For today's blog post, I've chosen a current nature school and will review their program, their history, and their successes.
Cedarsong Nature School is considered one of the first nature kindergartens in the United States. Based off the German "waldkindergarten" model, Cedarsong has no indoor spaces. The lessons are not typically planned ahead of time, and the students follow their own interests in the forest, and the learning arises from there.
Students ages 3-6 are welcome to this private preschool. The cost is about average compared to other preschools in the state of Washington. For 3 classes a week, 10 months of the year, the cost of Cedarsong is approximately $3,600. According to the National Association of Child Care Resources, the average cost of child care in the state of Washington (for a school-age center) is $4,674. They offer scholarships for deserving families. Classes are limited to 8 children, and the teacher:student ratio is 4:1.
A packing list is given for all seasons, and children (and parents!) are reminded that, "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing choices". A fund is set up to help families afford the outdoor gear which can get pricey.
Overall, the school, which was started in 2008, is thriving. The waiting list is long, the kids happy." Being outdoors provides them with not only fresh air, it encourages imaginative play, creativity, hand-eye coordination, balance, physical strength and mental clarity. When children's natural curiosity is stimulated, learning flows organically from stimuli encountered in the outdoors. "
Why aren't there more schools like this out there?
Would you send your child to a school like this?
http://www.cedarsongnatureschool.org/index.php
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