What determines your fees?
We have a $75 Registration Fee and $380 Program Fee.
The $75 Registration Fee allows us to receive and store your registration securely and then spend the time to go over each registration with our team.
The $380 Program Fee goes towards school and art materials and the staffing of a Classroom Assistant.
Our Classroom Assistant helps our certified teachers immensely and allows us to maintain the low 1:9 ratio of staff to children that is needed for safety outdoors .
What is the Reggio Emilia Approach?
The Image of the Child - All children are competent, and capable. They all have preparedness, potential and curiosity, and interest in engaging in social interaction, establishing relationships, constructing their learning, and negotiating with everything the environment brings to them.
The Hundred Languages of Children - The hundred “languages” are the many modes of expression, such as speech, writing, movement, drawing, painting, sculpture, shadow play, collage and music, through which children communicate and learn about their world.
The Role of the Educator - Facilitate children’s ability to represent what they know and imagine. Teachers mediate between children’s current understanding and what they are investigating by: reviewing and helping children tell the story of their own learning, through different materials, experiences and provocations and reflecting.
The Role of the Environment - The environment serves as an invitation to enter and participate and is seen as the third educator. Children can best create meaning and make sense of their world through environments which support complex, varied, sustained, and changing relationships between people, the world of experience, ideas and the many ways of expressing ideas.
Observation and Documentation - transcriptions of children’s remarks and discussions, photographs of their activity, and representations of their thinking and learning are carefully studied. These documents have several functions. Most importantly, they help to determine the direction in which the project work and experiences with the children will develop based on their developing interests and understandings. Once these documents are organized and displayed, they help to make parents and children aware of their children’s experience and learning and support their involvement.
What are the Forest School Principles?
One of the main concepts for forest school is that children return to the same natural play space for the duration of the program and learning as well as following an emergent, inquiry based and child lead curriculum. In 2011, the UK Forest School Community created 6 principles for guiding educators and expectations for great practice. (Forest School Association, n.d.)
Principle 1 - Forest School is a long-term process of frequent and regular sessions in a woodland or natural environment, rather than a one-off visit. Planning, observations, adaptations and reviewing are integral elements of forest school.
Principle 2 - Forest school takes place in a woodland or natural wooded environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.
Principle 3 - Forest school aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved. Fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.
Principle 4 - Forest school offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and themselves.
Principle 5 - Forest school is run by qualified forest school practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.
Principle 6 - Forest school uses a range of learner-centered processes to create a community for development and learning. (Forest School Association, n.d.)
How much time do you spend outside?
We attempt to spend as much time outside as possible. When extreme weather events occur our educators take the children inside.
What do you do when it is cold outside?
During the winter months our educators are constantly checking on the temperature and conditions and adjusting accordingly.
We also have many weather protocols in place to make sure the children are safe and happy in all weather. In the winter, our cut-off for being outside is -28 Celsius with wind chill. Keep in mind, on days like this we only go out for a short period around the middle of the day and we make sure the children have no exposed skin. The focus while we are outside in this weather is on being active to bodies warm.
What kind of clothes should my child have?
Winter
Base layer (the layer closest to the body)
Thermal underwear and shirt – Wool or silk fibers are best for staying warm and keeping moisture away from the body but they can be uncomfortable and expensive. Synthetics are readily available and more affordable and work well too. Avoid cotton as it retains moisture and makes us feel cold.
Wool or wool-blend socks, fairly thick, but comfortable in the boot.
Middle layer
Fleece pants (fleece is so cozy, comfortable and warm)
Fleece or wool top, hoodie or pull-over
Outer layer
Water-resistant snowsuit for younger children. Water-resistant snow pants with a bib work nicely to keep the upper body insulated for older children along with a snow jacket.
Snow/winter boots (Bog type boots are NOT insulated enough to keep feet warm on the coldest winter days)
Wool toque or hat that fits snugly and covers the ears
Insulated gloves or mittens with waterproof outer layer We recommend longer winter mittens such as Kombi, MEC or Stonz brands, so that snow can't get in around the wrist. These keep children the warmest and driest. Most children struggle to get gloves on by themselves when outdoors, so mitts are preferable.
Reusable hand warmers are great if your child suffers from cold hands and feet.
Neck warmer (much safer than scarves) or balaclava.
Sunblock and sunglasses (optional though recommended). Sunscreen sticks are easy for children to use themselves.
Early Spring/Fall (cooler weather)
Thermal underwear and shirt (see winter wear)
Fleece pants (fleece is so cozy, comfortable and warm)
Fleece or wool top, hoodie or pullover
Waterproof rain pants and jacket (bib pants or one-piece muddy buddies are more effective for staying dry)
Waterproof mittens
Closed toe hiking shoe (preferably no laces) and/or rubber boots
Thinner toque or hat and light knitted gloves
Wool or wool-blend socks (can be thinner)
Sunblock and sunglasses (optional)
Late Spring/Summer (warmer weather)
Closed-toe supportive shoes (no laces)
Light colored long pants and long-sleeved shirt (this will help protect from scratches and insect bites)
Waterproof pants & jacket (bib pants or one-piece muddy buddies are more effective for staying dry)
Rubber boots
Sun hat
Sunblock and sunglasses (optional though recommended). Sunscreen sticks are easy for children to use themselves.
Bug spray (optional)
Indoor Shoes and Extra Set of Clothing
Please send an extra set of clothing (pants, top, underwear, socks, mittens) to stay at Nature Kindergarten, labelled with your child’s name in a plastic bag.
Please also send a pair of non-skid running shoes to wear indoors. (These shoes are to remain at school for the year.) These shoes should be velcro or slip-on (ie. crocks) so that children are able to put them on independently (please no lace ups). Also keep in mind that their indoor shoes will need to fit comfortably while wearing thicker wool socks when the weather is cooler.
