This concludes the 2025-2026 School Year!

There are only a few weeks left together in our outdoor classroom! Our last day of the 2025-2026 school year will be Friday, May 22nd for both Playschool and Adventure Club. It is always a bittersweet moment on the last day of school. We love seeing how much the kids have grown during the year and are excited for their next steps! A big reason for their growth and for ours is because of our parents.  We want to thank our parents for the care, communication, and willingness to grow with our Teachers and Directors throughout this school year. Grateful Gatherings has seen many changes over the years, and through the many ups, and few downs that running an outdoor school may inevitably bring, you all have made this Forest School community so incredible, and we couldn’t be more grateful. 

What we are learning:

With the ever-changing weather this spring from hot to cold to snowy to rainy, it is incredible to see the resilience and growth the kids have built throughout this year. Every day seems to bring new wonders and curiosities with the promise of warmer (or at least consistent) days. Kids are enamored with the bugs and plants that they discover utilizing tools such as binoculars and magnifying glasses. There even were sightings of quails, butterflies, and a coyote from a far distance which kids later identified with their animal and bug guides!

They continue to build confidence and self-assess risks through climbing trees and rocks, sliding down grassy hills, exploring with teachers, and of course, balancing! Most days flow as the kids express their personal feelings and boundaries, find new games to play, make potions and food with mud kitchen, and continue to step outside their comfort zones. We recently made some planting pots together for the kids to take home to celebrate Earth Day and will also be making seed bombs and playing pollinator games for our end-of-the-year project in the weeks to come. We are looking forward to enjoying our last few weeks together as a class for the ‘25-’26 year and can’t wait for our Graduation Celebration, Summer Camp and all of the exciting changes next school year is sure to bring! 

At this point in the year, we are putting into practice a lot of the skills we have fostered over the year. A big part of that is continuing to empower our students to be independent. This includes challenging students to clean up their own lunches and backpacks at the end of the day, utilizing their voices to express how they feel to friends when conflicts arise, and regulating their bodies when it switches from a hot to cold day. The kids continue to practice listening, stating their boundaries, and working through challenges together such as taking turns with tools. Teachers are finding less and less need to step in for help, and we are so thrilled to see such huge improvement in these areas. As always, our teachers' days are filled with mud kitchen, imagination games, exploring with the kids and making sure everyone is safe and fair with their play. We continue to practice teamwork and encourage personal empowerment with the kids in all that we do. We support them in figuring out how to do things for themselves, and are there if and when we are needed. When a child does choose to practice doing things without help, we give lots of positive feedback. We continue to guide all of our play back to our Three Agreements (Play Safe, Play Fair, Have Fun) and what they mean. 

* Remember to check Brightwheel for updates and personal pictures of your kiddo in class throughout the school year!

UPCOMING CLOSURES: 

*Last Day for Playschool and Adventure Club: May 22nd (The Friday before Memorial day weekend)

PLAYSCHOOL GRADUATION: Dear Forest School Families,

You are invited to our first official Nature Playschool Graduation! Join us as we honor the growth, courage, curiosity and friendships that blossomed and bonded among the trees this year. From mud kitchen moments to climbing our mulch hills to watching the seasons change, our graduates have grown as wild and wonderful as the natural spaces we are so lucky to learn in.

We’ll gather for snacks, smiles, and a joyful send-off celebration for our amazing students as they take on their next big adventure or break for the summer season.

Come celebrate the magic of a childhood outdoors and the completion of the 2025-2026 school year.

With muddy hands and full hearts, Your GGFS Teaching Team.

*This event is closed to our 2025-2026 graduates and their families. Details can be found on your physical invitation or feel free to reach out!

SUMMER CAMP: If you haven’t already, be sure to enroll or email us and secure your child’s spot for camp! We have a couple spaces left in both our Adventure and Play Camps (ages 3-9).

2026-2027 ENROLLMENTS NOW OPEN: NOW ENROLLING for the 2026-2027 school year! Beginning August 17, join us for another amazing year of outdoor exploration, learning and play that nurtures your child’s love for nature and empowers their development and growth. Limited space available in our Playschool and Kindling Club Programs.

Playschool: Monday-Friday from 8:30-12:15 for ages 3-6.

Kindling Club is our new Subject Style Kinder-learning Program for our older Playschool kids (ages 5-6)! This offering will be in addition (as an add-on option) to our Playschool Program for our older students who are getting prepared for their next steps after Playschool graduation. Currently enrolling for Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (2 hours play/ 2 hours subject learning). Additional classes TBD.

Nestlings: Thursdays from 9:30-11:30am for ages  1-3 + their caregiver. Currently Enrolling for a second group/ day!

PARENT BOOK CLUB:

Kids Book: Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss

Adults Book: Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff

(If you are interested in joining the Parent Book Club and reading and discussing together, contact Director Mackenzy!)

If you have a book you’d like to recommend next, please send us a message through Brightwheel!

Spring 26

Happy Spring! We are so grateful to welcome a new season together and look forward to all that Spring 2026 has in store!

After a long winter of chilly mornings and layered adventures, we are beginning to feel the warmth of the sun return to our forest classroom. The snow may have come and gone, but signs of new life are popping up all around us. Buds are forming on branches, the ground is softening beneath our boots, and the birds are busily returning with their cheerful songs. This season at Forest School is all about sunshine, celebration and growth.

