How many days do you operate, and what are the times?

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We currently operate weekly sessions Tuesday through Thursday in Spring and Fall "semesters", Saturday sessions once a month during the year, and weekly sessions in the Summer.  The day begins at 9:15am for drop off for a 9:30am start time and ends at 1:30pm at pick up. For a full description of the daily schedule, please visit the Rhythm of the Day section. 

 

Where do we meet for forest school sessions? 

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Forest school sessions meet at locations within the East Mountains (east of Albuquerque), including Cedar Crest, Tijeras, and Sandia Park, and occasionally in the Rio Grande Valley in the Albuquerque Bosque. Sessions are held at the same location for the semester; however, due to the 100% outdoor nature of our program, we sometimes must change a location due to unexpected closures or extreme weather.

 

What is the ratio of Treeschoolers-to-adults at SOL Forest School?

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SOL Forest School will not enroll any more than 14 students total, but class size between 10-12 children is more typical. Two teachers will work each session, plus one parent volunteer.  This makes for a ratio of 4:1. Keeping our enrollment numbers low allows for increased site & child safety, while also allowing for plenty of adult-supported individual / group exploration & learning opportunities. All the adults that work or volunteer at SOL come with eclectic backgrounds, experience in working with / teaching young children, a deep passion for the natural world, & a prior background check.

 

What is the Parent-volunteer commitment and am I required to participate?

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Parent-volunteers are an integral part of the SOL experience for each family, offering a unique opportunity for parents to get an insider's look at what a Forest School day is like for their child(ren). Parent-volunteering is typically light work, and includes assisting with the session site set up and take down, assisting teachers with group snack between nests, and providing the necessary third adult available in case of emergencies. We will need ONE parent volunteer each day. Each family will sign up for at least one or two days per child's enrolled day per semester. We know this can add up if your child attends multiple days and/or if you have more than one child. WE APPRECIATE YOU! A Parent-Volunteer sign up calendar becomes available upon enrollment.

(If you would prefer to make a donation enabling us to hire a Sub for your day/s instead of volunteering, please let Sally know).

 

Will my Treeschooler really be outside in all weather?

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YES!  The Scandinavians have an age-old saying that we swear by at SOL that goes, "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing".  This cannot be any more true & we will really be depending on YOU to make sure your Treeschooler comes to Forest School properly dressed & ready to go!  Since NM is typically sunny all year round & not terribly frigid, even in the coldest of months, the magic word when it comes to dressing your child is..... layers.  Learn to dress your child in layers so that s/he can shed & add layers, as the temperatures of the day fluctuate (non-cotton clothing is always superior).  Another essential item is a hat as it will provide shade, comfort & protection for most of the year when the sun is blazing, & (a winter hat) will keep the heat in during the winter months.  Sturdy, close-toed shoes are another must. It is important to remember that the East mountains are typically 10+ degrees cooler than town, so you will need to adjust for that difference, too. You will get more information on how to properly dress your child during the registration intake process & you can also refer to the SOL Parent Handbook. 

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Are there ever weather-related (or other) closures or delays?

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Sessions are typically cancelled if there is an East Mountain Schools (APS) 2-hour delay or school closure due to weather (or other event requiring closures or delays across the district). Sessions are typically delayed by 1-hour if the temperature at 9am is predicted to be below 30℉. We pay particular attention to cold combined with windy and wet conditions. On such days, we might also shorten a session and have an early pickup.  

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How will my Treeschooler use the bathroom when at Forest School?

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If we are going pee, we just find a spot outside of our Forest Classroom.  An adult either comes with us, or if we are a bit older, they'll stand close by until we are done with our business.  Going poo requires adult assistance. For solid wastes we practice "leave-no-trace" and use a waste collection system designed for backpackers.  

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Will my Treeschooler get dirty?

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YES! In fact, if they aren't dirty when you pick them up, they likely didn't play or explore.  For this reason we recommend sending your Treeschoolers in clothes that can get dirty (or ripped, torn, scuffed &/or sticky with pine resin).  We also recommend shopping Savers, Goodwill or Regear in Albuquerque for high quality used outdoor clothing (this is to save you from the despair of sending your Treeschooler in a brand new $100 North Face snow suit that gets torn from climbing trees).  Some parents designate specific clothes for Forest School & this seems to work well (we don't care if they're in the same outfit week to week). We also recommend you make friends with duct tape as it can continue the life of clothing & gear, & no one cares what we all look like when we're laying down on the forest floor staring up at the amazing blue sky!

 

Will my Treeschooler engage in risky & challenging play?

