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Forest School

Children 1.5 to 7 years of age have the opportunity to spend time exploring the forest, developing their confidence, and laying the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of nature.

We spend 95-100% of our time outdoors, enjoying the seasons no matter the weather!

Forest School gives children a chance to experience place-based education, encouraging them to love the process of learning while in an outdoor setting.

Tenafly Nature Center Forest School Mission & Philosophy:

To inspire a lifelong connection to nature through child-centered learning experiences in the outdoors.

Tenafly Nature Center’s Forest School Philosophy
Children learn through meaningful play experiences. TNC Staff promote this style of learning by:
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    Creating a safe and supportive atmosphere grounded in anti-bias education principles, allowing children, parents, and staff to develop a strong community focused on a mutual love of nature.
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    Allowing opportunities for whole-child development where children engage in age-appropriate risks and expand their confidence and sense of curiosity.
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    Facilitating hands-on experiences such as nature exploration and experimentation, leading children to reflect and reason through their experiences.
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    Providing ample time for free-play and recognizing that children require freedom from adults to form meaningful connections with their peers and the environment.
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    Developing a sense of initiative; children are seen as co-learners who work with teachers to develop the activities and flow
    of the day.
“Absolutely wonderful nature space and their Forest Preschool program is truly a gem! Our son attended the Spring session and it was one of the best decision we have ever made. The teachers are attentive, gentle, kind, and very knowledgeable, and made each class fun and informative. The kids get to explore nature, learn about bugs, plants, frogs, and each other! The outdoor classroom lends itself to creativity and freedom. The trails at the Nature Center are well maintained and beautiful, year round! Highly recommend visiting the Nature Center, and definitely look into the Forest Preschool if you have a child between 3-5 years old! You will not regret it!!” 2021-2022 parent
What does skill development look like in Forest School?
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    Physical: Climbing, jumping, running, hiking, digging, shelter building, building a snowman, tool use
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    Cognitive: Literacy through print materials; language development through nature observation; math skills through measurement, counting, comparing, and estimating
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    Social-emotional: Dramatic play, working in teams, games, storytelling, conflict resolution
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    Environmental: First-hand experiences of seasonal and weather phenomena, connection to the local ecosystem, ability to identify local organisms, care of living things
Academics:

Forest School offers many opportunities for children to play, explore, and form meaningful connections with others and the environment. Organizations such as the Natural Start Alliance and the Children & Nature Network specialize in research that supports the value of outdoor education in early childhood settings. Our program focuses on developing gross and fine motor skills, social-emotional awareness, risk assessment and risky play, as well as other foundational principles rooted in a play-based learning philosophy. We often keep in mind the following quote from Rachel Carson’s Sense of Wonder– “I sincerely believe that for the child, and for the parent seeking to guide him, it is not half so important to know as to feel…It is more important to pave the way for the child to want to know than to put him on a diet of facts he is not ready to assimilate”.

Weather Information:

Forest School is held outdoors for roughly 95% of our time. In the event of extreme weather (lightning, high winds, or frigid temperatures) moves indoors*. Appropriate attire goes a long way toward comfort in the outdoors! The opportunity to witness nature no matter the weather leads to a greater appreciation and respect for our environment. We use sources like Reima, Polarn O. Pyret, Didrickson’s, and Oaki to help kids have the right gear to extend their time playing in nature.

*Afternoon Forest School and Family Forest School may use reschedule dates as the weather indicates.

Risky Play:

During time at Forest School, children will be supported in reasonable risk-taking behaviors through free play and guided experiences. In order to maintain proper supervision for these kinds of activities, we maintain a ratio of one educator for every five children. All staff members carry a walkie-talkie to maintain communication lines with other members of the Forest School team, or with other Tenafly Nature Center staff should the need arise. A first-aid kit also carried for each group.

Staff will help students to understand the difference between appropriate risk and hazardous behavior while monitoring an area for safety hazards. By engaging in risky play such as balancing on a log, climbing and sliding down rocks, or splashing in a stream, children gain self-confidence as they try new activities just outside of their comfort zone. Using new tools such as shovels, hammers, and veggie peelers can develop a feeling of competency and self-sufficiency in a child.

