
Our Teaching Philosophy
We believe the natural world provides an exceptional classroom, inspiring wonder, independent learning and critical thinking. Our nature-based curriculum incorporates a hands-on, experiential approach and the development of the whole-child. We have a flexible inquiry-based facilitation style, and we follow the childrens’ lead much of the time.
- Our goal is to support children to:
- be curious and ask questions
- learn about our local ecosystems
- use their senses to experience the outdoors
- develop an appreciation and respect for each other, and the natural world
- be kind, responsible, and generous members of the community
- be resilient, overcome challenges, and realize their capabilities
- play, adventure, build, get dirty, and thoroughly enjoy the outdoors
Our daily routine is guided by the 8 Shields model of Mentoring and Exploring Nature with Children curriculum. Concepts are introduced through our flow of the day, which is designed to work with the natural inclinations and energies of the children and the environment. We follow what sparks connection and excitement for the children. Some days we follow the planned curriculum and on other days, we throw our “plan” out the window and follow the animal tracks we found after opening circle. We believe that children learn the most when they have a “spark in their eye” and are enthusiastic about something they discovered in nature. We ask them questions and study alongside them to deepen their curiosity and knowledge about the nature subject at hand.