Next Gathering: Lunes 22 de Diciembre @ 1:30 pm
Day and Time: Most Mondays from 1:30 to 3:45 PM (ish)
Location: Gatherings will be held at public parks and the location will change each month. We do this to accommodate families in different parts of town. Parks include Sherrill Brook Park (New Hartford), Kirkland Town Park, F.T. Proctor Park and others.
December 8/22/29 Nature-Play Afternoons will be held at Sherrill Brook Park in New Hartford (aka New Hartford Town Park). Parking is in the small lot on the opposite side of the playground. Registration: December 8 register HERE
Gatherings are pay what you can - donations of $5 to $10 per child is encouraged but not required. Adult caregivers must be present - this is not a drop-off program (yet!). See registration link in the banner for donation details - and please register so we can estimate a head count for crafts and activities.
Gatherings are included for any child enrolled in the Forest Montessori program (i.e., no donations necessary).
Why is there a suggested donation? Though this is a labor of love, there are real costs involved from insurance, supplies, first aid kits, forest school trainings and curriculums, marketing, and then hundreds of hours of ideation, research and education. That being said, showing up and being willing to spend some time outdoors in different weather is worth more than any financial donation!
December has been extremely cold. Ideally, you and your children wear:
base layer (moisture wicking shirt - not cotton)
mid layer (fleece)
outer layer (jacket)
insulated snow pants that are long enough to cover your boots
Insulated boots, ideally wool or smartwool socks, decent traction on the soles
Hand and foot warmers - for those with poor circulation, Reynaud's, or anyone who gets cold hands and feet, they can be the way to stay outdoors.
Keeping kids safe in arctic temperatures news article. If real feel temps or wind chill reaches 0 F we may cancel.
Dress for Extreme Cold
Snack, water and/or tea if you'd like. I send emails Monday morning to those who registered about weather and clothing.
We will provide information and hand outs for lyme disease prevention.
Forest Play and Ticks Guide (artwork by Free Forest School volunteers)
CNY Lyme Alliance Infographic - Spanish-Eng
1:30 to 1:45
Greet, gather / Saludar, reunir
1:45 to 2:00
Welcome rhyme & song, introductions, safety rules / Rima y canción de bienvenida, presentaciones, reglas de seguridad
2:00
Explore, free nature play, or stay around basecamp / Explorar, juego libre o quedarse cerca del campamento base
2:45 ish
Story time for those who feel like sitting/ Hora del cuento para los que tengan ganas de sentarse
3:15 Craft or activity / Se proporcionará artesanía o actividad
3:45
Free play or take off / Juego libre o salida