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WAUHATCHIE FOREST PRESCHOOL, JR. KINDERGARTEN & KINDERGARTEN AT AUDUBON ACRESEnrollment is now open for the 2025-26 school year!
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The Chattanooga Audubon Society has partnered with Wauhatchie Forest School to offer immersive forest school programs at Audubon Acres since 2019. Preschool through Kindergarten students (ages 3-6) spend their school days entirely outdoors where they explore, learn, discover, and play through immersive, place-based experiences right here at Audubon Acres.
What is Forest School?
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Forest School is a holistic approach to education that allows children to develop their skills over time, at their own pace. They learn to be self-motivated, cooperative, respectful, grateful, and aware of their impact on the earth while experiencing outdoor adventures in all weather conditions.
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 fresh air and encourages imaginative play, creativity, collaboration, hand-eye coordination and balance, physical strength, mental clarity, a sense of peace and so much more. Lessons flow organically from the natural rhythms of the seasons and from the children’s daily discoveries. For Preschool and Jr. Kindergarten, 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 to develop socio-emotional skills and grasp early math and literacy concepts in natural ways. Preschool is a morning half day program from 9am-12pm and Jr. Kindergarten is a full day extension from 12pm-3pm. Kindergarten is still heavily focused on outdoor play and nature immersion while beautifully weaving Tennessee state education standards into daily learning. This class takes place from 8:30-3:00 each day and operates as a homeschool tutorial! 
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Benefits of Forest SchoolPhysical Development: Forest schools encourage active play, including climbing, running, balancing, and exploring, which helps build strength, coordination, and motor skills.
Improved Social Skills: In a forest school setting, children often work together in groups to solve problems, build structures, and navigate the environment. This fosters teamwork, communication, and conflict resolution skills. Increased Confidence and Independence: By making decisions, taking risks, and solving problems in a natural environment, children gain a sense of autonomy and self-reliance. Over time, this helps boost their confidence, determination, grit, and perseverance. Emotional Well-being: Nature has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. Forest schools allow children to connect with the outdoors, which can lead to greater emotional regulation, resilience, and a sense of calm. Encourages Curiosity and Problem-Solving: The dynamic environment of a forest school sparks curiosity. Children learn to ask questions, explore, and experiment in a way that promotes critical thinking and creativity. Cognitive Development: Engaging with nature and using hands-on, experiential learning can enhance problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and understanding of the world around them. Connection to Nature: Early exposure to nature helps foster a sense of environmental stewardship. Children develop a love for nature and a deeper understanding of ecology, sustainability, and respect for the environment. Reduced Screen Time: Being outside encourages physical activity and exploration without the distractions of screens, which is important for healthy brain development. |
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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