Pattee Canyon Outdoor School

We are the area’s first and only waldkindergarten (forest children) based preschool program. Originating in Sweden, waldkindergartens are common throughout Europe and are beginning to be found in the United States. Class takes place outside in the woods, or other natural areas. Research has shown that children are able to learn and retain new information more effectively when they are given access to nature. This outdoor, inquery-based, learning environment helps children develop a more creative and flexible way of thinking, as well as increased motivation and concentration, which are important for more formal schooling later on. Class is held outside regardless of the time of year and in most weather conditions. Unlike adults, children do not have a natural aversion to varying weather conditions. As long as they are appropriately dressed and prepared they will thrive. No walls equals less behavior problems, creating a positive experience for all. Waldkindergartens are child-led, with small student-teacher ratios, and make use of naturally found objects for learning.

When visiting our indoor classroom we may be found doing a variety of projects, such as sewing, cooking, wood-working, conducting experiments, or other activities related to math, reading, writing, art, or science. The classroom space and activities are a blend of Montessori and Reggio Emilia philosophies.

We will focus on sustainability and environmental awareness. Through our daily activities we will learn about and practice water and energy conservation, waste reduction through recycling and re-use, gardening, composting, worm bins, and tending our chickens, ducks, and other animals.

We infuse mindfulness and awareness of others and ourselves in everything we do. By slowing down, we achieve a deeper connection with nature, ourselves, and life in the moment.

The majority of our class time, if not all, will take place in the woods of Pattee Canyon. We will create nature-based art, make and cook on campfires, collect and identify wild plants and sample the edible ones, explore, climb, dig, make mud pies and toys from sticks, imagine, listen, observe, follow the seasons and rhythms of nature, construct shelters, balance on logs, garden, feed the chickens and ducks, collect eggs, act out a story, sing, find bugs, collect rocks, make snow angels, write in the dirt, count butterflies, caw with the ravens, make music, smell the earth, hold a worm, wade a creek, or climb a tree.

My goal is that every day each child will go home worn out and confident in their new found abilities, while developing a life-long love for learning and the natural world.