclosed greenhouse classroom space with 2 rooms.

-We have a forest Yurt Classroom

-Our school is also outputted with electricity.

-We have multiple fire pits for added warmth 

-We have access to 2 outhouses in the forest, a cabin, a shelter, a forest shelter, a shallow creek with multiple entry points 

-We have washrooms located on site at the school

-We have access to insdoor and outdoor hand washing and a UV filtered water refill station

-We have hand and foot warmers available for use in colder weather

-We have an inclement weather plan 

-We take safety very seriously and gently guide students outside their comfort zones during all seasons

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