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Wild Wonder is a place-based, play-led preschool alternative program for children ages 3-5 and homeschooled children ages 5-12. Kids are given the opportunity to develop confidence through a hands-on learning experience in a woodland or natural environment. We sing, we story tell, we accomplish learning outcomes with use of natures incentives and above all we explore! We believe children need plenty of outdoor play and that their natural curiosities lead to important neurological connections that will impact the way they learn for the rest of their life. We believe it's important to meet regularly in one natural setting to experience the seasons and how the ecosystems function throughout the year. Nature needs us as much as we need it to live healthy lives, fostering a flourishing future.
Meet our Team and the story of how Wild Wonder Started here |
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Forest School Age 3-5
From the roots beneath the dirt to the treetop branches, we encourage child-led discovery and incorporate pre-school curriculum in a creative way. With our strong leader to child ratio, we try to focus in on how each child is uniquely wired and place opportunities to nurture their wonder in nature. Picture counting rings in stumps, alphabet hunts in the woods, shape building with natural elements, singing songs of seasons and beyond. We aim to build a gentle desire for children to stay curious, involving movement and an opening of all the senses. We try not to make learning stressful, but instead grow a hunger in your child to learn and be inquisitive.
From the roots beneath the dirt to the treetop branches, we encourage child-led discovery and incorporate pre-school curriculum in a creative way. With our strong leader to child ratio, we try to focus in on how each child is uniquely wired and place opportunities to nurture their wonder in nature. Picture counting rings in stumps, alphabet hunts in the woods, shape building with natural elements, singing songs of seasons and beyond. We aim to build a gentle desire for children to stay curious, involving movement and an opening of all the senses. We try not to make learning stressful, but instead grow a hunger in your child to learn and be inquisitive.
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Outschool Age 6-12
Wild Wonder Outschool is an all outdoor program for home learners. We hope to foster scientific curiosity through outdoor exploration, and kid-directed learning. Wild Wonder places high priority on free play, unstructured time in nature, and a strong emphasis on cultivating community and connection to nature. |
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Wild Wonder follows the Principles of the Forest School Association
Principles of Forest and Nature School:
Principles of Forest and Nature School:
- Takes place in a variety of spaces, including local forests, creeks, meadows, prairie grasses, mountains, shorelines, tundra, natural playgrounds, and outdoor classrooms.
- Is a long-term process of regular and repeated sessions in the same natural space.
- Is rooted in building an on-going relationship to place and on principles of place-based education.
- Is rooted in and supports building engaged, healthy, vibrant, and diverse communities.
- Aims to promote the holistic development of children and youth.
- Views children and youth as competent and capable learners.
- Supports children and youth, with a supportive and knowledgeable educator, to identify, co-manage and navigate risk. Opportunities to experience risk is seen as an integral part of learning and healthy development.
- Requires qualified Forest and Nature School practitioners who are rooted in and committed to FNS pedagogical theory and practical skills.
- Requires that educators play the role of facilitator rather than expert.
- Uses loose, natural materials to support open-ended experiences.
- The process is as valued as the outcome.
- Requires that educators utilize emergent, experiential, inquiry-based, play-based, and place-based learning approaches.