Go
Play
Outside
Why Take Childhood Back Outside?
“Children today spend less time outdoors than any other generation, devoting only four to seven minutes to unstructured outdoor play per day while spending an average of seven and a half hours in front of electronic media.”
- National Recreation & Park Association
Thats an average of +2500 hours of screen time and only 30 hours of playtime annually!
100% Outdoor Programs For Children Ages 6-10
Outdoor play & learning is not only for Pre-k children or University students, young learners of all ages benefit from time spent outside.
What We Offer
September - June
Monday - Thursday, 10-2pm we are exploring and learning on nearly 20 acres of private forests & fields. With over a mile of winding trails & wild spaces waiting to be discovered, our “classroom” is nearly endless for children.
Forest School is a great addition to every child’s education. Children who homeschool or attend traditional school benefit equally from time spent outdoors!
Select Summer Dates
During Camp we are exploring the natural world around and actively learning, but most importantly we play! Each Camp is an entire month of Forest School squeezed into four consecutive days. 16 hours outdoors to play, learn and grow!
As the children’s interests shift so may our plans for the day, no two days of Camp are the same, thanks to children’s rapidly shifting interests and our outdoor spaces changing each summer.
Seasonal Availability
Children - Dive deeper into a variety of the subjects & skills we share throughout the year at Forest School.
Families - Learn new skills alongside your child with a small group of other families!
Educators - Want to take learning outside? Already an outdoor educator? Come learn new skills + add a few new tools and techniques to your practice.
All Of Our Programs Are:
-
Year-round our programs take place fully immersed in the Northwest weather and landscapes.
We are out in the rain, sun, snow and hail, sometime all in a single day. Being present in all types of weather, children come to build a deep connection with the natural world.
-
Children guide the learning, play & experiences we share everyday.
Children are encouraged to take the lead and explore any subject or activity they may be interested in. From tree frogs to fungus on logs, the learning that takes place is deeply genuine for each and every child.
-
We hold space for children’s interests, curiosity & endless questions.
Often we prompt a child’s question with another set of questions rather than a full response. Creating endless opportunities for children to come to their own conclusions, using critical thinking, problem solving & experiential learning.
Benefits Of An Outdoor Childhood:
-
There are infinite ways to interact with natural environments, as an individual or with friends and family.
Outdoor play requires children to use imagination, risk taking, problem solving & teamwork. All of which are critical skills, not only during these younger years, but as they continue to grow.
-
Natural spaces are able to offer unique opportunities for play that sports fields and playgrounds simply can’t match.
Children are free to run, jump & climb without the boundaries that traditional spaces have. This open space allows them to create their own games & rules to engages with others and the natural world.
-
Spending our days fully immersed outdoors, children connect with the space around them is so many ways.
Children of all ages benefit from connections with natural spaces. A recent study showed that 87% of people who spent time outdoors as a child, carried that love nature into their adult life.
We Are The ”Grown Ups” Who Spent Their Childhood Outside PNW Style
Did you know that children are happier and healthier when spending time outdoors?
The research supports it and, as dirty, happy outdoor kids, we know it to be true! Now it's our turn to share those early experiences with the next generation.
