What is a forest school?

Forest School is a philosophy. Read more here.

• The setting is often a forest, but it could be a meadow, a grassy park with a few trees, or even a beach.

• The learning is play-based and, as much as possible, child-initiated. Observation and curiosity, rather than direction, is key.

• The setting is made as safe as is reasonably possible, in order to facilitate children’s developmental need for risk-taking.

• There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

• Trust is central: educators trust children to follow safety rules, and vice versa. An educator does not venture out until they are sure that all the children understand rules and boundaries.

• The staff are trained and experienced educators with a deep love of nature who enjoy sharing in that magic with children.

What is emergent curriculum?

Rooted in the work of early childhood theorists like Dewey, Piaget, and Vygotsky, emergent curriculum is a process where teachers plan activities and projects in response to a specific group of children they are working with, taking into account their skills, needs, and interests. It can be practiced at any grade level.

Would forest school be a good fit for my child?

In most cases, yes. For the majority of children, programming based in nature that is play-based and child-centered will be a wonderful fit helping children grow stronger, with increased confidence and resilience. There will be cases where an outdoor program involving a lot of physical activity is not a good fit for a child with certain medical concerns. Additionally, since educators must trust children to follow boundary rules, there may be some behavioral challenges that are not a good match for our program. Keep in mind, our teachers do not venture far until they are sure that all the children understand rules and boundaries. If you’re unsure, please contact us and we’d be happy to talk it through with you.

Are you really outside all day, every day, in all weather?

We are outside all day, every day, in all types of weather. Sometimes there are storms that we need to pay attention to and in those cases we will move indoors, if that is an option. On rare occasions we will need to change locations or cancel school if risky weather is possible, such as severe storms or tornado watches.

What about safety or accidents?

The safety of our students is always our top priority and preventing accidents is our goal. We conduct a daily Risk Benefit Assessment of a site directly prior to taking a group out in order to assess the conditions and identify any hazards. Our low teacher-to-student ratio allows us to keep a close eye and ear on students. An Emergency Action Plan has us prepared for if there is an accident: we follow the protocol in our plan, fill out a report, and caregivers are notified. All educators are trained in First Aid and CPR and carry cell phones and first aid kits as well as the Emergency Action Plan.

Are your staff members background checked?

Absolutely. Anyone working with children at Longleaf has passed a background check, including volunteers.

How many children are in a group?

We maintain a max ratio of one educator to six children in all our programs.

What will my child need to bring/wear?

You will find a detailed list in the handbook but, in general, your child will need to be prepared for a day outside. Regardless of the season, children will need to wear closed-toe shoes to protect their feet, as well as have rain boots for many outings. Each child must have two spare changes of clothes for when they get wet/dirty during an activity. We will send home any dirty clothes so that you can prepare for the next day.  

Your child will also bring a reusable water bottle that seals well, and a filling snack and lunch. You may also choose to send sunscreen and bug spray.   

Do you have discounts for siblings and/or multiple weeks of attendance?

We do offer discounts for siblings but not for multiple weeks of camp at this time. Please check the specific program page for more details.

What is your cancellation policy for camps?

You may cancel your camp reservation up to 60 days prior to the start of camp (June 15th) and receive a full refund less a $25 administrative fee per camp.  Less than 60 but more than 30 days before camp begins you may cancel for a credit (less the $25 administration fee), but not a refund. After that time period we are unable to refund your payment, but are happy to transfer your child into another week of camp if our camper-to-staff ratio allows. If all camps are full, you can be placed on a wait-list. If no spaces open up, your camp payment, minus administration fee, will become a camp scholarship donation to Longleaf. You can always ask, in writing, for exceptions to this policy for extenuating circumstances.  

What is your policy for severe weather?

Programs are held rain or shine. We will generally follow DPS cancellations for snow, ice and other severe weather, however sometimes the district has to close based on weather that’s not applicable to our region of Durham. We will notify families via email, facebook and website when closure is imminent.

What if my child takes a medication during the camp day?

First, make sure you carefully fill out the “Medical Information” portion of the registration form. On the first day of camp, have your child’s medication in a plastic bag that is labelled clearly with his or her name.  Please make sure the medication type, the dosage, the time of day that it should be given and any storage specifications are noted.

Do you offer before or after care?

At this time we aren’t able to offer before or after care but hope to be able to extend the day in the future to meet the needs of more families. If you have a schedule conflict that involves a short window of time, please email us to inquire about options.