Outdoor Wholesome Learning
O.W.L. is a Reggio-Inspired Forest Prekindergarten.
Logistics
Reggio-Inspired Forest Prekindergarten
WHAT:
WHO:
Young children aged four (4) by August 15
WHEN:
TIME:
Four class sessions per week (MTWR)
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
This is a homeschool tutorial class for young explorers.
The O.W.L.Experience
Creative Learning the Natural Way
Imagine a school where your child’s classroom is the great outdoors, their lessons are drawn from nature, and every day is an adventure that builds confidence and celebrates their unique self. Welcome to the O.W.L. Prekindergarten!
Your child will joyfully develop autonomy, be heard and nurtured, and live a fulfilled life each day they spend with us. As a prekindergarten student, your child will be invited to explore Reggio-Inspired learning hubs derived from their inquiries and embedded with the curricular values of our educational philosophies. Open-ended play is the foundation of our emergent curriculum, offering children developmentally appropriate and evidence-based learning experiences.
Play-activated learning invites your child to:
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Choose, move, create, be read to, sing, connect, be outside, ask questions, observe, discuss, reflect, express feelings, make mistakes, and solve problems
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Learn and exercise social and emotional skills.
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Enhance cognitive and process skills.
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Explore forestry and ecology curricular concepts.
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Investigate the world through emergent curricula embedded throughout the play experience.
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Connect with passionate, highly-qualified educators who value and understand the process of learning.
Children should always arrive dressed for the current weather conditions.
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Welcome at 9:00 a.m.
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Play-based Learning at Hubs
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Morning Meeting
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Self-directed Play in Nature
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Learning Pods (playful direct instruction)
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Fire Circle for Snacks & Stories
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Self-directed Play in Nature
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Daily Reflection
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Farewell at 3:00 p.m.
Children are encouraged to listen to their bodies for most eating opportunities.
Sample Daily Rhythm
Experiences
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Four days a week that are filled with long hours of uninterrupted outdoor play (e.g., self-directed play in nature)
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All-weather immersion for resiliency training
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Reggio-Emilia-inspired learning invitations (e.g., play-based learning at Hubs)
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Process art for creative expression at the Atelier
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Emergent curricular experiences embedded in play
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Priority is placed on open-ended, exploratory play.
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Learning invitations are seasonal, nature-based, and connected to the children's daily outdoor discoveries.
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We incorporate developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood education with a holistic approach inspired by the Reggio Emilia educational philosophies.
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Project-based Learning
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Daily writing invitations in their explorers' journals
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Weekly expeditions to explore local creeks, springs, forests, farms, museums, and rivers.
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Outdoor learning hubs such as a mud kitchen, sandbox, learning gardens, story tree, and an adventure playground.
Benefits
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O.W.L. has a small child-to-educator ratio of 8:1.
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Multi-aged groups provide excellent opportunities for social learning.
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Two Milestone Meetings to discuss goals and progress.
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November and May
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Portions of this meeting will be led by your child.
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Dynamic Disciplines are interwoven into student-led learning pod projects.
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Continuous learning from a balanced calendar.
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10-week sessions with seasonal breaks
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See our Calendar
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Frequent authentic documentation of the learning process will connect you with your child’s day.
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Exclusive events include bonfires, special visit days, holiday celebrations, campouts, child-led performances, and ceremonies.
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This specialized educational prekindergarten serves as a prerequisite enrichment to promote a high-quality academic environment, which fosters the love and joy of learning and promotes success in forest kindergarten and throughout the child's life.
Belonging to a supportive learning community.
What Does a Day at O.W.L. Look Like?
Pricing
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The year's tuition may be paid in one lump sum or spread out by semester or month.
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Monthly payments of $700 are due by the 15th of each month.
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A one-time, non-refundable enrollment fee of $400.
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$200 of the enrollment fee applies toward the first month's tuition.
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A supply fee of $50 will be due at the start of each semester.
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An optional outdoor gear rental fee.
