PS-5TH GRADE
A Typical Day
Every day in our forest follows a rhythm that is consistent enough to feel safe and flexible enough to follow the children. Here’s what a morning looks like.
9:00–9:15 | Drop-off & Transition
Children arrive at the meadow and settle in their own way — some head straight for the mud kitchen, others find a friend, others take a quiet moment by themselves. Drop-off is gradual and unhurried, giving children time to transition from home to the forest at their own pace.
9:15 | Morning Circle
The group gathers together to begin the day. Morning Circle is a time for songs, conversation, and intention-setting. Teachers introduce the day’s focus — a creature to look for, a question to carry, a material to explore — and children share what they’re noticing and wondering.
Mid-Morning | Activity & Exploration
The heart of the morning unfolds through a mix of teacher-led activities and child-directed exploration. Children might be gathering materials for a nature weaving, investigating what lives under a particular log, building a dam in the drainage channel after rain, or working through something social with a teacher nearby. Learning here is hands-on, unhurried, and led by curiosity.
Snack & Wander
Children eat snack in the forest and then have open time to roam freely. Wander is exactly what it sounds like — unstructured time in a known space, with teachers present but not directing. Some of the richest learning of the day happens here.
Sit Spot
One of our most distinctive practices. Each child finds their own quiet place in the forest, sits still, and simply notices: sounds, movement, smells, changes. Over the course of the year, children develop a remarkable capacity for stillness and attention — and a deepening relationship with their specific patch of forest.
Lunch & Free Play
Children share lunch together, then have open play time before the day closes.
Journal or Craft
Children record observations, draw what they found, or work on a seasonal craft — a way of processing and holding onto the morning’s discoveries.
12:45 | Gratitude Circle & Pick-Up
The day closes with a Gratitude Circle: each child shares something they noticed, made, or felt grateful for. It’s a brief, grounding ritual that ends the morning with intention. Families arrive for pick-up between 12:45 and 1:00.
Rain, mud and everything in between
If you’re new to outdoor preschool, you might be wondering: will my child really be okay outside on a gray November morning? After a full year, we can tell you: yes — and within a few weeks, most children are pulling on their boots without a second thought.
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Our teachers are experienced at helping children tune into their own bodies — recognizing when they’re cold, when they need to move, when they need a quieter moment. Before the year begins, we share specific gear recommendations with every family, because the right waterproof layers genuinely make the difference. Rain becomes something to investigate. Mud is just part of the curriculum.
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On days with severe weather or lightning, we communicate closures and delayed starts via Brightwheel and email.
