Learning With Meaning "Forest School" Learning With Meaning, 1905 W. Sussex. Ave. Visit summercamps.learningwithmeaning.org , Email: office@learningwithmeaning.org or call 493-6886. Aftercare (pick up by 5:30 p.m.) can be purchased for $10 per day.
We will hold two 4 week sessions of Forest School this summer. The first is from June 21-July 16 and the second is from July 26-August 20. Each week, we will gather on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00-3:30p.m., $280 Grades: K-2

"Forest School" At Forest School, we believe that by making a deep connection with a fixed place in nature and having lots of choice and opportunities for open-ended play and learning, children will become kind, self-assured, regulated adults who find solace in nature and work to care for it.

Class Structure: We have areas set up to invite play the moment children enter our space. Once the class has all arrived, we gather for a circle. We sing songs, share stories, and set up an invitation to learn and explore. We usually head out on a hike to investigate weather/season specific topics (animal tracks/signs, animal homes, plants, insects, fungi, birds, etc). Other times we will go on hunts for things hidden by the instructors to playfully explore some theme/concept (maps, trail markers, animals adaptations, etc). From there we will enjoy some free play, or a game or guided play, depending on the needs of the group. Then we head back to Base Camp to eat, drink, play, and explore the areas set up for play (Mud Kitchen, Creation Stations, Den Building Site, etc). We close class with tea and a fire in cooler months, and refreshments and shade in the warmer months. We also read a chapter book aloud, journal, and enjoy a Gratitude Circle to end our sweet time together.

Goals: We want this time to be filled with collaborative play, learning about and connecting to our place, and opportunity for self-direction. Each week will have different playful themes based on group interests and what is observable in the natural world around us, but within those themes there will be many choices for how to interact with the material, and when appropriate, whether or not they want to participate. Building relationships with our students is of utmost importance, and helping them build respectful relationships with each other and nature is our highest ideal.

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