PRograms
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The Co-operative Toddler “Hatchlings” (ages 1-3) program is offered seasonally on Thursday & Friday mornings throughout the months of September - June from 9:30am-11:30am. This program will focus on nature-based learning, encouraging toddlers to explore, play and discover the world around them through sensory experiences, movement and curiosity-driven activities.
An opening circle, followed by a nature walk to the forest and age-appropriate forest school activities are offered. Waldorf and Forest Schooling tips and tricks will be woven throughout the sessions for parents to take home.
Cost: $20 per session per child, with a minimum of 3 sessions per season.
Payment for the sessions must be paid in full before the beginning of the season. The ratio of parents to children must be 1:2. An additional adult or parent must attend if more than two children are attending.
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Young children learn best through child-led, imaginative play and discovery, and the outdoors provides endless opportunities to do so! Forest Hills Private School offers kindergarten-aged children the unique experience of immersing in nature, where they are able to explore the outdoor mud kitchen, go on guided nature walks, build shelters and little worlds, learn from nature-inspired stories and songs, and engage in outdoor/indoor theme-based learning centers. All of these activities allow for young children to build meaningful relationships with one another and the land, as well as be exposed to the fundamental building blocks of mathematics, science, literacy, health and physical education, and socio-emotional skills.
Each day, children will take part in a Waldorf circle and activities, as well as forest schooling time in the forest. This program benefits children who are aged 3 years 8 months to 5 years (2021-2022) as well as older children who may be at this stage of development. Children must attend at least 2 days.
The cost of this program per child is based on the following fees:
5 days per week: $53 per day
4 days per week: $54 per day
3 days per week: $54 per day
2 days per week: $55 per day
1 day per week: $55 per day
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Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are Waldorf curriculum and forest schooling days. Children must attend all 3 days to participate in Waldorf Main Lessons. Students will engage in Main Lesson time, as well as various seasonally-planned activities such as nature exploration, baking/ cooking, arts & music, survival skill-building, as well as mindfulness and gratitude practices. These activities will contribute to understanding concepts in mathematics, science, literacy, health and physical education, and socio-emotional skills. Curriculum concepts are taught using a variety of Waldorf curriculum and resources to suit the needs of the children. In addition, community members willing to share their passions will be invited to host workshops and seminars for both students and parents.
Community circles to begin and end the day will also allow for children to develop personal connections and have time to reflect on their learning and the relationships they are building with the land and each other. Families are able to commit to the program by term; Term 1 (September- February) and Term 2 (February-June).
The school-aged program is designed for children ages 6-13, who are homeschooled or are in Public/Catholic/Private School systems and are seeking to supplement and enrich their learning. Children are assigned to “Hawk Groups” with a main Guide, based on both age and developmental readiness.
The cost of this program per child is based on the following fees:
5 days per week: $53 per day
4 days per week: $54 per day
3 days per week: $54 per day
2 days per week: $55 per day
1 day per week: $55 per day
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This year, Thursdays will be an “Enrichment Day” where students may enroll in specialized classes by term. (Children may be registered for Thursdays only, or may attend this day in addition to Curriculum Days or Forest School Friday)
Term 1 classes will include a rotation of:
1) Homesteading/ Cooking & Baking and 2) French as a Second Language lessons and 3) Forest Schooling.
Term 2 classes will be determined in December 2026, and may include:
Handwork (sewing, knitting, working with wool)
Woodworking
Homesteading Skills
Cost: $55 per day (if only attending Thursdays)
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Forest school is an outdoor, child-led approach to learning where children spend regular time in a familiar, natural setting. Children choose activities based on their interests and curiosity, while our Guides observe, support and scaffold rather than direct. Children learn to asses and take appropriate risks. Strong emphasis is placed on trust, community and collaboration.
Learning emerges naturally through :
Free exploration
Imaginative play
Practical skills
Problem-solving
Storytelling and reflection
Cost: $55 / day
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Before school care is available at 7:30am from Monday - Thursday.
After school care is available from 3:30pm-4:30pm from Monday - Thursday.
During this time, Guides will provide outdoor/ indoor activities.
