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Chattanooga Audubon Society
  • VISIT
    • Sanctuaries >
      • Audubon Acres >
        • Hours & Admission
        • What To Do >
          • Hiking Trails
          • Water Access >
            • Paddle South Chickamauga Creek >
              • Creek Guide
          • Audio Tour
          • Exhibits >
            • Robert Myers Collection
            • C.E. Blevins Egg Collection >
              • C.E. Blevins Bio
        • Sanctuary Rules
        • Birds & Wildlife
        • Facility Rentals
        • Scouting
        • Group Visits
      • Maclellan Island >
        • Maclellan Island Access
      • Audubon Mountain
      • Mackey Branch Wetland
    • Music @ The Acres
  • EVENTS
    • TN Tree Day
    • Herbal Plant Walks
    • Owl Pellet Dissection
    • Little Owl Festival >
      • Be a Vendor
    • Summer Camps
    • Torchlight Gala
    • Walker Farm Pioneer Days >
      • Volunteer for Pioneer Days
  • Audubon Outdoor Academy
  • LEARN
    • Bluebird Camera
    • Programs >
      • Schedule a Program
    • Forest School
    • TN Naturalist Program
    • Summer Camps
    • New Terra Composting
  • ABOUT
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Forest Preschool and Kindergarten/First Grade
​ at Audubon Acres

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ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR IS NOW OPEN.
Click below to view open house dates and admission information.
enrollment information
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The Chattanooga Audubon Society has partnered with Wauhatchie School to offer a forest preschool program at Audubon Acres since 2019. Preschoolers and K-2nd (ages 3-8) spend their days entirely outdoors where they explore, learn, discover, and play through immersive, place-based experiences right here at Audubon Acres.

What is Forest School?

Forest School is play-based and allows children to develop their skills and habits over time and at their own pace. Children learn naturally to be self-motivated, cooperative, respectful, grateful, and aware of their impact on the earth. Children experience outdoor adventures in all weather conditions. The Forest School is made as safe as is reasonably possible, in order to facilitate children’s risk-taking. It provides a complete immersion in nature helping to build a child’s sense of place in the world.

Research strongly supports the idea that young children, particularly ages 2-6, learn best through direct experiences with the world around them. Being outdoors provides them with not only fresh air, but it also encourages imaginative play, creativity, hand-eye coordination and balance, physical strength and mental clarity. By tapping into their innate sense of wonder about nature, we can help children learn basic environmental and natural science principles, as well as respect for all living beings. Lessons flow organically from the natural rhythms of the seasons and from the children’s daily discoveries. There are no set lesson plans: each day is shaped by the animals, insects, birds, amphibians, weather and foraging that is encountered, providing spontaneous teachable moments.

Benefits of Forest School

  • Confidence and self-esteem⁣
  • Communication and social skills⁣
  • Gross motor skills⁣
  • Greater understanding and awareness of the natural environment⁣
  • Natural motivation and a positive attitude to learning⁣
  • The ability to recognise and manage risk⁣
  • Healthier lifestyles⁣
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Want to see more photos of our forest schoolers in action? Follow along on Instagram with the hashtag #WauhatchieWednesday! Each week, we share a photo of what our forest schoolers are up to, along with some information about what the program is all about.
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© COPYRIGHT 2019
Chattanooga Audubon Society
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • VISIT
    • Sanctuaries >
      • Audubon Acres >
        • Hours & Admission
        • What To Do >
          • Hiking Trails
          • Water Access >
            • Paddle South Chickamauga Creek >
              • Creek Guide
          • Audio Tour
          • Exhibits >
            • Robert Myers Collection
            • C.E. Blevins Egg Collection >
              • C.E. Blevins Bio
        • Sanctuary Rules
        • Birds & Wildlife
        • Facility Rentals
        • Scouting
        • Group Visits
      • Maclellan Island >
        • Maclellan Island Access
      • Audubon Mountain
      • Mackey Branch Wetland
    • Music @ The Acres
  • EVENTS
    • TN Tree Day
    • Herbal Plant Walks
    • Owl Pellet Dissection
    • Little Owl Festival >
      • Be a Vendor
    • Summer Camps
    • Torchlight Gala
    • Walker Farm Pioneer Days >
      • Volunteer for Pioneer Days
  • Audubon Outdoor Academy
  • LEARN
    • Bluebird Camera
    • Programs >
      • Schedule a Program
    • Forest School
    • TN Naturalist Program
    • Summer Camps
    • New Terra Composting
  • ABOUT
    • Our Mission
    • History >
      • Native History
      • Robert Sparks Walker
    • Staff & Board >
      • Job Postings
    • Articles
  • SUPPORT
    • Donate >
      • Path of Life
      • Wish List
      • Amazon Smile
    • Membership
    • Volunteer >
      • Volunteer projects
      • Education Volunteer sign up
  • CONTACT
    • Email List
  • Our Supporters