Welcome back to Forest School! We have been enjoying getting to know each other and settling in to our new School Year.
FOREST SCHOOL & ADVENTURE CLUB: Fall is beginning to show in our outdoor classroom! We have loved watching the transition from Summer to Fall and all the beautiful colors, the beginning of colder mornings and all the Autumn celebrations we have to look forward to in the upcoming months.
Since the start of our School Year, we have been spending our days getting familiar with Forest School and all the “new” that comes along with it. Teachers spend their mornings helping kids communicate and gain confidence in themselves as they about one another and get familiar with our 3 Agreements (Play Safe, Play Fair, Have Fun). It is always so fun to watch the kids get to know one another and find new friendships, to watch them gain trust in their teachers and their surroundings, and to see them settle in to their new roles at School. It is about this time of year that the “chaos” that comes with the excitement and anticipation of new school year begins to ease as the kids find their groove and begin to learn what Play and Friendship is all about. Teachers help students take care of their lunches, gear and bodies, and begin to encourage them to take care of their things on their own. We have already seen great improvement in each child’s development in language, ability to regulate themselves, identify their feelings and talk through conflict. Some activities we are enjoying right now are reading stories, playing in our mud kitchen, bubbles, chalk and playing imagination games. Our Friday Adventure Club Program (ages 5-9) has been a huge success this year with such a great group of kids, and it only seems to be getting bigger! Fridays afternoons never quite seem long enough for them as they grow in friendship and imagination, playing mud kitchen, reading along with teachers and getting to know each other.
WHAT WE ARE LEARNING: At this point in the year, the weather is beginning to shift and that means that we are beginning to learn about the changing seasons, weather and the uniqueness and joy that different days can bring! As the changing weather brings the need to take care of our bodies, we are putting into play all the we have practiced at the beginning of the school year. This includes how to take care of ourselves and our belongings, listening to our bodies, empowering ourselves through difficult emotions, and building confidence in ourselves and our friendships. We continue to practice our three classroom agreements: Play Safe, Play Fair and Have Fun. We are enjoying the colder mornings and love running around, spending time in the sun, and staying close to teachers and friends to warm up our bodies each day. Our teachers spend their mornings exploring, observing and joining in games with the kids and making sure everyone is safe and fair with their play. We practice teamwork and encourage personal empowerment with the kids in all that we do.
* Remember to check Brightwheel for updates and personal pictures of your kiddo in class throughout the school year!
UPCOMING CLOSURES:
*Fall Break: November 24th - November 28th (one week)
*Winter Recess: December 22nd - January 2nd (two weeks)
NESTLINGS PROGRAM: Our newest Nestlings Program is for new (or new again) mamas! Coming Spring 2026, our first-ever outdoor enrichment program designed for littles 12 month + and their caregivers! Get outside, play and explore with your babe in a safe environment and among fellow parents, nannies, and caregivers! This program offers guidance, community, and support in parenting and outdoor care that align with the Grateful Gathering values. Hosted by Director Mackenzy and her son, Kemper! Be on the lookout for soft opening details coming soon!
This program is still in development and we need your help to finalize the details! Visit our “Nestlings” page to take our survey and help us make a class that works best for you and your family!
NEW LOCATION: As seasons change, so do we! Beginning September 29th, we will be meeting at one of our favorite Dimple Dell locations. Check your email for the exact address.
COMMUNITY EVENTS: Join us for our Back-To-Forest-School Openhouse/ Community Day on September 20th! 9:30-11:30am at Hidden Valley Park.
*BOOK OF THE MONTH:
Kids Book: Will You Be My Friend? By Sam McBratney
Adults Book: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
If you have a book you’d like to recommend, please send us a message through Brightwheel!
Here’s whats new at
GRATEFUL GATHERING FOREST SCHOOL
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Forest Playschool?
Originated in Denmark, Forest Kindergartens (or preschools) are a type of education for children between the ages of three and six that is held almost exclusively outdoors. Now adopted and getting more popular in the US, Forest Schools are becoming an incredible child development tool for children of all ages. Grateful Gathering Forest School adopted the Playschool value system because we believe that the best and only true way for a child to practice everyday life skills with passion and curiosity is through play. And we believe the best teacher and playground for that learning is in nature. Our curriculum focuses on interest-led nature exploration, PLAY, and daily discoveries. We engage with our natural world and foster an environment for children to be empowered, develop life skills, friendships, and explore their creativity, while developing confidence and an innate interest in learning about themselves and the world around them.
What can I expect from school everyday?
Grateful Gatherings Forest School’s low teacher to student ratio (4:1 for ages 3-6 and 6:1 for ages 5-9) and our child-led approach to learning allows for every child to show up to school each day just as they are, with teachers able to take care of their individual needs and feelings. We begin each day with a “hello circle” of some kind where we tune into our bodies, talk about the weather for the day and what that means for our clothing (removing layers, feeling too hot/cold, etc.), go over our affirmations and agreements, and sing a song together. The rest of the day is unstructured free-play and in the moment learning about ourselves and our feelings, the natural world around us, and how to build and foster relationships with others. Each class includes: seasonal nature-based learning, unstructured exploration and play, songs & stories, team-building games, food and water to nourish our bodies, mindful practices, problem solving, creativity, skill building, and lots of friendships and fun!
Where is pick-up and drop-off?
We use multiple nature spots throughout Sandy based on season. Pick-up and drop-off will be in the parking lot of the location we are meeting at for the day. Location is seasonal based on sunlight. Teachers will message about location change for any reason.
How do we handle snacks and potty breaks?
Grateful Gatherings is an outdoor program. Depending on where we are at, we wont always have access to public restrooms. We ask that parents help their children get comfortable going to the bathroom outside before they begin our program. We do request parents pack an extra pair for clothing in case of an accident. One teacher will always be close by in case they are needed, and we always carry hand sanitizer for after a potty break. We allow kids to go to go to the bathroom and eat at their food on their own terms (we do ask everyone every day if they need to go to the bathroom and make sure every child has sat down to eat) and actively promote listening to their bodies every day at school.
What do we do in inclement weather or low air-quality days?
Safety is our main priority with the kids, and is a staple in what we teach at school. Because we are a 100% outdoor program, if the weather is unsafe for the children to be outside for extended periods of time, we will have to close for the day. We do not refund if we have to cancel for the day. Make up days are available, but up to the family to schedule.
How can I set my child up for success?
Before joining our program, a lot of parents ask us what they can do to help their child get ready for Forest School. What a great question to ask! We believe the best way to prepare them and make them feel confident in this exciting step is to show them what they will be doing! We ask parents to take them to the places they will be playing in and go for a hike and explore with them! Familiarize them with our website and our social media page and show them some of the activities we do. Practice going to the bathroom outside. Talk to them about what they can expect and what they might be feeling about it. Doing these things with your child will help make him/her more readily able to make that transition, and feel confident in their new outdoor environment!