What is a forest school?
Informational Video and Testimonials
"Our daughter finished first grade nearest the top of her class (with her friend who also went to Acorn) and we attribute 100% of that to her time in Acorn Village being able to play and be free. Her younger sisters are so lucky to follow in her footsteps. Thank you for all of your time and energy you put into our babies!"
-Katie
Both of our children attended forest school and we cannot imagine a better educational foundation than the one they received at Acorn Village. Nature provides such a special place for learning and development with so many opportunities for growth. Children are able to explore, climb, play, discover and engage with their surroundings. They don’t just learn that mud is slippery because their teacher told them so, but because they experience it for themselves. Our children were fortunate to spend three years at Acorn Village and in that time they became capable, knowledgeable, resilient little people, confident in themselves and their abilities. We are so very grateful for this experience and would do it again in a heartbeat.
-Evan & Erin Rigg
"I love you. You're the best. You're the best teacher in the world to me when I was a little kid. You do the best things. It makes me happy that when you set up forest school for us."
-Weston, 5 years old
The first day I went to visit Acorn Village, the kids sat down to a snack of whole-shelled peanuts. Cracking and extracting a peanut from the shell takes a lot of work, patience, and fine motor skills (it is a lot of work for just one little nut!). However, teaching and supporting a group of hungry 2-4 year-olds as they try to access their snack takes even more work and patience. That’s the beauty of Acorn Village in a nutshell - the program never takes the easy road. The staff always prioritizes the well-being, development, and support of the kids above-all, even when that makes for a whiny snack hour or a difficult day.
The result is that the kids are encouraged and supported to be more confident, resilient, and capable. After two weeks at school, my two-year-old was able to put on her own socks and shoes. My four-year-old son started to help me safely chop veggies for dinner. The proud look on their faces was priceless, and that was just the start. The teachers deeply care about each child; they work tirelessly during the school day and after hours to ensure you and your kid are supported through toddlerhood’s ups and downs.
Finally, not only are my kids accessing this incredible program, but as a parent I also am learning, growing, and being inspired from the methodology of Acorn Village. The community is an incredible resource of kind, intentional, and present families who want the best for their kiddos and it has made me a better parent.
-Maddie Firestone Giebink
What is a Forest School?
