Dressing for Spring Weather

Spring can be sunny, cloudy, rainy, snowy, warm and cold (sometimes all in one day!) - here are some tips to dress for success at forest school this spring:

• Expect your child to be wet and muddy at pick up. Dress in clothes that can get dirty or stained. Some families find getting out of outerwear before getting into the car works best.

• Consider an extra set of outerwear at home - including boots. Having a back-up set for days when gear is still wet in the morning can be helpful, especially when temperatures are still around zero (staying warm means staying dry!). Many parents have success on Kijiji, marketplace, or swapping with other families!

• No need to wash muddy gear regularly. You can let it dry and brush off excess - we don’t mind dirty gear here!. Overwashing rain gear can make it less waterproof. 

• Layers, layers, layers! Children need to be able to match their outerwear to their activity level and changing temperature and conditions, it’s part of our curriculum!

  
  

• What to wear:

  • Top:

    • Long sleeve shirt

    • cozy layer like a hoody or sweater

    • Appropriate jacket for the weather

  • Bottom:

    • Splash pants every day until the ground is dry

    • Comfortable pants that allow movement

    • Long johns until snow is gone

  • Feet:

    • Waterproof boots (rubberboots or bog-type)

      • Stick with winter boots if feet are too cold in rubberboots

    • Wool socks (may need layers)

  • Hands

    • Your most waterproof mittens with an extra pair to switch out

      • Rain mittens like these keep hands warm and dry, and fit over other mittens if needed

  • Head

    • A toque and neckwarmer worn or packed

      
      

• What to Pack:

  • Water

  • Snack (no nuts or peanuts please)

  • Change of clothes in a ziplock type bag

  • Extra mittens

  • Plastic bags to line wet boots if needed (bread bags work great!)