Happy Spring! We are so grateful to welcome a new season together and look forward to all that Spring 2026 has in store!
After a long winter of chilly mornings and layered adventures, we are beginning to feel the warmth of the sun return to our forest classroom. The snow may have come and gone, but signs of new life are popping up all around us. Buds are forming on branches, the ground is softening beneath our boots, and the birds are busily returning with their cheerful songs. This season at Forest School is all about sunshine, celebration and growth.
Our time together now is focused on embracing change, encouraging independence, and deepening friendships as we transition into warmer, muddier days. Students are learning how to adjust their layers as temperatures shift throughout the morning, noticing when their bodies need water or rest in the sunshine, and taking responsibility for rain gear and extra muddy clothes. Spring brings unpredictability — one moment bright and sunny, the next rainy and cool — and with it comes wonderful opportunities for practicing flexibility and resilience.
This time of year, we see so much growth in confidence and leadership. Students are communicating their needs more clearly, solving problems together during imaginative play, and showing kindness and care for one another in new ways. The independence that was nurtured through winter is now blooming right alongside the plants around us. It has been a joy for teachers to witness each child’s continued physical, emotional, and social growth.
WHAT WE ARE LEARNING: Spring is a season full of wonder, curiosity, and discovery. With warmer weather comes new life cycles to observe — sprouting seeds, budding trees, worms in the soil, and busy insects returning to work. We are spending time noticing changes in our environment, asking questions, and making predictions about what we see happening around us. Puddles and mud have created exciting sensory play opportunities, while fallen branches and loose parts inspire creativity and teamwork in fort building and imaginative games.
Our outdoor classroom feels brand new again as we explore how it transforms with the season. There has been lots of digging, balancing, nature art, cooperative games, and quiet moments listening to the wind move through the trees. We continue to practice our three classroom agreements: Play Safe, Play Fair, and Have Fun.
Teachers spend their mornings supporting students through changing weather routines, helping manage rain gear and muddy boots, guiding conflict resolution, and encouraging teamwork during group play. We are observing, asking thoughtful questions, joining in exploration, and ensuring that every child feels safe, valued, and empowered.
Spring reminds us that growth takes time, patience, and care — and we are so proud of how each of our students continues to bloom.
* Remember to check Brightwheel for updates and personal pictures of your kiddo in class throughout the school year!
UPDATES: New and familiar faces! This spring, we’re thrilled to welcome back Teacher Megan Oliver! We are elated to have her returning to share her gifts as an outdoor educator, artist, and mentor within our community. Megan will be rejoining the program and transitioning into a Teacher Lead and Co-Owner role, helping to strengthen and thoughtfully grow our school’s programs and the beautiful community we continue to build together. As we prepare for Summer Camp, we are also welcoming a new Assistant Teacher to the team, Leianna Rich. She will begin her teacher training with us this spring!
UPCOMING CLOSURES:
*Spring Recess - April 6-10
*Last Day of School - May 22
2026-2027 ENROLLMENTS NOW OPEN: NOW ENROLLING for the 2026-2027 school year! Beginning in August, join us for outdoor exploration, learning and play that nurtures your child’s love for nature and empowers their development and growth. Our year-round outdoor kids programs run in and around the Dimple Dell area in Sandy, UT. Space available in our Playschool and Kindling Club Program. Now Enrolling a second group/day for our Nestlings Program!
Playschool: Monday-Friday from 8:30-12:15 for ages 3-6.
Kindling Club is our new Subject Style Kinder-learning Program for our older Playschool kids (ages 5-6)! This offering will be in addition (as an add-on option) to our Playschool Program. Days/Details TBD based on feedback. To give us your feedback, help us create this program and make it the best it can be, please take a moment to fill out our Poll, which can be found on the Playschool Page!
Nestlings: Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 for ages 1-3 + their caregiver. Now Enrolling for a second group/ day! Day/Details TBD based on feedback.
CLOTHING DRIVE/ COMMUNITY DAY: Calling all Forest School Families (enrolled or not)! You and your family are invited to join us for our Earth Day Spring Cleaning Event & Open House where you can meet Director Mackenzy, members of our teaching team, and other Forest School families in our community! Celebrate the Spring season by joining in our yearly Earth Day Dimple Dell Clean-Up, learn more about our outdoor programs and philosophies and enjoy one of our favorite outdoor classrooms together! We are also kicking off our Spring Clothing Drive and launching our Grateful Gear Traveling Closet! Lighten your load at home and bring your child’s old outdoor clothes to help other Forest School Families in need (learn more my checking out our webpage). Seasonal refreshments will be provided, as well as some fun Forest School activities for the kiddos (magic mud kitchen, chalk, bubbles, and more)! We can’t wait to spend a morning full of Forest School fun with you!
