Classes

Outdoor Preschool

A completely outdoor preschool designed for children ages 3 to 5, meeting September through May.

2023-24 class schedule

3-day Preschool – Ages 3 - 5 Morning Program Mon/Tue/Wed 8:45am - 11:45am

Through exploration and play, children develop their self-awareness and self-regulation, teamwork, social skills, imagination, strength, balance and coordination, concentration, autonomy, and connection to the natural world.

Typical Day

Field & Forest preschool starts with free play at drop off. Children engage with others and say goodbye to parents or caregivers at their own rate. Circle-time includes story-time, sharing, a short phonics introduction, and our version of “Brain Dance” to warm-up our brains and bodies.

A child "community leader", chosen on a rotating basis, is the architect of the next creative adventure, supported by the teachers. Adventures often include hikes through our forested ravine and meadow, community games, or other favorite activities. Children trek, dig, climb, splash, build, imagine, wonder, and explore. Teachers use constructivist, developmentally appropriate methods to follow children's interests, imaginations, and investigative work within a supportive community.

A snack and story-time refuels us for the all-important “project-time”, a time of unstructured play where children do what makes sense to them, often playing and working in small groups that form spontaneously.

Children’s ideas and energy guide us. We support the expression of children's natural curiosity and creativity with lots of building, creating and imagining, and exploration of elements of nature. Children learn how to use nature to create what they need, making strands of natural twine for their projects and sourcing sticks and branches to make tools.

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Parent Support - All Classes

Field & Forest parents are welcome to attend optional parent support meetings led by Elise Valsquier, Director of Field & Forest. Parents find connection, support, and a chance to socialize with other Field & Forest parents and Elise. Further support can be arranged with Lyn Dillman, M.A., Parent Coach & Educator. For more information about Lyn Dillman, click on the link below.

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Our Teachers