A Day in the Life of a Wildling

​

Our goal is to provide a nurturing environment for children to explore learning at their own pace. Through play-based opportunities, working towards earning one of our many badges, hands-on activities, songs and stories, we engage in child-led learning exploration. Our experienced educators will guide children through play spaces, support risky-play, adventure on nature walks, sensory explorations and animal visits, all while fostering peer friendships, a sense of confidence and resilience.

 

9:00-930AM         Gathering & Getting Settled       30min

 

This time is reserved for the arrival of the group in their own time. We offer a casual arrival so families can feel comfortable when they begin their day. We believe that it is not healthy for children to feel the stress of rushing as this can often set a negative tone for the day. Meeting together in the Market Stand Area and Learning Gardens to provide a safe exploration space. Children often spend time checking on  and tending to their gardens, catching up with friends or playing soccer. We hold space and allow a flow of graceful arrival with open conversations/connections led by the interest of the children. We check in with our bodies, ensure we are dressed properly for the day.

​

930-10AM             Snack, Badges & Planning             30min

​

This time is reserved as a coming together with intention to create a plan for the day to support group cohesion. Invite snacking and water pause; Bathroom reminders. We sing our Good Morning Song to the Land, acknowledging where we gather and sharing what we are grateful for. This time is used to introduce new Badge opportunities, engaging in seasonal movement rhymes and to plan our day together. 

 

10:00-1130AM     Forward Across the Farm            1.5hr

 

This is the time to take an exploration walk through the farm’s center of energy and engage in intentional seasonal farming tasks. We visit the chickens, goats or other animals for feeding & interactions. We visit the greenhouse to see, smell, touch & taste; Planting/ Harvesting/ Tending to seedlings and gardens. We offer intentional learning and gardening experiences in our Learning Gardens. We visit with Farmer Kim to see what she's busy doing that particular day and see if we can offer any helping hands. (the best part is when we get to help harvest!) We then land at Old Maple to regroup with open play, snacking and discovery. We travel as a group, but allow children to stretch a little and travel and explore across the farm at their own pace, following their interests.

 

1130-12PM             Harmony Hike               30min

This time is reserved for the opportunity to engage in Forest Bathing & Mindfulness. We go on an observational nature walk as a group. (long or short depending on day). We take the time to stop and observe the plant life, identify trees and insects we find and collect nature treasures along the way.

 

12PM-2:30PM       Forest Free Play & Afternoon Adventures         1.5hr

This time is reserved for free play and exploration in the forest or the continued efforts of badge work and child- led, play-based learning experiences. We provide provocations as child-led interests arise. We support self guided sensory discoveries, support child-led risky-play behaviour,  self guided nature crafts. There is supported Tool work available ( whittling, using hammers, chopping wood etc); we have hammocks for resting, swinging, and our BookBox full of books, Nature stories as well as lots of non-fiction reference books. The children are welcome to explore any spaces they choose and we at times break off into smaller groups for more focused tasks: Nature walks in the forest for tracking, navigating, or creature hunts; tending to the Food Growing Learning Gardens in the market area; The patch for open air group running games; Old Maple for shade and observations; The yurt for indoor quiet creative crafts; Nature crafting and detailed badge work, Caring for the Farm Animals etc. The children’s imagination is the only limit. Children often engage in continued projects during this time.

 

2:30-3PM       Sit Spots, Forest Reset, Goodbye & Go         30min

This time is our gentle end of day transition to conclude our time together. We do our Wolf call to round everyone up; we reflect and share our Rock, Stick and our Leaf (What 'rocked' your day, What will "Stick" with you, and what will you "Leaf" behind). Forest Reset/ tidying up our belongings and tools we used. We sing our Sit Spot Song and children find a special tree to visit for 5 mins of mindfulness. We sing our  Goodbye Song to signal the end of the session; Hug a tree!Tidy up, gather gear and go; Leave forest at 2:50PM for pick up