Forest School Programs

Check out our 25-26 Program Guide for an overview of all offerings.

25 - 26 Calendar: Year at a Glance

Weekly Programs

Tuesday or Thursday

TUES - Seeds: 5 - 8 years

  • Days are spent exploring the natural environment, practicing skills & risk management, developing mindfulness, embracing passions, and engaging in games and activities that teach.The learning experience is ever-changing and driven by questioning, storytelling, and inquiry.

    Children will have opportunities to develop an understanding of nature concepts and learn and practice new skills such as woodworking, cooking, orienteering, crafting, outdoor survival skills and more.

    Through educator mentorship, reflection, community building activities, and nature inspired challenges, we aim to develop critical thinking skills, resiliency, focus, positive social skills, and overall physical and emotional wellbeing of individuals and the whole group.

  • TUESDAY: SEEDS (5 - 8 YEARS)

    School Year (35 weeks, see dates below)

    Fall (14 weeks) Sept 16 - Dec 16

    Winter (9 weeks) Jan 6 - Mar 3

    Spring (12 weeks) Mar 24 - Jun 9

    Hours: 9am to 3:30pm; extended hours available (AM: 8:15 - 9:00; PM: 3:30 - 4:00)

THURS - Sprouts: 7 - 10 years

  • Days are spent exploring the natural environment, practicing skills & risk management, developing mindfulness, embracing passions, and engaging in games and activities that teach.The learning experience is ever-changing and driven by questioning, storytelling, and inquiry.

    Children will have opportunities to develop an understanding of nature concepts and learn and practice new skills such as woodworking, cooking, orienteering, crafting, outdoor survival skills and more.

    Through educator mentorship, reflection, community building activities, and nature inspired challenges, we aim to develop critical thinking skills, resiliency, focus, positive social skills, and overall physical and emotional wellbeing of individuals and the whole group.

  • THURSDAY: SPROUTS (7 - 10 YEARS)

    School Year (35 weeks, see dates below)

    Fall (14 weeks) Sept 18 - Dec 18

    Winter (9 weeks) Jan 8 - Mar 5

    Spring (12 weeks) Mar 26 - Jun 11

    Hours: 9am to 3:30pm; extended hours available (AM: 8:15 - 9:00; PM: 3:30 - 4:00)

TUES/THURS - Roots & Shoots: 0+ years

  • Parents and young children alike will have opportunities to socialize and interact with others and the natural environment and activities will include short hikes, outdoor play with age appropriate tools and loose parts, stories, songs, and lots of play.

    This program is meant to introduce families to the Forest School experience and to provide opportunities for families to spend time together outside in nature.

  • Fall (14 weeks)

    Tues. Sept 16 - Dec 16

    Thurs. Sept 18 - Dec 18

    Spring (12 weeks)

    Tues. Mar 24 - Jun 9

    Thurs. Mar 26 - Jun 11

    Hours: 9:30am to 11:30am

Monthly and Specialty Programs

Wednesday

Chickadees: 5 - 7 years

  • Similar to our weekly programs, but only takes place once or twice per month throughout September to June.

    Students can build connection and friendships with the same group of students, spaces and throughout each season to develop their skills and community.

    It provides children the opportunity to experience an outdoor learning environment without a weekly commitment

  • WEDNESDAY (10 Sessions)

    Sept. 10, Oct. 8, Nov 5, Dec 3, Jan 7, Feb 4, Mar 4, Apr 8, May 6, June 3

    Hours: 9am to 3:30pm; extended hours available (AM: 8:15 - 9:00; PM: 3:30 - 4:00)

Raccoons (8 - 10 years)

  • Similar to our weekly programs, but only takes place once per month throughout September to June.

    Students can build connection and friendships with the same group of students, spaces and throughout each season to develop their skills and community.