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YES! One of the many reasons modern parents are attracted to Forest School programming is because of the nostalgic images that come to mind of children climbing trees, skipping rocks, building forts, crossing creeks, & so on.  These were everyday activities for generations of children across the world,  but for a variety of reasons, including a shrinking "child habitat", children are no longer flexing their "risk muscles" & they are not better off for it. Instead, there has been a huge cultural shift in how we parent resulting in the "bubble-wrapping" of our kiddos to "protect them", but eventually they grow up & pass their driving test & at that point in time we take a deep breath, cross our fingers & hand them a cell phone & keys, hoping for the best!  Forest School brings back good, old-fashioned, developmentally-appropriate risk & challenge that allows children to develop their Emotional Intelligence (emotional regulation, specifically).  This in turn helps them to learn about risk & approach risk from a mindful place, while also learning about themselves.  Developing Emotional Intelligence allows for a future of emotional stability & often, emotional satisfaction & joy.  It is important for you as a parent to realize that while there are risks involved in Forest School, the benefits typically far outweigh the risks.  This topic is discussed during our parent meetings & SOL strongly encourages you to do your own reading & research on the subject, beginning with esteemed Psychologist Peter Gray's article on risk taking in childhood that you can find at the bottom of the Forest School Principles page.

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Will my Treeschooler use tools & enjoy campfires & other outdoorsy things?

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YES!  Learning eye-hand coordination, risk-taking & attention are a few of the benefits that come from learning how to use a tool, such as a hand-saw & perhaps even a whittling knife. Children are not introduced to "real" tools until they have demonstrated an ability to listen, sit still & pay attention, however; & tool use is likely the most "controlled & structured" part of the forest school curriculum.  Children work one-on-one with an adult & everyone patiently waits their turn.  Older children who have demonstrated competency might work in a group of 2-3, also with an adult.  

 

Arriving at the point of being ready to wield a real tool takes several weeks & months.  Children are first introduced to "tools" such as magnifying glasses, tweezers, rope, periscopes, compasses, etc.  These things are introduced in a special way that separates them from toys & there is an expectation that the children use them carefully & return them to our tool box.  Next, potato peelers might be introduced to carve sticks & twigs.  Children are taught how they must sit, kneel or stand when using a tool.  Slowly, over time, most children will demonstrate a readiness for the responsibility of operating a tool, but an adult is always at their side.

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Some of our forest school sites have a well-defined fire ring.  In the colder months we may build a fire to boil water, keep warm & enjoy (if there are no current fire restrictions in place).  Again, children are taught to understand the risk of fire & they must follow very specific rules teaching them how to behave around a fire (sitting, no running; no throwing things in the fire; staying a specific distance away from the fire, etc). It is highly unlikely that our 3-6 year olds will actually learn to build fires (that's best left up to the adults!) but they will certainly participate in collecting kindling & wood for the fire.

 

Is reading, writing or math ever taught formally at Forest School?

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No, the Forest School philosophy believes in using place, change-of-season & child interest as the primary "lessons" for young children & complex learning actually occurs when time & space allows for the observation of these three factors.  In fact, research is now beginning to show that children who attend Forest School in their early years usually arrive to elementary school much better prepared to learn, & they often out perform their non-Forest School peers! Sally has had years of experience in the early childhood sector, however, so she is prepared to support your child in these areas if they are genuine areas of interest observed while outside in the Forest School classroom.  Sally also believes in the power of children's literature as a teaching tool, as well as the power of exposing children to the alphabet / written word through their play (as long as it does not impede their play), so there will always be books & writing tools on hand. Since Sally has had years of special education experience, she may also be able to guide you if she feels that your child may be exhibiting some delays in their development that warrant attention.

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Are "Forest School", "Forest Preschool", "Forest Kindergarten" & "Waldkinder" all terms for the same thing?

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More or less, yes, the terms are used somewhat interchangeably in the U.S.  Technically, Waldkinder differentiates itself from Forest School & Forest Kindergarten because in a Waldkinder there usually is not any access to a building or facility of any kind.  It is literally an outdoor preschool experience where children walk or hike into a natural, secluded setting in the forest, mountains, etc. (in fact, the word in German translates to "children of the forest"). Both Forest Schools & Forest Kindergartens, on the other hand, could be a component of another / larger program, even a Nature Preschool program (this is another term you may hear thrown around, but Nature Preschools do have a building & their curriculum is almost always focused on nature).  Forest Schools & Forest Kindergartens typically serve children 2-8 years old, but in the United States the word "kindergarten" makes us think of 5 & 6 year olds, so this terminology can become particularly confusing. SOL thinks of itself as a "Waldkinder-style Forest School".

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What are your Covid-safe practices?

 

We have implemented the following practices while continuing to minimize exposure and risks during this pandemic. These include, Daily Health Screens; regular hand washing/hand sanitizing, especially before snack; and sanitation of shared materials as needed. For a full description of our Covid-Safe Practices, please click here.

 

Can we attend a session before we decide? 

 

You are interested in the Forest School approach, but even after reviewing this website are still not sure it's right for your child or whether you are comfortable sending them "to the forest" as a Treeschooler just yet?

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Yes, we offer "try days" for a small fee & also can arrange visits to our program any time of the SOL school year. Please note, "try days" and visits will be conducted within current Covid-safe practices and may not be available at certain times. Please contact us for additional information.

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