Outdoor Education Programs for Children in VA and SC
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT DO YOU DO IF THERE IS A THUNDER AND LIGHTENING STORM?
Our teachers are trained to know the distance a thunderstorm is from our location. If a thunderstorm becomes too close and could jeopardize the children's safety, we have a small camping cabin we can gather in if needed to wait out a thunderstorm. The children will never gather in this building for anything other than an emergency. Heavy rain is not always accompanied by thunder and lightening, and when thunder or lightening is not present but rain is strong, the children can gather under their class tarps.
WHAT DO THE CHILDREN DO WHEN IT IS FREEZING?
One of our school's mottos is "There's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing." Our exhaustive clothing requirement list ensures children will be warm on the coldest of days. When the children are playing and moving their bodies, they will naturally keep warm and their winter insulating layers will keep the heat close to their bodies. We will build campfires with the children for warmth as well. When we have a combination of temperatures well below freezing, heavy precipitation, and high winds, we may cancel class.
MY CHILD HAS NEEDS THAT MAY NEED EXTRA ASSISTANCE. ARE THEY STILL ABLE TO COME?
Our programs are designed for children to be in a group setting with one or two instructors. Our instructors do not have the capacity to care for a child who needs special one on one care on a regularly basis. If a child has needs that require one on one assistance, the child may still come with a caregiver to accompany them.
DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BE POTTY TRAINED?
Yes. In the winters when it is cold, changing pull ups or diapers creates unsafe conditions to remove so much clothing and getting cold while getting changed. Instructors are available to assist preschoolers with using the toilet. Forest kindergarten and co-op students are expected to fully use the restroom on their own with no assistance.
All locations have a toilet at some point throughout the day. However, using the restroom in the woods is inevitable in our outdoor setting when we are far from a restroom. Students are taught how to use the restroom outdoors properly.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CATAWBA AND FINCASTLE LOCATIONS?
Our Catawba location is focused on primitive nature-based skills such as foraging, wild crafting, whittling, fire building, shelter building, and survival skills. Our Fincastle location is focused on farming and homesteading skills such as animal husbandry, gardening, water management, and food preservation.
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE MY PRESCHOOLER FOR FOREST OR FARM SCHOOL?
Join one of our Sprouts classes! This is an 8 week parent and child “intro to forest or farm school” class where children get comfortable in an outdoor immersive experience at a young age with the comfort of mom or dad before they’re old enough for one of our drop off classes.
WHAT QUALIFICATIONS DO YOUR INSTRUCTORS HAVE?
All instructors have lengthy experience working with children with most of our instructors having experience in a formal education setting (previous school teacher, montessori teacher, outdoor education instructor, etc). All instructors are trained and certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR for adults and children. View our staff page to read bios for each of our instructors- they're quite impressive!
CAN WE TRY FOREST SCHOOL WITHOUT A FULL YEAR COMMITMENT?
It’s best to plan for your child to be at forest school for the full school year. Community and trust are emphasized heavily in our classes and it’s hard to gain those traits if the children in classes are regularly coming and going. If your child is 5 or older, our forest day camps in the summertime are a better option if you just want to try it out.
WHAT IS YOUR RATIO?
Ages 3-4 have a 1:5 ratio. Ages 5-7 have a 1:8 ratio. Ages 8-12 and 13-17 have a 1:12 ratio. Sometimes these may vary a little based on the ages and experience level of the children enrolled, but not by much.
WHO DO I CONTACT FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES?
Email Bekah Quirin: bekah@valleyforestschool.com
HOW MANY DAYS DO I ENROLL FOR?
The recommended number of days for enrollment is 2 days per week, but we accept students for anywhere from 1-3 days.
DO YOU OFFER SUMMER PROGRAMS?
Yes! Please see our camps page for day camps offered for ages 5-12.
CAN I GET ON A WAITLIST?
The short answer is no, we do not place students on a waitlist for future school years. Re-enrollment opens in February for our existing families and new siblings who are eligible for programs first. Enrollment for new families opens in March on a first come first serve basis. Once all spots are filled in a class, a waitlist is established. Should a spot come open mid year, you will be contacted in the order of the waitlist.
DO I HAVE TO ENROLL FOR A FULL YEAR?
Our curriculum is designed to build on itself as the year progresses. Therefore enrollment for a full school year will reap the most benefits for each child.