Contact us to learn about rolling registration during the school year!
For ages 4–6. Full-day program: 9:00 am–3:00 pm each day
Students enroll for the full year, which includes fall, winter, and spring sessions.
Choose from three options:
3-Day Program, Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday: $6,055 for the year
2-Day Program, Wednesdays & Thursday: $4,368
1-Day Program, Thursday: $2,240 for the year
Location: 122 Daley Rd., East Chatham, NY
Fall Session 2024: 12 weeks (September 17–December 12; no program Thanksgiving week)
Winter Session 2025: 4 weeks (January 14–February 6)
Spring Session 2025: 12 weeks (March 4–May 22)
For all dates, please see our calendar.
Our Forest Kindergarten Homeschool program offers children the opportunity to explore, play, and rest in the forest. Daily stories, games, activities, and open-ended play support our seasonal curriculum and provide crucial time to develop the social-emotional skills that are at the foundation of a young child’s learning journey. Mentors ensure that each child’s needs are met while nurturing more awe and wonder for the natural world. Children thrive while learning—naturally.
Please note: This program is for children ages 4 to 6 who are toilet trained and ready to comfortably spend a few hours away from their parents.
Why Choose Forest Kindergarten Homeschool?
- Countless studies have shown how important free play is to the development of self-regulation, self-discipline, imagination, and much more. Pushing formal academic curriculum before children are developmentally ready can have detrimental effects on their future learning.
- Spending time outdoors has been shown to improve health and well-being for both children and adults. It is linked to reduced symptoms of ADHD; reduced stress, anger, and aggression; increased physical activity; and improved relationship skills to name a few!
- Connecting children to nature from a young age nurtures the next generation of earth stewards. When kids fall in love with the natural world, they want to protect it.
- Allowing children to experience the natural world directly gives them opportunities for appropriate risk-taking, challenge, and problem-solving. As a result, they learn self-management and emotional regulation skills while enhancing their feelings of competency.
This program exceeded our expectations. We wanted our child to develop a relationship with nature, to gain wilderness knowledge and skills—which he did 100 times over. Very often, he shares a piece of this knowledge with us and says, “I learned that at Flying Deer.” The skill challenges, hikes, plant identification, group games, and so much more are serious play—so much fun and also formative learning experiences. As homeschoolers, we wanted—and found—the opportunity for our child to be part of a peer group, to gain experience being sensitive to others, negotiating, listening, and finding his voice in a group setting.
Sonia W.
Get a glimpse of our daily rhythm and adventures: Check out stories and pictures from our Forest Kindergarten blog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Forest Kindergarten Homeschool Program
Is there financial assistance available?
Yes! Apply here.
What does a typical day look like?
Our day begins with a circle and games before we head to our campsite or forest home. From there we build, explore, create, play, and adventure close to home and throughout the wetlands, stream, and forest. We return from our adventures for lunch and a story at our campsite and close our day with a reflection circle and songs.
What is the daily schedule?
8:45–9:00 am: Drop-off and games
9:15–10:00 am: Morning circle and snack
10:00–11:45 am: Exploration, free play, and nature activity
11:45 am–12:30 pm: Lunch and story
12:30–1:00 pm: Free play
2:45–3:00 pm: Pickup for Full-Day Program
What do you do on rainy days?
We do much the same thing that we do on sunny days, but we wear waterproof layers! Puddles are so much fun and rain brings out another side of the forest. We have a tarp over our forest home and can keep a healthy fire going in all types of weather.
What do you do in the winter?
We wear warm layers and follow a similar rhythm to other times of year. We explore and play, enjoying getting to know the gifts of the forest throughout the seasons. Our forest home gets warm and cozy with its branch walls and canvas tarp overhead. We also have a lovely indoor space that we use occasionally for meals or activities.
Are there deer ticks on your site?
Columbia County does have deer ticks. Download our tick information sheet.
What are the educator/child ratios in the forest?
We have 1 instructor for every 6 children. We also have volunteer counselors who spend the day with our group and assist the children and instructors in many ways.
How many days per week may my child attend your program?
We offer three options for attendance: Three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday); two days (Wednesday, Thursday), or Thursday only.
What are the ages of the children in Forest Kindergarten?
The age range is from 4 to 6 years old. Children must be at least 4 and no older than 7 by the start of each session, and they must be toilet-trained.
What is involved with Forest Kindergarten Homeschool Program beyond my child’s days in the woods?
We build community through family potlucks prior to the beginning of each session and celebrations at each session’s end. Other parent/family events may be scheduled as well. A weekly email goes out to all parents sharing pictures and stories of the day.
Additionally, once during each seasonal session (Fall, Winter, Spring) you will hear from your child’s instructors about the strengths and passions that are emerging during the program, through discussion and observational notes and pictures.
How far is your site from my location?
We are located at 122 Daley Rd. in East Chatham, NY. Below are approximate travel time from some nearby cities and towns.
Hudson, NY: 25 minutes
Great Barrington, MA: 30 minutes
Lenox, MA: 30 minutes
Chatham, NY: 5 minutes
New Lebanon, NY: 15 minutes
Troy, NY: 35 minutes
How can I get more information?
Email us at info@flyingdeernaturecenter.org.