Below is an excerpt from an article that was published in the GEOEC: Global Environmental Outdoor Education of Canada about Kylie and her journey visiting Forest Schools.

“ She is already learning a great deal as she travels. Her first stop on her journey was Forest Play in Canmore, Alberta. According to their website, the Forest Play program is based on the cycles in nature and the life stages children naturally move through. Their programming is based on the Eight Shields of the Coyote Mentoring Model and forest schools models. Their approach is described as, “a unique blend of traditional knowledge from cultures around the world, scientific research, connection mentoring research, and is grounded in the rhythms of the natural world. Forest Play has a focus on safety and building connections, and their programs run exclusively outdoors save for time spent in our heated canvas wall tent in winter.”

Kylie observed some realistic Canadian seasonal changes during five weeks at Forest Play. She enjoyed learning about the influences of the weather on the programs being run, since wintry weather prevailed during her observation. She shared that, “I was able to experience Forest Play in negative temperatures and snowy conditions. Having operated in Southern California for years, this was something I was always curious about. To see in action the philosophy that I had touted for years, which is ‘no bad weather, only bad clothes’, I needed to put that to the test!” In the five weeks of participating there she shared that, “There was one day I showed up and it was -15 and snowy. There was a thick layer of ice under fresh powder as we made our way down the hill of the Nordic Center. I did not hear one child complain about the temperature! Instead they showed up in full snowsuits, ready to slide down snowy hills with smiles. They were very excited about the conditions. No whinnying was had! It was fascinating to see how it was put to the test in a different climate and there really was not any resistance from the kids about the difference. At Forest Play, the coldest they tap out at is about -20. The way these four and five-year olds were traversing down steep, icy slopes with ease, it was impressive. They had next level body-control!”

Reflecting on what she had learned so far from her experience at Forest Play, Kylie shared, “It was fascinating, in that I discovered a lot of similarities between the way things are done at Forest Play and the programs I had worked with in Southern California. We shared a very parallel philosophy based on Jon Young’s way of teaching and the Forest Schooling model. This approach is what I mentioned before: child-led, place-based, play-based, utilizing an emergent curriculum - nature as our greatest teacher. What I noticed mostly about my experience at Forest Play was how focused the students were and how present they were in their environment - undistracted, if you will. I have no doubt that has to do with their incredibly pristine, natural classroom. They are operating in one that happens to be a protected forest. “

-Written by Alison C Katzco