Gig Harbor, WA, USA

      November of 2022 brought me to Washington State to explore the stunning Pacific Northwest. Washington State is a leader in Forest Schooling opportunities and is the first state in America to develop a state accredited licensing option for Forest Schools. 

I had the chance to visit Curious By Nature in Gig Harbor, Washington. Although Curious By Nature is not a traditional Forest School, they fall into the Nature-Based category and offer both hybrid classroom and full Nature-Immersion options for students. Their Nature-Immersion options include opportunities for students 2 years old and up and gives children the chance to spend their entire day outside in an outdoor classroom. Teachers are traditionally trained and operate programs in rain or shine. Curious by Nature's immersive outdoor classrooms provide vast opportunities for students to engage with their natural environment everyday at school. With options for play in an elaborate mud kitchen, to exploring the stream that runs through the property, the opportunities for wondrous nature-play are abundant. Children enjoyed swinging in the hammock and watching the birds fly in and out of the birch trees above.

Washington state’s forests sure do make enchanting classrooms! With a creative wood + tin open shelter, teachers and students at Curious by Nature find sanctuary from the elements, while still being fully immersed in the natural settings. Their school currently operates 10 programs ranging from indoor, hybrid, to outdoor options for students with a Nature Based, Reggio-Emilia, Child-Led, and Play-Based focus. Scroll through the pictures below to see their amazing outdoor classroom space.

Visit Curious By Nature Homepage