Nature Preschool Vancouver

[sarah emily slade]

I am working towards opening a Nature Preschool in Vancouver BC Canada.

I am a Early Childhood Educator and believe that age 0-7 is the most important tie in a human being's life. I want to open a school that nurtures the child's need to be outside and learn through play in the outdoors. Just looking for some feedback! thanks!

[Meika Vingelen]

I run a nature based preschool program in corvallis Oregon. We are a small nature center located in a local park. We have been having a blast this week discovering acrons and Squirrels. I feel if we teach young students learn to enjoy , veiw and interact with the local environment they well continue with to connect with nature their whole life. Starting young is the key to a life long connection with nature. It took just a few years for us to build up a strong program. When the weather is bad we have nature all around us inside and study local species or the the event occuring outside with games, art, circle time, stories and songs all about  nature. Classroom is full of diferent species both native and non native plants and animals.

[Michelle Havixbeck]

Hi, I am a Montessori preschool teacher and am opening a nature preschool in Vancouver in September of 2013. Would you like to connect with me? I think that the more we teachers help each other out, the better the chance of Nature Preschools becoming the norm!

[Paul Roberts]

Sarah, (+Meika & Michelle)

I am also starting a Nature Preschool, The John Muir Adventure Academy, here in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The children will spend 70-80% of their time outside in a natural environment. This is a powerful idea we share and it will become the Gold Standard of what Young Children's learning should become. 

I know it's a flight, but we would love to have you join Claire Warden and I on January 30th for a One Day Workshop in the San Francisco area on this exact topic, Nature Kindergartens and Preschools. The flyer is attached if you are interested.

There are lots of great resources on the topic, but the information is spread around.

Books:

Nature Kindergartens and Forest Schools, Claire Warden (I carry this and Nuture, also available thru Mindstretchers, Ltd. in Scotland).

Nurture Through Nature, Claire Warden ((0-3 years)  (I carry this and Nuture, also available thru Mindstretchers, Ltd. in Scotland).

Natural Playscapes, Rusty Keeler, Great book about creating natural playscapes from the very talented Rusty Keeler

Websites:

Outdoor Classroom Project, http://outdoorclassroomproject.org/

World Forum, Nature Action Collaborative (NAC)  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/initiatives/nature-action-col...

Schools:

In the Northwest I am aware of two interesting schools you might want to check out in Washington State

Cedarsong, True Forest School http://www.cedarsongnatureschool.org/

Nature Preschool, Roots and Wings (Part of Anake Wilderness program) http://wildernessawareness.org/program/roots-and-wings/

Lots more to share if you are interested.

[Carla Gull]

We have started a small weekly group at a nature center in Elkhart, Indiana. I think it will grow, but we're starting out small and working out kinks as we grow. We have parents (usually moms) stay with the children. One major issue in winter is that the moms don't want to go outside . . . any of you deal with this? Otherwise, we are building curriculum and next year should be easier and a time for refinement. Several of us volunteer to help. Working on a natural playscape outside the center as well. 

[sarah emily slade]

Wow!! First just have to say tat I need to come on here more often. I usually get so caught up on FB as my social media platform that I completely forgot about this one!! So I am sorry for not replying sooner!!
Thanks everyone for awesome feedback!
Michelle - would love to grab a coffee and talk about our ideas? Would you be into that?