Seedlings Forest Education wishes to recognize and acknowledge the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, on whose traditional territories, we live, we learn, and we do our work.

Seedlings Nature Preschool allows children to explore and experience the natural world through practical involvement. As a team we believe the outdoors encourages imaginative play, creativity, hand-eye coordination, physical strength, and mental clarity. Our educators will continue to encourage  children to develop their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Additionally, a multi-age environment promotes cooperation and teamwork, while raising children’s emotional awareness.

Seedlings provides your child ages 3 to 5 years with the opportunity to engage in active play, nature arts and exploration. The nature preschool program takes place outdoors and is fully supervised by certified Early Childhood Education staff.

Nature preschools promote emergent and experiential learning, providing child-initiated, play- based experiences in the natural world that lead to individualized learning. As a result, direct instruction in a nature-based program is limited. The following practices relate to the development of a child-focused curriculum in a nature-based setting.
 
Practices

1.  Children’s interests and abilities direct learning opportunities and assessment.
2.  Teachers emphasize opportunities for individualized learning across learning environments.
3.  Children’s inquiry is used to encourage higher-order thinking, and the inquiry process is allowed to continue for as long as children’s interest remains.
4.  Teachers provide a daily routine that allows for flexibility.

This program is currently FULL in Fernwood.

"Just like a bee needs a flower; a child needs nature."
-Brandi Rondinelli