Reviews:
Rachel Krauser
Rachel Krauser
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Seeking an engaging and enriching outlet for our active and curious four year old, my husband and I were thrilled to discover TNC's afternoon Forest School. It gave her the opportunity to jump, climb, and run through the forest while making new friends and learning valuable skills (side benefit being that it wore her out and made bedtime a breeze). She came home excited and happy, which led to us enrolling her in TNC's full-time Forest School program. Five days a week she learned to identify plants, track animals, problem solve, practice survival skills, build relationships with and collaborate with her peers. She experienced connection to the natural world and developed a respect and sense of responsibility for it. She was encouraged to play, learn, discover, and explore, offering her and her friends the opportunity to be kids for just a little longer. The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable about child development and aree exists in environmental education. They are incredibly in tune with each individual student. Over that year we watched her grow and thrive in ways we never imagined. The experience was transformative. Now our 2.5 year old attends TNC's Family Forest School one morning a week. She loves exploring, "cooking" in the mud kitchen and learning about trees and animals. We plan to give her the same experiences her sister enjoyed by attending full time Forest School as soon as she's able.
Creatives SK
Creatives SK
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I've always loved this nature center and had been very interested in their preschool and camp programs. When I first stopped by without an appointment to inquire, the staff was incredibly welcoming and even called Amanda, the head of the preschool program, to come speak with me. She was also so kind and thoroughly explained everything, which led me to decide to register for the camp that very day. During the day camp my son attended, when he wasn't feeling well, they called me promptly and handled the situation with great care and professionalism. They continued to take excellent care of my son throughout his time there, creating unforgettable memories for us. My son had an absolute blast at camp, and we're very satisfied with this experience. We will definitely return, as this place has become like a second home to us. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the staff at Tenafly Nature Center. If there are any parents out there wondering whether to enroll their children in the school or camp programs here, I highly recommend it.
Amira El-Ghobashy
Amira El-Ghobashy
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Though I’m a big fan of TNC in general, this specific review is for the Forest School program where I’ve now sent both of my kids for pre-K. TNC is a magical sanctuary where children thrive in a small, attentive environment. With caring teachers and a focus on nature, it’s been like a second home. The kids explore, learn, and develop friendships with one another in an idyllic outdoor classroom, fostering a deep connection to the natural world while being nurtured and kept safe. Every day is an adventure— hiking the nature center’s many trails, playing imaginative games, reading a wide range of storybooks, “working” on projects alongside educators and crafting works of inspired art. I'm so grateful for the enriching experience my children have had here and highly recommend it to any parent who cares about preserving childhood, in all its wonder.
A. D.
A. D.
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The Forest Pre-School is an amazing program that has gone above and beyond our expectations. Firstly, it is very safe when it comes to covid protocols as it outdoors. Secondly, the teacher Miss Amanda is super talented, educated, patient, kind, resourceful, and really knows how to bring out the best in all the kids. We learn so much as a family from her. Thirdly, being outdoors means not only exercise and natural discoveries, but so much evidence based research shows how kids thrive for life with early outdoor educations. Also makes for great dinner conversations about the salamanders or other creatures they encounter around the “classroom.” We are so grateful to have discovered this program and glad that there was room for our daughter. Highly recommend!
tanja weber
tanja weber
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Absolutely wonderful nature space and their Forest Preschool program is truly a gem! Our son attended the Spring session and it was one of the best decision we have ever made. The teachers are attentive, gentle, kind, and very knowledgeable, and made each class fun and informative. The kids get to explore nature, learn about bugs, plants, frogs, and each other! The outdoor classroom lends itself to creativity and freedom. The trails at the Nature Center are well maintained and beautiful, year round! Highly recommend visiting the Nature Center, and definitely look into the Forest Preschool if you have a child between 3-5 years old! You will not regret it!!
Christine Brennan Davis
Christine Brennan Davis
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This review is for the Forest Preschool. This program has been absolutely amazing for our daughter! What initially drew us to the program was our desire to find a safe, outdoor preschool option where Covid precautions would be taken very seriously. We found that- and so much more. Our daughter has developed incredible friendships, a passion for the outdoors, and increased confidence to take on new challenges (think climbing tall trees, taking long hikes, playing in all weather, and using grown-up tools!). Ms. Amanda is a masterful educator, who weaves best practices in early childhood education (fine and gross motor, literacy, math/ science) into a nature and play-based curriculum. She is very attuned to the interests of the students and allows for lots of student voice and choice around how each day unfolds. She is also an amazing naturalist and her knowledge of and passion for the outdoors has left an indelible impression on our daughter. Finally, she speaks and listens to students (and parents!) with such respect and caring, modeling how to cooperate, resolve conflicts, and express feelings. These skills will be so important for my daughter as she moves into kindergarten next year. I truly could not imagine a more wonderful preschool experience for our daughter. I highly recommend Forest School!!!
Abbey States
Abbey States
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This review is for the Forest Preschool (though the rest of the nature center is also awesome). We were so lucky to start our daughter at TNC in September 2020 after agonizing about Covid-safe activities for our very social almost 4yo. It has been a great decision for so many reasons. Her previous daycare was 95% indoors, and I can see that forest preschool has given her a new appreciation and passion for nature. I’m certain she can now identify more plants and animals than I can. She loves climbing, exploring, using her imagination for activities, and importantly no longer complains about the weather. Snow/wind/rain, no problem! Ms Amanda is THE BEST and is so great with the kids, coordinating fun activities and hikes every day but also mediating fiery kid arguments and defusing moodiness like an empathic wizard. She provides full updates and photos every day so we always know what the kids got up to. They also take Covid very seriously and have daily health checks (in 8 months there has never been an issue). We moved farther away from TNC after a few months, but continue doing the 45min drive because our daughter loves it so much. If not for the commute we would have loved to sign her up for another year. It’s such a unique educational experience and I know it will stay with her for a long time. Cannot recommend this program highly enough!
Deepa Santhose
Deepa Santhose
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This review is for the Forest Preschool Program. First off Amanda, the director and teacher is just exceptionally great! Forest Preschool has smaller class size of 5 students. Amanda is great at identifying each individual kid’s interests and helping them each grow their skills. The smaller class size also allowed all the kids to connect very closely at a personal level. The outdoor setting is amazing for kids at that young age to cultivate creative, problem solving, and exploratory skills. They get exposure to a ton of stuff like tools( I’m talking hammer, peeler and more) while keeping safety in mind and taking instructions from Amanda. They also get to explore the animals, birds, plants and weather that the enormous Nature center offers.. I’m talking experiences like a snake eating a salamander, spotting 80 year old turtle in a pond, watching salamander eggs, week(s) long play and building tunnels in snow, endless splashing in puddles!! Some of these are once in a lifetime experiences for most people, at best ! I also noticed that my LO had a huge fondness and respect for nature, and preserving it and keeping it clean, after joining Forest Preschool. My LO also built stamina for long hikes due to the outdoor exposure everyday. Most importantly this helped my kid restore to nature for play or to spend time. I hope that continues. I believe in strong foundations and I’m so grateful to have found Forest Preschool. This has been a great unconventional learning experience (especially during Covid times) and I highly recommend it!!
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