Snow Farms Outdoor School

Snow Farms Outdoor School is inspired by many different curricula, people, and ways of being. We look to the Montessori, Waldorf, Forest School, and Reggio Emilia models for inspiration. Snow Farms Outdoor School is play based and child led. 

Our curriculum is to play. You can even bring in your own curriculum! In our world of hyper-academia and standardized tests, it is sometimes hard to just let children play. “They should be learning their letters and how to hold a pencil correctly! They should be getting ready for Kindergarten or third grade,” some might say. And they are. Through their play with letter puzzles and cloud gazing, they are learning letters. Through building with blocks and making grand art projects, they are honing their fine motor skills. Most importantly though, they are practicing curiosity, confidence, communication, collaboration, happiness, persistence, problem solving… all the things that will make their future endeavors possible. Our days at school are packed full of learning.

To support this emergent curriculum, our classroom area is equipped and staged with a large variety of developmentally appropriate loose parts, tools, and toys. I will actively observe children in order to support the learning toward which they are gravitating towards. I will organize their learning in ways that encourage the children to try new things, explore their current interests, and grow every day. Being outdoors is vital to this mission of child led learning because the lack of walls allows them to take down their walls, too. They can run, jump, yell, tumble, and throw throughout their experience: learning with their whole bodies. The outdoors is both sensory rich and peaceful.

While they explore their interests, children will also have the opportunity throughout their time at the farm to cultivate social and emotional skills. It is important for kids to be able to communicate effectively and respectfully with peers and adults. Staff will encourage kids to speak to each other through language modeling and direct encouragement. (“I’m not sure what she’s playing. Why don’t you ask her?”) Kids will have the space to feel and address all of their feelings: joy, disappointment, excitement, anger, frustration, happiness, sadness, and more. Through their time, children will learn what it feels like to be part of a cooperative community. By steeping them in curiosity, joy, community, and confidence, they won’t accept anything less going forward. 

If they love to learn, know how to communicate with their peers, and are confident in themselves, they will be ready for anything- especially their next school year.