Forest Playschool and Adventure Club: Spring is starting to bloom at Grateful Gatherings and we couldn’t be more excited for all the warm weather fun we have on the way!

As the days grow longer and the sun peeks through more often, we welcome the return of one of our favorite seasons—mud season! Spring brings quickly shifting temperatures and unpredictable weather, making gear choices tricky. Our teachers are layering with lighter base layers, rain gear, and an insulating layer (like pajama pants and a warm puffy) for those cooler mornings. Waterproof boots and gloves are essential to keep little fingers and toes warm and dry as we embrace new sensory experiences, such as in our mud kitchen. We also recommend sending extra socks in case we dance through the puddles and some water sneaks in. 

With the changing weather and terrain, physical development is a huge part of our learning right now! The kids are practicing balance and coordination as they navigate mud, puddles, and uneven ground. Climbing trees, hopping over obstacles, and running through open fields build strength, agility, and confidence in movement. We also encourage big body play, like jumping, rolling, and carrying lots of sticks, which helps kids develop body awareness and gross motor skills. As always, our goal is to help children listen to their bodies, challenge themselves safely, and develop a love for moving through nature.

WHAT WE ARE LEARNING: As we transition from Winter, we’ve been empowering students to grow their independence by stepping back from teacher-led guidance and encouraging the kids to ask friends for help before turning to teachers. It has been amazing to see them learn how awesome and capable they are! Through teamwork, problem-solving, and creative play, the kids continue to strengthen their confidence, resilience, and friendships with each other and with Dimple Dell.

Spring has opened up exciting new areas for us to explore, and we've been taking full advantage! Our recent adventures have led us to discover moss, lichen, and fungi, sparking curiosity about the plant life awakening around us. The changing landscape has also provided opportunities to observe new animal tracks, teaching us about the different creatures that share our space.

This season, our explorations are helping us dive into:

  • Growth Cycles: Observing plants waking up from winter and learning how they grow

  • Plant Anatomy: Identifying different parts of a plant and what they do

  • Footprints & Wildlife Signs: Recognizing tracks and understanding animal behavior

  • Teamwork & Problem-Solving: Navigating social play, conflicts, and working together

  • Weather & Seasonal Shifts: Understanding how spring brings changes in temperature, rain, and mud

  • Self-Care & Gear Management: Encouraging kids to assess their own needs and adjust layers throughout the day

  • Imaginative Play & Storytelling: Using the natural environment as inspiration for creative games and stories

  • Insects & Pollinators: Watching for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators as they return to the forest

* Remember to check Brightwheel for updates and personal pictures of your kiddo in class throughout the school year!

UPCOMING CLOSURES: 

*SPRING RECESS (March 31-April 4th)

DIRECTOR MACKENZY’S MATERNITY LEAVE: Director Mackenzy had her baby! Her son, Kemper was born February 5 and she and baby are doing great (making it through the newborn trenches). She is so grateful to her incredible teachers and Brittany for showing up so amazingly in her absence and to the families that have shown her such great support. This community means so much to her and she couldn’t do it without all of you! She will remain at home with baby Kemper, but will be popping in here and there until the end of the school year. She is hoping to kick off her welcome back to Grateful Gatherings with a Family Weekend Workshop Class alongside Teacher Selah this Spring and hopes you all can make it!

END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION: Join us Saturday, May 17 to celebrate the end of the 2024-2025 school year! We will be hosting a special FREE Family Weekend Workshop put on by Teacher Selah and Director Mackenzy. Come celebrate the school year, explore one of our outdoor classrooms, enjoy a great workshop activity and learn more about our programs and what the future has in store for Grateful Gathering Forest School! Details and location to come!

*BOOK OF THE MONTH:

Kids Book: Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner

Adults Book: Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields

If you have a book you’d like to recommend, please send us a message through Brightwheel! 

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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!