Kincardine Forest School is an outdoor school in following Forest School Canada guidelines. This program provides children with the opportunity to explore their environment and learn through nature.
Kincardine Forest School is an Outdoor Forest School, one of many in Ontario following the Forest School Canada Guidelines.
Our program is designed to provide each child with a chance to explore a rich and varied environment that will encourage his/her cognitive, physical, social and emotional development.
Our qualified teaching staff helps children develop self-reliance, take pride in his/her own abilities and unique traits, and gain a unique appreciation for nature, our community and the surrounding world.
Aside from ecological, environmental, experiential education, we include enrichment classes such as dance, music, and much more.
We believe children are capable beings with the knowledge and potential to construct their own learning, communicate, and interact with others.
They are part of a social system involving their families, schools, and communities. Children utilize various forms of communication (The Hundred Languages).
Their work with different materials in nature such as sculpture, light, photography, collage, painting, building, writing, music, dramatic play, and many more sources expresses their understanding and curiosity. It enables a course for their ideas, theories, and plans to be developed.
Nature is our teacher. It encourages exploration and discovery as well as interactions with peers. Objects are beautifully and purposefully arranged.
Teachers learn with the children and provide appropriate questions for further exploration and research of children’s projects and plans. They utilize documentation to understand how each child learns and perceives the world. Documentation allows for reflection and questioning of ideas and concepts. Through its use, a path to learning emerges as problem solving processes and solving problems are revisited and discussed.
Documentation also serves as an open communication channel with parents. Children know and witness that their thoughts, ideas, plans, projects, abilities, and theories have value. Their teacher listens to what they have to say and what they express in their 100 languages.
Some other "Streams" of Forest School;
Community and system: children, family, teachers, parents and community are interactive and work together.
Interest in environment and beauty: our outdoor classroom is a beautiful place, children feel safe and connected to nature.
Collaboration: teachers, partners are working together, sharing information, and sharing in projects.
Emergent curriculum / projects: Child-centered, following their interests, returning again and again to add new insights.
Environmental stimulation: encourages activity, involvement, discovery and using a variety of media.
Documentation: observing, recording, thinking and showing children’s learning.
