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FAQ

What age can my child start participating?

We have programming for children as young as 2!  They start in our parented program for 2-3 year olds and can progress from there.

What qualifications do the staff have?

Staff go through a rigorous screening process to ensure they are a great fit to mentor your children.  Each staff member has completed the following minimums:

Vulnerable sector check

Intermediate First Aid

Experience working with children

Little Warriors (Prevent It! & Reporting)

Experience with Coyote Mentoring

Nature's Edge Forest School location?

We are located 10 minutes outside of Rocky Mountain House, AB.  For the safety and protection of children in our care, the location is only shared with registered families.

What activities will there be?

  • This is such a fun question to answer; but most parents don’t love the answer! haha We have both structured and unstructured time at forest school.  Our structured time is utilized for forming and deforming our groups, and learning something specific.  

  • Activities are nature based!  This means that instead of playing blob tag we may have a bee that is collecting pollen. Instead of having toys, we have loose parts and nature. Instead of going inside when it is raining, we don our rain suits. Instead of baking cookies in the oven, we build a fire or a solar oven to cook them.

  • No matter what the activity, we always aim to ensure that it is accessible, fun and as safe as necessary.

Does Nature’s Edge Forest School follow the Alberta Education curriculum?

We have no ties to the Alberta Education curriculum; we are, however, happy to work with you to see how our outdoor learning pairs with the curriculum for your homeschooling needs (there are many connections!).

What is Coyote Mentoring?

Coyote Mentoring is the foundational teaching principles that our Mentors use with learners.  We utilize the rhythms of nature and the natural world, combined with child's passions and core routines to invisibly teach our learners.  Some of the routines that are common place for us include: story telling, animal forms, questioning and tracking, wandering, sensory awareness, etc.

 What happens when there are temperature extremes?

  • Our Mentors are well-versed in assisting children in learning in all weather conditions.  For safety, we have an onsite teepee with a stove that will be used for any inclement weather.

  • Parents can be a huge help by ensuring children are properly dressed and have adequate nutrition and hydration.

Why do kiddos have to be potty-trained to be a part of forest school?

  • At forest school, we practice ‘wild pees’ so the foundations of being potty trained is needed to help facilitate this further learning.  Remember, we are out in all weather, so sometimes this also involves learning and working with layers of clothing as well.

  • Our Mentors bring along the lugaloo’s for anything more than a wild pee.

What payment options are available for families?

  • Tuition is paid up front at the time of registration.

  • We believe that finances should not be a barrier to learners attending forest school with us.  As such we are willing to work with Parents/ Guardians to develop a plan.  Options that can be explored including bartering goods or services, payment plans, education fund, etc.

How can Educators be involved?

  • We see the uprise in Educators seeing the value of nature as a teacher and we could not be more thrilled!  We will happily work with any Educators who would like to work with us for professional development.  This professional development is intended to be affordable with the fees collected being utilized for our education fund.  Speak with Keely to develop a plan that meets your needs.

How can Sponsors be involved?

  • Nature’s Edge Forest School has an ongoing wish list.  Although we wish it had pictures like the Wishbook catalogue, it is just an up-to-date spreadsheet on what we are wishing for!  You can check that out here.

  • Nature’s Edge strongly believes that finances should not be a barrier to learners.  As such, we are accepting also accepting financial donations to build an education fund.  These funds are only utilized for families in financial need to pay for attending forest school when other options have been exhausted.

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