frequently asked questions
Why do children belong Outside?
The research is abundantly clear that children need nature. Study after study has shown that time spent outside can improve cognitive development, increase physical activity, encourage pro-social behavior, and reduce stress and depression for both children and adults. And it's no wonder! We live in a time of sensory overload, full of screens, air conditioning, artificial scents, and fast moving vehicles. In nature, children are free to be themselves, connect with their community, and develop skills in a comprehensive and integrated manner.
What is Forest School?
Forest school is school that happens primarily outside! The first forest schools were founded in Denmark, Sweden, and Germany in the 1950s & 60s. Since then the practice has exploded with forest schools now spanning the globe.
Besides the central tenet of being outside, forest schools tend to have a progressive, play-based & child-led curriculum, highly value risky play, and rely mostly on items found in nature as open-ended toys, without bringing in commercial products.
How do you deal with weather?
For the most part, we follow the adage "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing." Children love playing in the rain! We encourage layering, put up a tarp shelter, or visit the river to make cold, rain, or heat more comfortable.
There are some instances where the weather really is bad. If the National Weather Service issues a weather warning (thunder/lightning, wind, heat, etc.) or if the AQI is over 150, we cancel school. Because we pay our teachers for these cancellations, we can not issue any refunds or make-up days.
Are you licensed?
Unfortunately in California, community childcare licensing only applies to schools with a permanent indoor location. In 2021, Washington was the first state in the country to license forest schools and we hope California follows suit.
We are fully insured, run vigorous background checks on all our teachers, require wilderness first aid training & mandated reporter training, and our teacher to child ratio is always much lower than required of childcare centers. We welcome new legislation and will happily comply with forest school regulations and requirements set by the state in the future.
what about the potty?
We ask that children are regularly using the toilet at home and are wearing undies before enrolling in forest school.
During our school day, we use leave no trace principles including using toilet facilites when possible and packing out bms and toilet paper. Children are always supported in bathrooming by a teacher and given privacy if requested.
We use bio-degradable soap and water or hand sanitizer for sanitation.
what about water safety?
We take water safety incredibly seriously. We have a strict water play procedure (similar to a lifeguard at a pool) and all children MUST wear life jackets when playing in or near water. The area of the river where we play is a protected alcove, far from the current. We also announce the days we will be visiting the river and parents are always welcome to join us!
How Do I Enroll?
If you would like to learn more or are ready to enroll please email info@waterwoodandhill.com. We schedule phone calls and play dates to answer questions and make sure we are the right fit for your family!
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See you outside!