Question 1

What are Forest and Nature Schools in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Forest and Nature School (FNS) is a place-based philosophy of play, care and education that takes place in a variety of natural settings (fields, shore, forest, tundra, etc). It builds long-term, in-depth relationships with the land through repeated and regular access to the same place. It is rooted in a vision of children as capable and competent, where teachers are co-creators and play is child-led. Play and projects are process - not product - oriented. Because the land is the teacher, FNS adapts to all developmental stages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds. A Forest and Nature School requires a qualified practitioner who is rooted in FNS practical skills and pedagogical theory.

Although our current framework for FNS is informed by practices in the UK and Scandinavian countries, we know that Indigenous Peoples have been learning with the land since time immemorial. This program strives to be in right relationship with the land and each other. We are committed to Truth and Reconciliation in our learning and preparation as educators, in our teaching and collaborations with children, and in our connections and relationships in the community.

Question 2

What is the Daily Schedule?

Accepted Answer

8:50-9:00 Arrival and Gathering
9:00-9:20 Morning Circle
9:20-11:45 Free play (activities offered)
11:45-12:00 Closing Stories
12:00 Dismissal

Question 3

What is your Sessions Calendar?

Accepted Answer

Forest School is in session in all seasons. We close for breaks in Winter (3 weeks), Spring (2 Weeks), and Summer (4 Weeks)*. We are also closed for all Winnipeg One School Division Inservice days and all Holidays in the RACC policy. An up-to-date session calendar can be found on the bottom of our Forest Nursery Page (https://www.riverash.com/forestnursery)and will be provided each fall for the following 12 months. Reminders will be sent prior to closures.

*Please note: Programming in July and August will depend on approval of a second stage of program licensing. Families will be informed of any changes and updates in program plans.

Regular fees apply for stat. holidays and PD closures. No fees will be charged for seasonal breaks or closures due to WSD inservices.

Question 4

How much does your program cost?

Accepted Answer

Our program is currently $8.40 per day per child.

Payment is made on a four week billing period.  Fees are paid in advance of care at the beginning of the pay period.  All parent fees are paid through Pre-Authorized Debit through Telecom Options.
You will receive a PAD (Pre-Authorized Debit) Agreement as part of your registration package. Please attach a “VOID” cheque or a print out of your banking information. Your child will not be considered enrolled until this is received by RACC.

Child care fees will be withdrawn automatically from your account on the billing period due dates found on your billing calendar, and are set by the Province of Manitoba.

Cheques are to be made payable to Riverview Ashland Child Care Centre Inc.

E-transfers need to be pre-arranged with the Director. As we are not set up to track E-transfers that have gone awry they will be accepted in emergency only and not as part of your regular monthly payment.

Question 5

Are you actually outside every day?

Accepted Answer

This program is designed to be completely outdoors, everyday. We have access to a licensed indoor space at Riverview Ashland Childcare (112 Ashland Ave) or Riverview Health Centre if weather becomes hazardous (lightning, tornado warning, extreme heat or cold, heavy winds, freezing rain/ice).

Question 6

What should my child wear?

Accepted Answer

This program is designed to be 100% outside, preparing your child with appropriate gear for all weather is essential to your child’s success in the program. Children carry their own belongings at forest school: packing well means sending what they need without weighing them down too much. If children arrive without necessary outerwear, a parent will be asked to provide the missing items.

In warm months, children should have long pants (not shorts or dresses with bare legs), socks and closed-toed shoes to fully participate in play. Sunscreen should be applied before arrival. 
Backpacks should always include a full change of clothes (socks, underwear, pants, shirt) in a ziplock-type bag.

A summary is offered below for each season. 
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Question 7

What about bathrooms?

Accepted Answer

Using the bathroom before arriving at Forest School should be part of your child’s morning routine. We do not currently have access to toileting on site. Washrooms available for our program are at Riverview Ashland Childcare Centre, Riverview Health Centre and (seasonally) at the Churchill Dr. public washroom near the St. Vital Bridge. Children should be independent in the bathroom and able to recognise signs and wait short periods for the bathroom.

Handwashing will be done with warm running water from a portable water tank with biodegradable soap and paper towel. Hand sanitizer and wipes are carried in backpacks if we are away from the main site and children will wash hands upon returning.

Question 8

Can you tell me more about food/snacks?

Accepted Answer

Please send a morning snack for your child each day. In keeping with forest school principals, all litter and leftovers will return home. In order to respect and preserve play, children will be able to snack during natural breaks and Educators will remind children to pause for snack before 11:00 am.

Eating together is an important part of our day and we strive to provide positive eating environments for children. We follow a division of responsibility: parents decide what food to send, educators decide when and where food is available, and children decide what to eat and how much. At Forest School, all foods from home are received with joy and no foods will be talked about in terms like good/bad, healthy/unhealthy, etc.

Due to possible allergies, and to respect each family's religious and other food choices, children are not allowed to trade or share food in their lunches.

When a child has a severe food allergy, educators will make a decision to allow that food or not in communication with the family. Any changes to foods allowed at Forest School will be communicated in advance to families by educators.

Question 9

Can I volunteer?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Please get in touch with us at RACCforest@gmail.com (mailto:RACCforest@gmail.com)if you are interested in volunteering.

Question 10

What is the impact of the land we're on?

Accepted Answer

Soil Compaction (from traversing the land). We help mitigate the impact of soil compaction by moving sites periodically and staying closer to paths when the soil is wet. Moving sites and avoiding wet soil also help mediate denudation and erosion related to natural factors like spring flooding.

Pollution: 
 • Chemicals in soap, sunscreen and bug spray. We help mitigate the impact of these chemicals by choosing lake-friendly soap for hand washing, aiding in application of sunscreen and bug spray to avoid excess on the ground, and using bug spray only when mosquitoes are a nuisance.
 • Litter. We help mitigate litter by removing everything with us when we leave.

Factors involved in displacement of plants, animals, minerals:
 • Children will play with and move sticks, break apart rotting wood, pick plants or step on them, investigate bugs, fungi and plants. We help mitigate these impacts by taking only what we need and practicing asking and say thank you when we use something, by teaching to observe animals, plants and fungi as they move freely, rather than holding or moving them, and by learning to tell when something must not be disturbed (what are the signs of a home, food cache, nest or seedling?).

Periodically moving sites is part of how we mitigate all of these impacts. We also recognize the positive impacts our presence can have  on the land, such as stewarding native species and keeping invasives at bay, tidying litter, etc.