Date: Saturday, April 18th
Time: 9:30am - 11:30am
Location: Granite Park
Address: 2725 East Grouse Creek Circle, Sandy
PLAYSCHOOL GRADUATION: Dear Forest School Families,
You are invited to our first official Nature Playschool Graduation! Join us as we honor the growth, courage, curiosity and friendships that blossomed and bonded among the trees this year. From mud kitchen moments to climbing our mulch hills to watching the seasons change, our graduates have grown as wild and wonderful as the natural spaces we are so lucky to learn in.
We’ll gather for snacks, smiles, a special ceremony, and joyful send-off celebration for our amazing students as they take on their next big adventure or break for the summer season.
Come celebrate the magic of a childhood outdoors and the completion of the 2025-2026 school year.
With muddy hands and full hearts, Your GGFS Teaching Team.
*Date: May 16th, Time and Locations Details to come!
PARENT BOOK CLUB:
Kids Book: My Mud Kitchen is Rad by Allison Bakkum
Adults Book: Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff
(If you are interested in joining the book club and reading and discussing together, contact Director Mackenzy!)
If you have a book you’d like to recommend, please send us a message through Brightwheel!
Here’s whats new at
GRATEFUL GATHERING FOREST SCHOOL
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Forest Playschool?
Originated in Denmark, Forest Kindergartens (or preschools) are a type of education for children between the ages of three and six that is held almost exclusively outdoors. Now adopted and getting more popular in the US, Forest Schools are becoming an incredible child development tool for children of all ages. Grateful Gathering Forest School adopted the Playschool value system because we believe that the best and only true way for a child to practice everyday life skills with passion and curiosity is through play. And we believe the best teacher and playground for that learning is in nature. Our curriculum focuses on interest-led nature exploration, PLAY, and daily discoveries. We engage with our natural world and foster an environment for children to be empowered, develop life skills, friendships, and explore their creativity, while developing confidence and an innate interest in learning about themselves and the world around them.
What can I expect from school everyday?
Grateful Gatherings Forest School’s low teacher to student ratio (4:1 for ages 3-6 and 6:1 for ages 5-9) and our child-led approach to learning allows for every child to show up to school each day just as they are, with teachers able to take care of their individual needs and feelings. We begin each day with a “hello circle” of some kind where we tune into our bodies, talk about the weather for the day and what that means for our clothing (removing layers, feeling too hot/cold, etc.), go over our affirmations and agreements, and sing a song together. The rest of the day is unstructured free-play and in the moment learning about ourselves and our feelings, the natural world around us, and how to build and foster relationships with others. Each class includes: seasonal nature-based learning, unstructured exploration and play, songs & stories, team-building games, food and water to nourish our bodies, mindful practices, problem solving, creativity, skill building, and lots of friendships and fun!
Where is pick-up and drop-off?
We use multiple nature spots throughout Sandy based on season. Pick-up and drop-off will be in the parking lot of the location we are meeting at for the day. Location is seasonal based on sunlight. Teachers will message about location change for any reason.
How do we handle snacks and potty breaks?
Grateful Gatherings is an outdoor program. Depending on where we are at, we wont always have access to public restrooms. We ask that parents help their children get comfortable going to the bathroom outside before they begin our program. We do request parents pack an extra pair for clothing in case of an accident. One teacher will always be close by in case they are needed, and we always carry hand sanitizer for after a potty break. We allow kids to go to go to the bathroom and eat at their food on their own terms (we do ask everyone every day if they need to go to the bathroom and make sure every child has sat down to eat) and actively promote listening to their bodies every day at school.
What do we do in inclement weather or low air-quality days?
Safety is our main priority with the kids, and is a staple in what we teach at school. Because we are a 100% outdoor program, if the weather is unsafe for the children to be outside for extended periods of time, we will have to close for the day. We do not refund if we have to cancel for the day. Make up days are available, but up to the family to schedule.
How can I set my child up for success?
Before joining our program, a lot of parents ask us what they can do to help their child get ready for Forest School. What a great question to ask! We believe the best way to prepare them and make them feel confident in this exciting step is to show them what they will be doing! We ask parents to take them to the places they will be playing in and go for a hike and explore with them! Familiarize them with our website and our social media page and show them some of the activities we do. Practice going to the bathroom outside. Talk to them about what they can expect and what they might be feeling about it. Doing these things with your child will help make him/her more readily able to make that transition, and feel confident in their new outdoor environment!
My child is aging out of Playschool. Do you have any homeschool groups you’d recommend?
We currently offer Kindergarten Subject Style Learning through our Kinder-learning Club for ages 5-6, however we know that the time comes when we have to say goodbye to our kiddos and let them take on the next step for the educational journey. While it is always so hard to see our Forest School kids age out, we are so thrilled to have had the chance to be by their side through those first critical and magical years of their lives, and to get the opportunity to empower them with the skills they need to take on whatever their next chapter might look like!
We have met with a couple local homeschool groups and would love to recommend the right one for you! One group that has been a great option for many of our Forest School Families is Trellis Nature School. Kami a highly educated teacher and her program seems to be a natural next step for those looking for a nature-based option for their child. Click HERE to visit their website and don’t forget to mention us as a referral on your enrollment!