Our program offers children from all backgrounds the opportunity to build relationships with the Land through regular and repeated access to the same forest site, developing lasting relations and habits. We offer four days of programming in the forest each week over the summer for children ages 5-12. 

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Dandelions (Ages 5-8)

This program focuses on nurturing relationships with nature, exploration and play. We will explore the land through lots of free play, art activities, building, collecting, hiking, jumping, and exploring. As with all of our programs, children’s interests, questions and ideas guide what happens on a day-to-day basis. Various materials will be available to support children’s play as they build confidence, body awareness and relationships with others and the land. Facilitators learn alongside the children while providing a safe environment for risky play and exploration.

 

Wild Strawberries (Ages 7-10)

Time will be spent building, creating, exploring, gathering and learning on the land. Although each program will be different based on the children’s ideas and interests, common forest camp activities include fire building and cooking safety, fort building, forest art, loose parts play, foraging, hiking, and tree/plant/fungi identification. Although safety is of the utmost importance, risky play is a big part of our programs and contributes to confidence, body awareness, problem-solving and creative thinking skills.

 

Spruce Roots (Ages 9-12)

This program dedicates more time to skill-building and flourishing group dynamics. Activities will follow the capacities and interests of children but may include foraging, hiking, tree/plant/fungi identification, gardening, forest restoration, and creative building projects. Emerging from group capacity and interest, these activities will take our explorations a step further as we learn to listen to the land, cultivate and forage food, prevent overharvesting, and work creatively in groups. 

 

All of our programs use emergent curricula to support risky play and learning. We know the value of mixed-age learning environments; our programs span 4 years in age to allow for a range of development levels and leadership opportunities while maintaining focused programs that work for all participants. Our program age ranges overlap with 12 each other to provide flexibility for families and to treasure the learning opportunities present within diverse group dynamics. A seven-year-old will glean different things from our Dandelions program than they would in our Wild Strawberries program. These programs are designed to dynamically meet the needs of diverse children and groups.

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Preparing to Attend Forest School; What to Expect and What to Bring

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Forest School drop-off happens between 9:00 am and 9:30 am, pick-up is at 4:00 pm, from Monday to Thursday.
 

Forest School attendees should be prepared to spend the whole day outdoors in all weather conditions. We have shelter for unfavourable conditions, but clothing layers and options are encouraged for children to participate fully and have fun at forest school. We also recommend that caregivers and guardians check the weather before packing for the day. 

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We recommend bringing:

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• A full water bottle 

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• Lunch and snacks 

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• Rain gear, a coat, splash pants and rubber boots

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• Closed-toed shoes (sneakers) and a sweatshirt 

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• Sunscreen, sunhat, and bug spray 

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• An extra change of clothes, including underwear and socks… especially socks

 

Optional items: 

Art supplies (that can be exposed to the elements!)

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* If acquiring the gear is a barrier for you, please let us know and we will do our best to make it work. 

Comprehensive information about what to expect and how to prepare for Forest School is in our Program Handbook and will be sent to participants.  

 

Accessibility

Accessibility is crucial at Twisted Tuckamore Forest School to ensure that forest experiences are available and applicable to diverse participants. Our programming incorporates the diverse needs of children by having flexible days, alternative activities, variations within activities, and an emergent curriculum. An emergent curriculum is a teaching tool that utilizes observation and adaptability, responding to the distinctiveness of groups and individuals and freely pursuing alternate avenues as they arise. Through observation, facilitators notice if someone is struggling to focus, is overwhelmed, or does not work well with others so that they can deliver specific support. 
 

Our forest site is currently not wheelchair accessible. We will make every effort possible to include children with varying physical disabilities. Contact us so that we can discuss the options together. 

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