learning + leadership in the great outdoors
Monday-Thursday 8:30-3:30
+ optional Friday
>>> attend 4 or 5 days a week <<<
extended hours are available from 7:30am-5:30pm
kindergarten overview:
Our Fledglings Kindergarten program offers a unique blend of play-based, outdoor learning, while adding a deeper introduction to early academics through both guide and student-led activities, all while children are exploring + discovering in nature. Fledglings are housed within the Wildlings classroom, offering exciting opportunities for leadership in learning, along with daily integration into our Explorers Elementary classroom for outdoor play and specials. We fully believe in the power of mixed-age classrooms to increase learning, leadership, and social emotional development.
Key components of our program include:
↟ Math, Literacy, + Writing skills through Montessori-style learning in a small group or 1:1
↟ Outdoor Play + Exploration in every season
↟ Place-Based Learning
↟ Social Emotional and Leadership Development
↟ Art, Music, Cultural + Life Skills Integrations
Our program aligns with MN Kindergarten Academic Standards.
kindergarten schedule overview
7:30 - 8:30am Early Bird Drop-Off
8:30 - 9am Regular Day Drop-Off
9 - 10am Morning Gather, Snack + Choice Learning
10 - 10:30am Core Skills (math + literacy integrations)
10:30 - 11:45am Choice Learning + Play
11:45am-12pm Intro to Writing: Nature Journals
12 - 12:30pm Lunch (brought from home)
12:30 - 1pm Read Aloud
1 - 1:30pm Outdoor Play with Explorers
1:30-2pm Specials with Explorers:
art, spanish, music, life skills
2 - 3:30pm Choice Learning + Play
3 - 3:30pm Regular Day Pick-Up
3:30 - 5:30pm Night Owls
5:30pm Final Pick Up Time!
Daily Choice Activities include art, science, motor skills, nature lessons, literacy, math, outdoor skills, cultural integrations + more!
Curriculums used in our Fledglings program include: Kinder Nature Beginnings, Waseca Reading, Lexia Literacy and Math with Confidence.
Further Readings that Guide and Support our Philosophy:
Courage to Grow How Action Academy Turns Learning Upside Down by Laura A Sandefer
Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life by Peter Gray
Let the Children Play: How More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive By Pasi Sahlberg and William Doyle
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
Let Them Eat Dirt: How Microbes Can Make Your Children Healthier by B Brett Finlay, PhD and Marie-Claire Arrieta, PhD
Teach Like a Finlander by Timothy D. Walker
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough