About the Program
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Outside All Year? YES!
In the forest school model, children are outside in every season--winter included. As this model was developed in the harsh climate of Scandinavia, it is also appropriate here in Ohio--with the right steps in place. The advice you're likely to hear from a Scandinavian is, "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!" Having children in the appropriate layers for winter and gear for inclement weather is the number one priority, as it ensures they can safely play outside with their friends all day. In winter, teachers constantly monitor students, checking for signs that they are too cold or wet and need to go get warmed up. In general though, the right gear keeps little ones warm and dry, as does their limitless energy and appetite for play! While we have some extra gear on hand, generally parents are responsible for supplying appropriate gear for all seasons of play. (The Firefly Forest School has a helpful page on how to dress children appropriately: https://www.fireflyforestschool.com/clothing-gear ) Of course in truly hazardous weather such as strong winds, hail, etc., students may move into our indoor classroom space in the little blue barn, or, in extreme situations, school may be cancelled for a weather day. All decisions are made with children's safety as the top priority. |
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Core Values
Respect We respect children as competent, creative individuals who play an active role in exploring and learning in the world around them. We always show respect in all of our relationships–with each other as well as with the plants, animals and insects in our community and around the world. Empathy We hold an attitude of kindness toward all things and seek to empathize with all of our relations in nature and in our preschool community. Creativity We each possess a great capacity for creativity and creation. We seek this out in one another in order to help each person’s unique talents, interests, and abilities thrive within our community. Interdependence We understand that we live within a series of concentric communities, and our well-being is inextricably linked to the well-being of our neighbors and the entire planet we share. We see ourselves as an interdependent community made up of individuals who rely on one another for support, love, and help to accomplish our goals. |
Selected 24-25 Projects
Class Garden - Spring Children work together to learn about plants, their life cycle and growth processes, select seeds and prepare garden beds, plant and care for their seeds, monitor their growth and eventually harvest, cook and eat their plants Foraging & Cooking - Fall, Winter, Spring Children learn safety rules for foraging including never eating anything unless a knowledgeable adult is present and gives permission, and never eating mushrooms or berries. Children learn to identify several common and distinctive native edibles including ramps, chickweed, dandelion, and violets, and help make an herbal tea in our Kelly Kettle. Class Chickens - Spring Children work together to learn about chickens, their habits, anatomy, characteristics, social structure, life cycle and reproduction, and the growth of an embryo to a baby chick within an egg. Each child selects a fertilized egg from the coop and helps set up the class incubator where we observe our eggs hatch into baby chicks. Children help build a brooder for our chicks, feed and water them, and check on them to ensure they are healthy and growing. Pack Goats - Spring Children learn about goats, their life, habits, characteristics and care. Children help train goats to carry packs. After training, the goats help our preschoolers go on picnics on the other side of the ravine by carrying their packs. Kids Fort - Fall, Winter, Spring In this ongoing building project, children help gather supplies, measure, build and decorate their own fort in the woods. This permanent fort is in addition to smaller temporary structures they might build, and is intended to be a permanent structure they will contribute to future cohorts, as part of our commitment to positive interdependence. |
Sample Biweekly Newsletters
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About the Founder
Emy HoodDirector and Lead Facilitator
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Emy grew up in Lorain County and earned her BA in Psychology and BA in Spanish from Kenyon College where she also minored in Art. During college she fell in love with introducing kids to nature via her summer job as a camp counselor at Ligonier Camp in Pennsylvania. She began her professional career in education in 2011 as a Social Studies teacher in South Texas where she earned her Teaching Certificate and headed her department. After 4 years of classroom teaching she was hired by her district to write Social Studies curriculum for all 100+ schools in the network, a job which she has done for the past 9 years. In 2020 she and her husband founded Purple Goat Gardens as a dual-purpose dairy goat farm and learning, art, and education hub. In 2023 they welcomed a baby girl. Her arrival pushed them to deeply consider the educational and principles they valued for their family. Watching how their daughter responded to being given the freedom to explore and play outside in the woods and on their homestead made them want this environment for her education. Finding that there were no options for Forest Schools nearby, Emy put her experience in education to work investigating various nature-based education strategies, completing coursework in nature school pedagogy and naturalist trainings, and earning a Nature Educator Certification. Thus the Ohio Farm and Forest School at Purple Goat Gardens was born! Under Emy's direction, it opened for its inaugural class in September 2024. |
Recommended Resources
We strongly recommend that parents read one of the following books (the local libraries have them all in hard copy, eBook, and audiobook!):
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There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather is our top-choice for an interesting read that will get you the basics of Forest School as well as touch on some of the research and reasons this type of education is valuable and even necessary. Linda Akeson McGurk explains the Scandinavian approach to parenting which prioritizes both freedom and time in nature in order to raise independent, resilient, and joyful children. This is really a must-read (or listen--gotta love an audiobook!) for any parent interested in learning more about raising strong, healthy kids with a connection to nature. |
Written by an pediatric occupational therapist, Balanced and Barefoot is a research-based look at the challenges facing our children in an increasingly sedentary society and what we can do about it (hint: go outside!).
"Today’s kids have adopted sedentary lifestyles filled with television, video games, and computer screens. But more and more, studies show that children need “rough and tumble” outdoor play in order to develop their sensory, motor, and executive functions. Disturbingly, a lack of movement has been shown to lead to a number of health and cognitive difficulties, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion regulation and sensory processing issues, and aggressiveness at school recess break.
Using the philosophy that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis—author Angela Hanscom offers several strategies to help your child thrive."
A classic in the literature promoting the essential role of nature in the lives and healthy development of children (and adults!), Last Child in the Woods is a bestseller that emphasizes the need for nature in our lives from a moral, ethical, physical, psychological and emotional standpoint.
"Drawing inspiration from Finland’s nature-centric education model, Louv argues for the inclusion of outdoor and environmental education in schools. He suggests that a focus on outdoor learning can be both cost-effective and beneficial for academic performance, emotional health, and societal well-being.
The author also delves into the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of human interaction with nature. He argues that the natural world offers a unique ethical and spiritual framework that should be passed on to younger generations. Reflecting on personal experiences with his own children, he underscores the need for a widespread societal movement to restore the invaluable connection between children and nature, emphasizing the stakes not just for human well-being but for the environmental future as well."
"Drawing inspiration from Finland’s nature-centric education model, Louv argues for the inclusion of outdoor and environmental education in schools. He suggests that a focus on outdoor learning can be both cost-effective and beneficial for academic performance, emotional health, and societal well-being.
The author also delves into the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of human interaction with nature. He argues that the natural world offers a unique ethical and spiritual framework that should be passed on to younger generations. Reflecting on personal experiences with his own children, he underscores the need for a widespread societal movement to restore the invaluable connection between children and nature, emphasizing the stakes not just for human well-being but for the environmental future as well."
2024-25 School Calendar & Tuition
Eligibility & Information
Eligibility
Children must be 3 to 6 years old, fully potty-trained, and able to walk at least 2 miles by themselves. If your child requires accommodation of some kind due to a medical issue or disability, we are happy to work with you to try meet their needs.
Details
The staff to child ratio is 1:6. The program is classified as a Type B Home childcare per Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Unfortunately at this time we cannot accept payment with public funds, although barter is an option.
Children must be 3 to 6 years old, fully potty-trained, and able to walk at least 2 miles by themselves. If your child requires accommodation of some kind due to a medical issue or disability, we are happy to work with you to try meet their needs.
Details
The staff to child ratio is 1:6. The program is classified as a Type B Home childcare per Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Unfortunately at this time we cannot accept payment with public funds, although barter is an option.
