Nature as Teacher
Our pedagogy at Wild Whimsy Forest School is one that allows Earth to be our first teacher. We blend methods of Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, Montessori, and play-based approaches into an emergent and adaptive blend of some of the very best tools education has to offer. The experienced and passionate staff work collaboratively with families and each other to design the best possible curriculum for all students and learning styles. Truly a unique experience, a mixed age, fully outdoor preschool program that follows the seasons, ecological patterns, chance sightings and interests giving kids a one of a kind academic, physical and spiritually enriching school experience.
2024-2025 School Year Calendar:
Outdoor Education
Wild Whimsy was founded on the idea that outdoor, exploratory, child-led and teacher-supported learning is best practice for early childhood education. During the first five years of life, children develop at an incredibly rapid pace. For that reason, high quality early learning programs should focus on whole child development. Outdoor learning supports all domains of child development - physical, cognitive, social, and emotional. The physical benefits of outdoor learning are arguably the most evident, but in fact all areas of development are enriched in an outdoor learning setting. Children gain confidence and resilience through persisting in challenging situations. Spending time outdoors contributes to behavioral and emotional self-regulation which are critical for interpersonal and intrapersonal relations. Cognitively, children develop problem solving and decision-making skills and hone their attention and focus - competencies that are integral in supporting academic areas like math and science. Indeed, there is no better place to support child development than in a child’s natural habitat - the outdoor world.
Academics
During the first 5 to 7 years of life, supporting child development is more important than pushing academic content too early. Children must master complex social skills and develop important cognitive competencies before they are truly ready to absorb academic knowledge. That said, many children have interest in learning academic content areas such as math, literacy, science, social studies, art, and music. Luckily, the forest is an amazing place to discover these topics naturally and with an integrated approach. Consider the sequence of a flower growing: seed, sprout, plant, flower, and back to seed. As a child investigates this process in the forest, they are experiencing a biological phenomenon firsthand. With the addition of intentional teaching practices, math (number of petals and leaves, time of day the flower opens) and literacy (documenting growth using writing or pictures, reading a book about plant life cycles) are incorporated in a way that is unmatched in an indoor classroom. Below details what each type of learning looks like in our outdoor setting (videos COMING FALL 2024).
Social and Emotional Learning
Literacy
Math
Culture
Arts
Sciences
Since Time Immemorial
Being primarily on Duwamish land, we have a rich Indigenous culture study thread through all themes of our curriculum. We synthesize the Since Time Immemorial curriculum presented by OSPI (Office of Public Instruction) and created in tandem with local tribes through Office of Native Education, adapted here by our staff. Brittanica also incorporates her own indigenous background and upbringing into foraging and ceremonial practices at Wild Whimsy.
Enrichment
ASL
Every lesson includes vocabulary in ASL, our primary foreign language. Occasionally, teachers bring their own expertise for additional foreign language enrichment. We have Spanish, Dutch, French, Mandarin enhancements to lessons weekly.
Yoga
Each week, we have an hour of yoga taught by a specialist who comes into the park to teach us mindfulness, yoga, and more!
Music
Each week, we will also have a music or rhythm lesson taught by a specialist who comes to Discovery Park to provide an outdoor lesson on music in our world!
Field Trips
At Wild Whimsy Forest School, our field trip schedule is a testament to our core value of adventure. These excursions are integral to our curriculum, providing unique opportunities for skill acquisition, cultural enrichment, and community involvement. We embark on a field trip multiple times a month, exploring a range of destinations such as parks, museums, historical sites, and local businesses. These trips align with our curriculum themes, the current interests of our students, and the passions of our teachers. Whether it’s a visit to the Arboretum, the Frye Art Museum, or the Duwamish Longhouse, each outing is designed to enhance our students' learning experiences and foster a deep connection to the world around them.
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Our 15-passenger vans, driven by our trained staff and equipped with appropriate car seats, ensure that every trip is safe and enjoyable. At Wild Whimsy, our approach to field trips also reflects our commitment to flexibility and resilience. We do not have a fixed school building, allowing us to adapt our learning environment based on the weather—whether it’s exploring greenhouses, campfires, or sheltered spots during cold weather or dipping our toes in the sea during hot. This adaptability ensures that our educational adventures continue, rain or shine, enriching our students' development and keeping their learning journey both dynamic and engaging.
A day at forest school
What does a typical school day look like?
Our school day begins with drop-off at 8:30 am in the park, specifically in the field adjacent to the North Parking Lot.
Children gather for Morning Circle and a themed lesson to kick off the day's adventures. During instructional time, we integrate natural objects alongside intentionally created materials to enrich and reinforce our academic learning, with a strong focus on math and literacy skills during this morning focus.
Following the lesson, we embark on foot explorations within the park or use our van transportation for field trips that connect directly to our current curriculum or the children's interests. Along the way, we pause for a snack and storytime, utilizing these moments to deepen our understanding of the day's topic and scaffolded social interaction. Kids are continually climbing, balancing, singing, pretending and discovering. This is a very unique and special time for children of this age.
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Lunchtime is an intentional moment for food, friendship, and free play at our designated lunch destination. After lunch, we reconvene for Afternoon Circle, engaging in a smaller lesson that complements our morning activities, while also nurturing social-emotional skills. By 3:30pm, we return to the North Parking Lot, concluding our adventurous day together.
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On most days, we engage in focused work at various hand-selected locations within the park, chosen for their suitability to specific topics of study. Occasionally, we venture to the library or other indoor spaces for larger, ongoing projects that require different environments.
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Some days are dedicated entirely to field trips, where we embark on extended outdoor adventures beyond the park. Our teachers drive us in 15-passenger vans, ensuring safe and enriching experiences throughout, fostering teamwork and curiosity.
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Each month, our detailed schedule, including our study topics and planned trips, is accessible via the school calendar, which you'll receive access to upon enrollment.
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At Wild Whimsy Forest School, every day is an opportunity for discovery, learning, and connection with nature, fostering a vibrant educational experience that encourages curiosity, exploration, and social-emotional growth. It is not inside of a building that we feel cozy, but together- it is through the deep, caring relationships with teachers and friends that you will feel at home in your forest family at Wild Whimsy Forest School! Welcome!
Connecting home and school
We understand the importance of connecting home and school. In addition to incorporating your child's family culture into our curriculum, we provide child-centered learning journeys. Your parent handbook will offer more details, but families can expect to receive written and visual representation of their child's progress, challenges, successes, and daily activities. Learning Stories, which include photos, teacher notes, and examples of the child's work, are sent out every two weeks. Daily check ins happen in person each day.
Additionally, our monthly calendar and curriculum topics will be posted for families to explore at home. You’ll find recipes, songs we are learning, and books we are reading in our curriculum calendar, accessible after enrollment.
Parent Teacher Conferences
At Wild Whimsy Forest School, we value open communication and partnership with families, which is why we schedule parent-teacher conferences twice a year, in October and April. These meetings provide an invaluable opportunity for us to discuss your child's learning progress, goals, and any challenges they may be facing. It's a time for reflection on their educational journey thus far, exploring strategies to support their development, and addressing any questions or concerns you may have about their current or future learning. During your child's final year with us, we will also use kindergarten readiness guidelines as a reference point if transitioning to kindergarten is your goal, ensuring they are well-prepared for their next educational adventure. We look forward to these meaningful conversations that strengthen our partnership in nurturing your child's growth and success. Additional conferences are always welcome by request.
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