We are committed to providing safe, outdoor programs. Learn about our COVID policies here >
Now with two locations in Croton and Mt Kisco, our Forest Preschool encourages kids 3-5 to build connections to the land and each other. Our teachers aren't just great preschool educators, they're also trained naturalists ready to help students explore the outdoors 100% of every day through games, learning activities, adventures and age-appropriate fun!
In Forest Preschool, learning happens naturally! Math is used to count gallons of maple syrup or measure sticks for our shelter; literacy skills develop through storytelling and reading activities. But our program also helps children learn key emotional and social skills. Our graduates go on to larger groups or indoor classroom settings with innate self-awareness and self-confidence, and with great communication and teamwork skills.
Location Our program runs at two beautiful locations, Brinton Brook Sanctuary in Croton-on-Hudson, and Marsh Sanctuary in Mt Kisco - each with over 150 acres of meadows, ponds, boulders, and wooded trails to explore throughout the year. At each site a tent provides light cover from rainy weather and ventilation on all four sides; under this tent is our outdoor "classroom" with sit stumps, books and toys, and a central fire, where the day begins and ends.
Our Garden Our Mt. Kisco location has a garden that we plant, tend, and maintain every year. We're just now in the process of preparing it for this year's seeding, which means the kids are hard at work pulling weeds and reforming the beds with us as we teach them all about the process. See below for a video we made showcasing the different sections of our garden, and check back in later for updates on it.
climb • explore • collaborate • fish • play • build • experiment • touch • taste • discover • compare • tell stories • create stories • make friends
Staff Our teachers aren't just great preschool educators, they are also trained naturalists with an unwavering passion for the outdoors! In addition to passing a background check and being COVID-vaccinated, our staff is fully trained in safety and first aid, teaching techniques, naturalist skills and ancestral crafts.
Teaching Philosophy The outdoors can be unpredictable, and that is what makes it the perfect learning environment for young kids. Our teachers utilize Coyote Mentoring to encourage students to make their own discoveries and learn from their own experiences. Instead of relying on adults to introduce them to the world, they discover it themselves through hands-on exploration and gentle, leading questions - so they can dive deep and walk away excited.
Example of a Morning (9:15a-12:00p) / Afternoon (1:00p-3:45p) Session
9:15a / 1:00p Freeplay Staff lead students in a bird-beak game.
9:30a / 1:15p Snack and Story Kids sit on tree stumps in our outdoor classroom and eat snack while listening to a story about bird nests.
9:45a / 1:30p Adventure Group outing to build bird nests in grove of small trees away from tent, with opportunities to play along the way.
11:30a / 3:15p Snack and Story Kids return to tent for a second snack, and story about bird migration.
11:45a / 3:30p Freeplay Kids play freely, often inspired by the day's events.
12:00p / 3:45p Parent Pickup Teachers greet parents and share stories of the day.
2023-2024 Forest Preschool
Marsh Sanctuary, Mt. Kisco
September 2023 - June 2024
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Options:
Morning (9:15-12:00) for:
All 5 days a week (Monday - Friday)
3 days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri)
or 2 days a week (Tues, Thurs)
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Afternoon (1:00-3:45) for:
All 5 days a week (Monday - Friday)
3 days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri)
or 2 days a week (Tues, Thurs)
Brinton Brook Sanctuary, Croton-on-Hudson
September 2023 - June 2024
​
Options:
Morning (9:15-12:00) for:
All 5 days a week (Monday - Friday)
3 days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri)
or 2 days a week (Tues, Thurs)
​
Afternoon (1:00-3:45) for:
All 5 days a week (Monday - Friday)
3 days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri)
or 2 days a week (Tues, Thurs)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Tuition We offer three options for registration: two days (Tuesdays & Thursdays); three days (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays); or five days a week (Monday-Friday). Tuition is billed monthly at $336, $504, or $780, for a total of $3360, $5040, or $7800 per year, respectively.
Packing List Before the start of the program, we send an email to all participants with the packing list and arrival instructions.
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COVID Safety Mask wearing is optional, unless you are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or have been directly exposed to someone who has tested positive. Read more about our COVID policies here.
Weather Safety Class will occur in sunny or rainy weather. Class is cancelled only due to dangerous weather (temps below 20 F, lightning, high winds.) We do virtual story time during these days, and offer a 50% credit for the cancelled class that we apply to your next month's bill.
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If anyone has any additional questions, please email info@rewildingschool.com