    It provides children the opportunity to experience an outdoor learning environment without a weekly commitment

  • WEDNESDAY (10 Sessions)

    Sept. 24, Oct.22, Nov 19, Dec 17, Jan 21, Feb 18, Mar 25, Apr 22, May 20, June 17

    Hours: 9am to 3:30pm; extended hours available (AM: 8:15 - 9:00; PM: 3:30 - 4:00)

Busy Bees (10 - 14 years)

    • A project-based program for youth to develop nature-crafting skills

    • Hands-on activities will support the development of appreciation for nature, knowledge and skills related to working with nature to create a product, individual growth, focus and resilience, and community/peer connections

    • While some games will be used to support teaching concepts, this program is intended for those looking to build hard skills in creating in, for, or with nature

    • THEMES

      • 1. Oct – Whittling & Tool Use

      • 2. Oct -- Foraging & Textiles

      • 3. Nov -- Sewing & Winter Preparation

      • 4. Jan -- Tracking, Trees & Prints

      • 5. Feb -- Cooking & Maple Syrup

      • 6. Apr -- Herbology & Foraging

      • 7. May -- Art in the Park

  • WEDNESDAY: (7 Sessions)

    Oct 1, Oct 29; Nov 26, Jan 28, Feb 25; Apr 29, May 27

    Hours: 9am to 3:30pm; extended hours available (AM: 8:15 - 9:00; PM: 3:30 - 4:00)

Wilderness Wolves (10 - 14 years)

    • A project-based program for youth to develop bushcraft & survival skills

    • Hands-on activities will support the development of nature knowledge and skills, individual growth, focus and resilience, and community/peer connections

    • While some games will be used to support teaching concepts, this program is intended for those looking to build hard skills in bushcraft and survival

    • THEMES

      • 1. Sept -- Whittling & Tool Use

      • 2. Oct -- Knots & Shelter

      • 3. Nov -- Fire + Water

      • 4. Dec -- Navigation

      • 5. Jan -- Tracking & Trapping

      • 6. Feb -- Cooking & Tree ID/Maple Syrup

      • 7. Mar -- Wilderness First Aid

      • 8. Apr -- Plant ID + Foraging

      • 9. May -- Leave No Trace/Human Impact

      • 10. June -- Survival Skills Challenge

  • WEDNESDAY: 10 Sessions

    Sept 17, Oct 15, Nov 12, Dec 10, Jan 14, Feb 11, Mar 11, Apr 15, May 13, June 10

    Hours: 9am to 3:30pm; extended hours available (AM: 8:15 - 9:00; PM: 3:30 - 4:00)

Rangers Leadership (11 - 14 years)

    • A mentorship program for youth to develop leadership and team-building skills and work alongside Forest School educators

    • 1-2 Ranger positions will be available to join Seeds, Sprouts, Chickadees, Raccoons, or Forest Camp groups (5 - 10 yrs)

    • Application process

  • Weekly

    • Tues - Seeds

    • Thurs - Sprouts

    Monthly/Bi-Weekly

    • Wed - Chickadees & Raccoons

    Seasonal

    • Fri - Forest Camp

    Hours: 9am to :330pm; extended hours available (AM: 8:15 - 9:00; PM: 3:30 - 4:00)

Seasonal Programs

Friday

Forest Camps: 5 - 9 years

    • Activities will reflect the season and include forest exploration & learning, various team and leadership games, cooperative group games, and arts.

    • While dates fall on DDSB/DCDSB PA Days, any child is welcome to register

  • FRIDAYS 4 sessions:

    Fall: Nov 14

    Winter: Jan 23

    Spring: Apr 17

    Summer: June 5

    (PA Days for DDSB/DCDSB)

    Hours: 9:00am to 3:30pm

    Extended Hours

    • AM: 8:15 - 9:00

    • PM: 3:30 - 4:00

Forest Foxes (10 - 13 years)

    • A play-inspired program for youth that supports physical health & social skill development within a forest environment

    • Activities will reflect the season and support learning through play: large group games, team or individual challenges, physical health and fitness, self-regulation, imaginative games, and more

  • FRIDAYS 4 sessions:

    Fall: Nov 14

    Winter: Jan 23

    Spring: Apr 17

    Summer: June 5

    (PA Days for DDSB/DCDSB)

    Hours: 9:00am to 3:30pm

    Extended Hours

    • AM: 8:15 - 9:00

    • PM: 3:30 - 4:00

  • Extended Hours available for Weekly & Monthly Programs, PA Day Programs, Summer Programs.

  • AM Care: 8:15am to 9:00am

    PM Care: 3:30pm to 4:00pm

EXPLORE . LEARN . CREATE . PLAY