connecting people to nature

Forest School

 

You deserve time to work;
time for yourself; time to build up your community. You want
to give your children time to
build up their community too.

And when you decide the time is right, you can feel safe knowing that the time your children spend with us we are working to make every day as beautiful
and meaningful as possible.
Just like you do.
Our Forest Schools in Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta, model the Forest School approach that has been well established in Europe since the 1950's. Research shows a multitude of reasons - intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical - to get children outside spending great lengths of time playing, relaxing and just “being” in nature.

Our Forest School program operates in a variety of different settings and contexts, all designed to support children’s rights to leisure time in nature. Children are given the freedom to spend the majority of time in nature while supported by Early Childhood Educators and Forest School practitioners.

 
 

Our Daily Practice

Our individual practice is always deepening and evolving as we ourselves develop and evolve as educators and learners. The collective of our individual practice drives our approach inspired both by the Forest School ethos and the educational approach in Reggio Emilia, Italy.

 

 

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Long periods of time to play in nature - everyday.

Whether it be the rock forest, the grassy field, the spooky willows or the lake - we are playing, living, resting, learning in nature everyday.

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Fostering of empathy

Whether it be through a conversation, to listen to one another, to accepting another’s point of view that offers from your own, or an action we work hard to help children make sense of the world around in hopes of a more equitable, kinder world.

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Supporting strong & mighty play

Supporting children’s critical thinking when engaging in risk in play - whether it be climbing a tree, building a bridge over water or rough and tumble play.

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Reflection and mindfulness

Our daily practice of sit spots and journaling are just the beginning.

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Curriculum that emerges from the children

Playful, learner-led, inquiry-based project work.

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Observation and documentation

Observation and documentation helps educators support and deepen children’s interests and connection to nature. We use StoryPark to share stories and children’s work to make the learning visible to families.

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We learn from each other

Collaboration, dialogue and story, participation and group work are a key focus. Holding space for everyone, we listen for the “100 languages of children”, to allow each to offer knowledge and contribute in their own way.

 

Inquiries + Comments

 

Have questions? You can reach out through this form, or by calling 403-465-4473 or emailing directly at commondigs@gmail.com