The cost is $13 per care session.
Spaces are limited and the student to Guide ratio is 8:1.
If families require last minute before or after school care, Guides must be given 24 hour notice and families will be invoiced for the session.
Vision & Mission
Forest Hills Private School & Retreat Center strives to provide children with opportunities to practice risk-taking, critical thinking, and artistic expression. Our vision is to provide alternative education rooted in Waldorf processes and Forest Schooling principles, that serves the spiritual, emotional, physical and intellectual gifts of all children.
Waldorf Inspired Curriculum methods
A Waldorf approach to curriculum concepts allows for a learning process that encompasses creativity, imagination, and the individual artistic qualities of each child. Children experience learning with their hands (willing), their heart (feeling) and then their head (thinking). We apply the Christopherus Homeschool Resources program for main lessons that encompasses Rudolf Steiner methodology. Learn more about Waldorf here: What is Waldorf Education? Waldorf in a Nutshell - YouTube
Forest School Principles
Incorporating Forest School learning philosophies into our program encourages play, exploration and supported risk-taking. These values help to foster a deep connection to nature, promote curiosity for all living things, and build self-confidence. Learn more about the principals of Forest School here: 2020 Principles of Forest/Nature School (childnature.ca)
Mindfulness, Yoga Movements & Breathwork
With daily breathwork, yoga movements and mindfulness practices, children are given the opportunity to turn inward and ground throughout their day. Practices such as EFT “tapping”, chakra balancing meditations, use of essential oils and positive affirmations aid children in calming their mind and bodies so that they may feel centered, in order to play and learn. Teaching children daily affirmations and meditations to feel grounded and centered are incredibly helpful for spiritual and emotional growth. As children learn to navigate and understand what they feel and why they feel it, it is important to provide them with opportunities to practice turning inward and self-reflection.
Play-Based and Inquiry-Lead Learning
Children are given opportunities to experience authentic and meaningful learning, through real-world experiences and questioning: Why do animals lay eggs? How do plants grow? Children learn best through play and discovery, and the outdoors provides endless opportunities to do so.
Forest Hills Family Handbook
The “Forest Hills Family Handbook” outlines the procedures and policies that will be applied to ensure a safe and efficient learning environment for children and families.
The “Forest Hills Family Handbook” for 2026-2027 can be accessed HERE
RISK Management
Keeping children safe on their learning journey is our top priority at Forest Hills Private School.
Forest Hills Guides and volunteers will assess and mitigate risk alongside students, as it is important that children are involved in the process and acquire these skills with the support, modeling and knowledge of trusted and knowledgeable adults.
Our Guides will conduct seasonal on-site risk assessments and activity risk assessments on an on-going basis, always considering the balance between risk and benefits when doing so.
These assessments are set out by The Child & Nature Alliance of Canada in the “Risk-Benefit Assessment For Outdoor Play: A Canadian Toolkit”
Examples of ways risk may be mitigated when learning on the land:
Posting identification cards and rope barriers alongside children to help them identify and avoid poison ivy.
Learning songs to remind children of the importance of checking for ticks, and how to check for them properly.
Using helpful communication prompts when children are navigating in nature (ie., “Does that log you’re standing on feel sturdy?”)
Offer opportunities for scaffolded lessons to build up to a new activity that may involve risk (ie., Tool use)
Conducting daily risk-assessments of the land before children arrive to the property (ie., marking hanging limbs from a storm the previous night and using a different area until limbs are safely removed)
Conducting Risk-Benefit Assessments when planning programming and learning experiences (ie., What is the benefit of learning to build a shelter? What are the risks involved when learning to build a shelter?)
Ensuring that a “Standard of Care Checklist” is used so that key policies and procedures are well-developed.
*All Guides at Forest Hills are First Aid & CPR Certified
Program Volunteers
All volunteers are required to fill out a Volunteer Application form and complete a Vulnerable Sector Screening Check. Potential volunteers are encouraged to visit prior to volunteering to ensure that the vision and mission of Forest Hills Private School & Retreat Center is clear for the potential volunteer.
Interested in volunteering? Please contact us here:
