FAQs

Q: Where are you located?

A: We are located in Port Perry, Ontario, on 57 acres of beautiful private park made up of mixed forests, wetlands, creeks, and a pond

Q: Who are we?

A: Brad and Michelle Graves, certified Ontario teachers and Directors of Dogwood Forest, have been leading outdoor, nature and play-based programs for over 10 years. Additionally, Brad is a certified Forest School Practitioner and Michelle has a Masters of Environment, both having teaching experiences in the classroom, in various children’s camps, coaching, and involvement in outdoor education programs. They recognize the value of outdoor time for children to explore, learn, create, and play and aspire to create and support nature, community, and self connection through meaningful interactions in the natural environment and where kindness, curiosity, and reciprocity are guiding values. Learn about the whole team here!

Q: What kinds of programs do you offer?

A: Dogwood Forest offers a wide range of outdoor learning, mentorship, and leadership opportunities for children, youth, families, and schools in the Durham Region throughout all seasons of the year. Our School Year programs run from September to June with Summer Camps taking place in July & August. We also offer Outdoor Learning Experiences for schools, in which we provide programs for classes and educators at the schoolyard or at Dogwood Forest. Our School Year Programs offer variety and flexibility for families. Some programs run on a weekly basis, where the child attends once per week for a given term/school year, some programs run on a monthly basis, where the child attends once per month from September to June, and some programs run seasonally, where the child can drop in to individual sessions or attend all 4 seasonal dates that align with PA days of the Durham public/Catholic boards.

Q: What are the ages for the programs you offer?

A: Weekly, Monthly, and Seasonal Programs are offered for children 5 - 14 years of age. Parent & Tot programs are for 0+ years of age

Q: What are your class sizes?

A: Approximately 18 - 20 students with 3 - 4 educators and additional volunteers and/or placement students

Q: How can my child attend if they are in regular school?

A: Your child would be excused from their regular school day by you, the parent/guardian. This would need to be pre-arranged with the teacher and/or administrator of their school. It is up to your discretion whether this is something you would like your child to do. Our focus is to help support your child's learning and development that would complement their regular school experience.

Q: Won't my child fall behind in their school work if they are regularly absent?

A: It is important that we establish a positive and collaborative relationship with the school, teacher, child and you the parent/guardian in order to support the child’s learning fully. Our goal is to provide a learning environment that helps your child build skills and knowledge that will assist them in succeeding in their regular school day and all aspects of their life. While we do not directly communicate with the child's classroom teacher, we do encourage open lines of communication between the families and their child's school about their child's involvement in our programs.

Q: What will my child be learning in your programs?

A: Our goal is provide real experiential learning opportunities through nature immersion and mentorship that will enhance the children's focus, self-confidence, and collaboration skills while connecting to nature and the outdoor environment. This will be achieved through the exploration of their surrounding environment and following their passions and interests.

Q: As a program that operates entirely outdoors, what do you do when there is inclement weather?

A: It is important for us to educate our students on how to dress appropriately for all types of weather. However if we are faced with severe inclement weather (i.e. high winds, thunderstorms, etc), we will go into our shelter and call parents/guardians for an early pick up if it seems that the weather is not quickly subsiding.

Q: Do you allow children to attend a couple of days per term instead of the entire term?

A: We believe it is important to create routine and to promote place-based learning which means regular exposure to the same environment. Participating in an entire term (and better yet, an entire year) is recommended to provide your child with a true Forest School experience; however, we do understand the need to be flexible and will work with you to best meet your child's needs.

Q: Do you offer any discounts?

A: Yes, we offer a 5% sibling discount & 10% weekly school year discount

Q: Do you offer extended hours?

A: Yes: Morning Care from 8:15am to 9:00am and Afternoon Care from 3:30pm to 4:00pm