Check out this Seattle Times video story about our Forest Kindergarten (Outdoor Preschool). The story appeared in the April 21, 2010, edition of the paper.
Listen to the story on public radio KUOW about our Forest Kindergarten on Vashon Island. Just search for Cedarsong Nature School. Spread the word about this growing movement and let's get those kids outdoors!
Recent research proves that children who spend significant time immersed in unstructured play in nature are more relaxed, better at problem-solving and critical thinking, more focussed, and exhibit more cooperative behavior and team work
This website has links to scientific studies that prove the many benefits of spending time in nature, including better eyesight and better standardized test scores!
Our Forest Kindergarten is on the front page of the Seattle Times today! This is a link to the story about our unique entirely-outdoor preschool program.
This powerful interview by a neuroscientist attests to the underrated educational value of play for young children. Combining unstructured play with a natural outdoor setting turns out to be excellent preparation for later academics. German researchers have found tht children who attend a Forest Kindergarten actually perform better on standardized tests when they enter public school than their peers who were pushed into learning numbers and letters at the preschool stage.
Pupils at the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., spend three hours each day outdoors, regardless of the weather.
WE ARE AT FULL ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR. WE HAVE STARTED AN EARLY NOTIFICATION LIST FOR THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR. EMAIL US FOR AN ENROLLMENT APPLICATION FOR EITHER YEAR.
Become a fan of Cedarsong Nature School on Facebook to receive our informative nature newsletters and current research which supports the idea that children NEED some unstructured outdoor play time EVERY DAY for optimal physical and mental health
Cedarsong Nature School's Forest Kindergarten - An Outdoor Preschool Program for 3-5 year olds
(We will consider a two year old who is: 1. completely toilet proficient; 2. highly verbal; and 3. can assertively express their needs to go to the bathroom, or put on warmer clothing)
Cedarsong Nature School's Forest Kindergarten is an entirely outdoor education program that is interest-led, place-based, experiential and seasonal. Our program is designed to integrate children with nature and engage them in quality outdoor activities which stimulate their innate curiosity about the natural world. Our teaching style encourages children to learn through direct experience with nature.
Your child is invited to join us in running through the forest, discovering and decorating hide-outs, making dreamcatchers and musical instruments, creating magic wands and magic potions, learning about the plants, creating a unique nature journal, playing make believe, making up forest songs and dances, and telling stories around a campfire.
Friedrich Fröbel, a German educator, opened the world's first outdoor kindergartens (children's gardens), more than 150 years ago with the belief that young children should play in nature, away from an emphasis on too many numbers and letters. Today, Germany has about 700 of these Waldkindergärtens, or "forest kindergartens," in which children spend their entire class time outdoors year-round. Similar schools exist in smaller numbers in Scandinavia, Switzerland and Austria, however there are very few of these programs yet in the United States.
Remember: This is an entirely outdoor program - make sure both you and your child are okay with that! In cases of extreme weather, there is a magical playhouse where we can retreat to for some quality cozy time: reading, drawing, doing yoga, and making music.
The Cedarsong Nature School Forest Kindergarten's curriculum is designed by Naturalists and Childhood Educators Erin Kenny and Robin Rogers, who both have worked with children for over twenty years. Classes are small, with a 4:1 student:teacher ratio. Organic snacks are served, supplemented with wild seasonal foraged foods.
Classes are held Monday through Friday, 9am-noon, for children 3-5 years of age (younger or older on a case-by-case basis). Cost is $100 a month for one day a week; $200 a month for two days a week; and $300 a month for three days a week, payable in advance each month. A last month's tution deposit equal to your monthly tuition is required to hold space for your child in the 2010-2011 Four Seasons Program, which runs from September 2010 through June 2011. A 10% discount is offered for pre-payment in full for the 10 month program.
A two month summer session of the Forest Kindergarten is available to current year students which makes this a year-round program.
Cedarsong Nature School is run by the tax-exempt non-profit Ancient Forest Education Foundation, EIN# 91-1893471. Financial aid is available to qualified families. Please see our scholarship page for more information.
WE ARE AT FULL ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR. WE HAVE STARTED AN EARLY NOTIFICATION LIST FOR THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR. EMAIL US FOR AN ENROLLMENT APPLICATION FOR EITHER YEAR.