Our time together now is focused on embracing change, encouraging independence, and deepening friendships as we transition into warmer, muddier days. Students are learning how to adjust their layers as temperatures shift throughout the morning, noticing when their bodies need water or rest in the sunshine, and taking responsibility for rain gear and extra muddy clothes. Spring brings unpredictability — one moment bright and sunny, the next rainy and cool — and with it comes wonderful opportunities for practicing flexibility and resilience.

This time of year, we see so much growth in confidence and leadership. Students are communicating their needs more clearly, solving problems together during imaginative play, and showing kindness and care for one another in new ways. The independence that was nurtured through winter is now blooming right alongside the plants around us. It has been a joy for teachers to witness each child’s continued physical, emotional, and social growth.

WHAT WE ARE LEARNING: Spring is a season full of wonder, curiosity, and discovery. With warmer weather comes new life cycles to observe — sprouting seeds, budding trees, worms in the soil, and busy insects returning to work. We are spending time noticing changes in our environment, asking questions, and making predictions about what we see happening around us. Puddles and mud have created exciting sensory play opportunities, while fallen branches and loose parts inspire creativity and teamwork in fort building and imaginative games.

Our outdoor classroom feels brand new again as we explore how it transforms with the season. There has been lots of digging, balancing, nature art, cooperative games, and quiet moments listening to the wind move through the trees. We continue to practice our three classroom agreements: Play Safe, Play Fair, and Have Fun.

Teachers spend their mornings supporting students through changing weather routines, helping manage rain gear and muddy boots, guiding conflict resolution, and encouraging teamwork during group play. We are observing, asking thoughtful questions, joining in exploration, and ensuring that every child feels safe, valued, and empowered.

Spring reminds us that growth takes time, patience, and care — and we are so proud of how each of our students continues to bloom.

* Remember to check Brightwheel for updates and personal pictures of your kiddo in class throughout the school year!

UPDATES: New and familiar faces! This spring, we’re thrilled to welcome back Teacher Megan Oliver! We are elated to have her returning to share her gifts as an outdoor educator, artist, and mentor within our community. Megan will be rejoining the program and transitioning into a Teacher Lead and Co-Owner role, helping to strengthen and thoughtfully grow our school’s programs and the beautiful community we continue to build together. As we prepare for Summer Camp, we are also welcoming a new Assistant Teacher to the team, Leianna Rich. She will begin her teacher training with us this spring!

UPCOMING CLOSURES:

*Spring Recess - April 6-10

*Last Day of School - May 22

2026-2027 ENROLLMENTS NOW OPEN: NOW ENROLLING for the 2026-2027 school year! Beginning in August, join us for outdoor exploration, learning and play that nurtures your child’s love for nature and empowers their development and growth. Our year-round outdoor kids programs run in and around the Dimple Dell area in Sandy, UT. Space available in our Playschool and Kindling Club Program. Now Enrolling a second group/day for our Nestlings Program!

Playschool: Monday-Friday from 8:30-12:15 for ages 3-6.

Kindling Club is our new Subject Style Kinder-learning Program for our older Playschool kids (ages 5-6)! This offering will be in addition (as an add-on option) to our Playschool Program. Days/Details TBD based on feedback. To give us your feedback, help us create this program and make it the best it can be, please take a moment to fill out our Poll, which can be found on the Playschool Page!

Nestlings: Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 for ages  1-3 + their caregiver. Now Enrolling for a second group/ day! Day/Details TBD based on feedback.

Spring Events

*We host seasonal community days in our mission to build a stronger community! All families are welcome, enrolled or not.

JOIN US Saturday April 18th!

CLOTHING DRIVE/ COMMUNITY DAY: Calling all Forest School Families (enrolled or not)! You and your family are invited to join us for our Earth Day Spring Cleaning Event & Open House where you can meet Director Mackenzy, members of our teaching team, and other Forest School families in our community! Celebrate the Spring season by joining in our yearly Earth Day Dimple Dell Clean-Up, learn more about our outdoor programs and philosophies and enjoy one of our favorite outdoor classrooms together! We are also kicking off our Spring Clothing Drive and launching our Grateful Gear Traveling Closet! Lighten your load at home and bring your child’s old outdoor clothes to help other Forest School Families in need (learn more my checking out our webpage). Seasonal refreshments will be provided, as well as some fun Forest School activities for the kiddos (magic mud kitchen, chalk, bubbles, and more)! We can’t wait to spend a morning full of Forest School fun with you!

Date: Saturday, April 18th

Time: 9:30am - 11:30am

Location: Granite Park

Address: 2725 East Grouse Creek Circle, Sandy

PLAYSCHOOL GRADUATION: Dear Forest School Families,

You are invited to our first official Nature Playschool Graduation! Join us as we honor the growth, courage, curiosity and friendships that blossomed and bonded among the trees this year. From mud kitchen moments to climbing our mulch hills to watching the seasons change, our graduates have grown as wild and wonderful as the natural spaces we are so lucky to learn in.

We’ll gather for snacks, smiles, a special ceremony, and joyful send-off celebration for our amazing students as they take on their next big adventure or break for the summer season.

Come celebrate the magic of a childhood outdoors and the completion of the 2025-2026 school year.

With muddy hands and full hearts, Your GGFS Teaching Team.

*Date: May 16th, Time and Locations Details to come!

PARENT BOOK CLUB:

Kids Book: My Mud Kitchen is Rad by Allison Bakkum

Adults Book: Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff

(If you are interested in joining the book club and reading and discussing together, contact Director Mackenzy!)

If you have a book you’d like to recommend, please send us a message through Brightwheel!