Help Bring Foothills Forest School to Life!

Hello all, welcome and thank you for considering donating to my future forest school program! (Details on expenses are listed at the bottom of this story)

My name is Rebecca Goulet and I have been teaching for ten years. Opening a high-quality, play-based, nature-centered preschool program has always been a dream of mine. I am aiming to have the program up and running by August 2023. Foothills Forest School will provide care to children ages 3-5 on a half-day, M-F schedule, 100% outdoors. Our site is Diablo Foothills Regional Park in Walnut Creek, CA. Keep reading to find out more!

 

What is Forest School?

 

Forest school is a comprehensive educational approach that involves child-led, holistic learning in a woodland setting. The program’s focus is on play, social/emotional health and developing a deep connection with nature. Forest schools value intrinsic learning vs. rote memorization and view children as co-learners vs. pupils needing to be taught. This is done by following the children's curiosities and diving deeper with curious adults to guide them. It has been around in Europe for decades with massive success. The "forest school" wave arrived in the United States a little over a decade ago, but we need MORE! Click HERE to learn more about the history of forest schools and their value.

 

Why do we need it?

 

There is a need for forest schools on many levels: global, societal, and local.

 

Our planet and its ecosystems are in crisis and our children are entering into a world of uncertainty. Children are expected to grow up and "save the earth," but they are robbed of the opportunity to get to know it. There are very few holistic, outdoor programs operating east of Berkeley despite a significant need. Parents are wanting their children outside, connecting or reconnecting with nature in a developmentally appropriate and stimulating environment.

 

And let's face it...over the last 30 years, most children are spending less and less time outside. They have less access to natural spaces due to development. They are spending previously unimaginable amounts of time behind a screen. Parents no longer feel safe letting their kids roam free. Many children have become all but completely disconnected from nature. Based on a significant body of research discussed in Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods, this is causing major deficits in their health and development with damaging effects. More children than ever are diagnosed with depression, clinical obesity, ADHD, anxiety, type 2 diabetes, and more. One common treatment among all of these conditions: spend more time in nature.

 

Pandemic life has had at least one benefit: people are again realizing the value of the great outdoors. First we thought, "This is safer." We have come to understand, "This is what we've needed."

 

Benefits of Forest School

 

Through experiences outdoors, we not only learn about nature but how to respect nature. We develop an understanding of our roles as humans and our impact in the natural world. We become stewards. We come to know the local landscape; the flora and fauna become our classroom. We become full participants in nature as opposed to passive observers.

 

Children who attend forest school have the ability to learn at their own pace and focus on what matters most to their individual development. Based on research listed HERE they show an increase in the following:

 

Confidence

Empathy

Knowledge/Cognitive Abilities

Self-awareness

Resilience

Social skills

Motivation

Communication

Concentration

Problem Solving

Physical Skills

Emotional Connection to Nature

Risk Assessment Skills

Enthusiasm for Learning

 

There is also a decrease in overall behavioral issues (in comparison to the classroom) and Forest School has proven to be a supportive environment for neurodivergent children.

 

Bio/Experience

 

I have been teaching young children since 2012, ages 12 months to 6 years. I am extremely passionate about human development and equally so about nature connection. All children should have access to a developmentally appropriate, supportive environment as well as the opportunity to develop a relationship with the natural world. Families deserve access to childcare that they wholeheartedly stand behind.

 

As my career has evolved, so has my philosophy on best practices in child development. During my years as a full-time preschool teacher, I witnessed, firsthand, the beauty of play-based, whole child learning intertwined with experiencing life outdoors.

 

In addition to studying Child Development at Los Medanos College and Humboldt State University, I have continued to build up my professional knowledge and augment my hands-on experience as a teacher through a variety of trainings and workshops.

 

Real-Life Observations

 

During the last three years of my career, I spent countless hours exploring on five acres of the East Bay woodlands with my Pre-K classes. We trekked up big slopes, picked blackberries, identified tracks, made friends, discovered bones, observed the seasons change, jumped in the creek, sang songs, learned about Indigenous culture, spotted birds, took risks, yelled to the rooftops, and more.

 

It is in this environment that the children thrived. Behavioral issues seen in the classroom dissipated. Learning experiences occurred at every turn. The children were allowed the freedom to move, explore, and express themselves however they felt right. All domains of development were nourished- physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and linguistics.

 

The curriculum presented itself anew every day... had the thistle flower bloomed? Can I climb up to the 4th branch today? Will Kevin finally let me hold the worm? Is this a pattern in my leaf? Where did all this green grass come from? Will 100 acorns fit in this bucket? A million? "Nature + Children" is the perfect equation for emergent learning- learning that comes from within.

 

Mission Statement:

Our goal at FFS is to nurture the whole child through hands-on learning while fostering a deep relationship with the natural world. We believe in the freedom to move, to pursue our curiosities, and to change plans. We believe in honoring Indigenous peoples and providing anti-bias perspectives in our curriculum. We do this through daily connection with nature, intentional planning, mindful conversation, and providing time and space for self-directed play in an abundantly rich environment.

 

Philosophy:

Our approach emphasizes the value of holistic, play-based, and emergent learning in a natural environment. The children at FFS will be immersed in varieties of sensory experiences, motor experiences, STEM learning, storytelling, social/emotional support, lessons on stewardship, as well as opportunities for art, writing, drama, and music. We focus on not just school-readiness but life skills. Curriculum is inspired first by nature, then by careful observations of the children's individual interests and skills.

 

Expenses

Listed below are expenses required for both start-up and initial programming. Expenses are listed by priority. Any funds that exceed the fundraiser goal will be used to further staff education as both forest school teachers and early childhood professionals. I will update the list as I complete tasks and continue to make progress toward the end goal... day one of Foothills Forest School!

 

•Training Program: Forest School Leader Level 3 Certification (6-12 months of both academic and hands-on education)

 

•Land Use Permits

 

•Liability insurance

 

•Reservation Fees

 

•Basic Laptop and Printer

 

•Advertising & Printing

 

•Materials (eco-friendly art products, field guides, books, instruments, magnifying glasses, binoculars, etc.)

 

•Supplies (a wide array of survival tools, first aid kits, snacks, tarps, hand sanitizer, extra clothes, etc.)

 

•Equipment (kelly kettle, thermoses, portable toilets, hiking packs for staff, pop-up tents, etc.)

 

•Safety training: Natural Disasters & Wilderness First Aid

 

•Payroll Software

 

•Tuition Software

 

•Staff Live Scan DOJ Background Clearances

 

•Bi-annual Tax Consultations

 

•Consultations with Forest School Owners/Experts

 

•Naturalist Training (local plants, fungi, animals, water systems, weather patterns)

 

•Survival Skill Courses