While at Hilltop House Forest School you can expect your child to have rich outdoor learning experiences. Forest school, as an approach to early childhood education, can be best defined in the words of Forest School Canada:

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‘…all Forest and Nature School programs adhere to the following: regular and repeated access to the same natural space, as well as emergent, experiential, inquiry-based, play-based, and place-based learning’ (MacEachren, 2013). The defining feature of this type of nature-based education program is that children are provided with opportunities to build an on-going relationship with the land, to a dedicated educator, to one another, and to themselves through this educational approach.’ (Forest and Nature School in Canada p.12) 

  

In other words: Forest School is a child-led time to play, inquire, wonder, problem solve and feel connected to nature in the supportive, trusting, observant care of nature-loving early childhood educators.

 

The activities at Forest School will depend on the season and the children involved. Activities will be child-led, teacher supported, inquiry based and emergent. In other words, we will follow what the children show interest in, as it takes place. 

 

 

Activities at Forest School will include:

 

• Exploring

• Observing

• Hiking

• Climbing

• Collecting

• Digging

• Building

• Shelter construction

• Knot tying

• Water play

• Tracking

• Learning about native plants/animals

• Critical thinking

• Problem solving

 

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Daily Schedule

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8:50 - Arrival at park, all children to use washroom and wash hands

9:00 - Meet at covered picnic area – parents stay until bell rings

9:00-9:15 - Walk the park area

9:15-9:30 - Circle time back at picnic area/meet any late arrivals

9:30-9:50 - Hike the trail to the Back Forest

9:50-10:00 - Arrive at Back Forest and set up camp

10:00-10:15 - Snack time

10:15-11:15 - Free play in Back Forest

11:15-11:20 - Pack up camp/backpacks on

11:20-11:30 - Hike back to covered picnic area

11:30 - Parents pick up at covered picnic area

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*The above timetable is approximate (with exception of start/finish times which remain the same each day). The Reggio philosophy believes in following the children's interests - therefore if we are deeply immersed in a project, activity or goal - this will take precedence over following a set timetable.

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