Forest School for all! Supporting newcomer children through partnership with Gateway
Teague Urquhart
Community Ambassador for Common Digs
July 2023
Forest School for All!
Partnering with
Gateway to support newcomer families
“Forest School for All” is a common phrase within Forest School communities. Common Digs has always held this phrase close to our hearts and has worked over the last decade to break down known barriers to making Forest School programming accessible and available to all children. One of the known barriers is awareness. Many families tell us that they did not even know that Forest School children’s programs and daycares in Calgary are an option and are left choosing more traditional indoor programs, until they hear about us.
This is especially true for families new to Calgary and Canada, when there are so many new systems to learn, it can be very overwhelming. Over the last year we have focused on building partnerships and deepening our community roots to help build awareness and reach to truly make “Forest School for All” a reality in Calgary.
Continuing with this work, we are proud to announce our partnership with Gateway! Gateway helps over 10,000 people per year that are newcomers to Canada bringing together over 65 community partners to provide each person and family with a unique plan based on their dreams, goals, skills, and priorities to provide them with best-fit services in the community.
What is Forest School?
Common Digs Forest School programs are about supporting a child’s right to play and learn in nature. Children spend much of the day outdoors, playing, exploring and learning in natural spaces supported by certified Early Childhood Educators and Forest School practitioners. Our Forest School Early Learning Centres all have indoor classrooms. Each classroom is unique and strives to build a welcoming, warm, home-like atmosphere.
Why Choose Forest School for your child?
We understand that newcomers to Canada can face culture shock, language barriers, mental health challenges, financial stress and other challenges. This can affect children too.
Research shows a multitude of reasons - intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual and physical - to get children outside spending great lengths of time playing, relaxing and just “being” in nature (Louv, 2008; Bilton, 2010). Play helps build mental health, relationships, creativity, imagination, self-confidence, self-efficacy and physical, social, cognitive and emotional strength and skills (Lester and Russell, 2010; Brussoni et al., 2015).
As Rachel Carson writes, “Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth will find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”
Frequently asked questions from newcomer families:
1. What languages do you offer?
At each of our licensed Forest School early learning centres we have educators that speak a variety of different languages:
Calgary Northwest at Rosemont/Confederation Park: Farsi, Swedish, Chinese
Calgary Southeast in Lynnwood/Beaver Dam Flats - Greek
Okotoks - Spanish
Our program and all of our educators speak english. We have had many English Language Learners in our programs over the years. Newcomer children will develop friendships and english through playing with other children and are supported by caring and knowledgeable educators. Even attending part time, two days per week, can help support your child’s health and well being, foster friendships and support the development of their english language.
2. What will my child learn?
Support of early numeracy and literacy evolves through learning journals, project work and daily interactions. This process aligns with "Flight", Alberta's Early Learning Framework (Makovichuk et al., 2014).
Our approach is inspired both by the Forest School ethos and the educational approach in Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Our curriculum evolves from the children’s interests and through detailed observations and documentation made by Early Childhood Educators. We trust that the environment and the children's innate curiosity will offer deep and rich learning opportunities.
3. How will you keep my child safe when you are outside?
Safety is of the highest importance and we understand that risk is inherent in play and that many hazards exist in the outdoor environment. We take these steps to balance risk and benefits.
Risk Benefit Assessments (RBAs)
RBA documents are completed and reviewed annually by the teaching team. Each educator and volunteer are required to be aware of and follow risk mitigation strategies in the RBAs. Parents are welcome to ask to see our RBAs if they wish to be further informed on any practice. Examples would include tree climbing, tool use, camp fires etc.
Daily & Seasonal Site Checks
Educators review the sites annually and seasonally to assess for common hazards. Additionally, they complete daily site checks to look for any changes in the landscape and new or emerging hazards.
They complete risk mitigation strategies as new hazards/risks arise. This is completed and shared with all staff/volunteers at the beginning of each day or upon checking a site area.
Group Agreements & Direct Safety Teaching
At the beginning and throughout the year the classes discuss ways of being together, to co-construct their own rules of conduct, safety and kindness. Additionally, before going very far away from the main site the educators teach the group about group safety of staying together using a group call and being able for the teacher to see the child; what to do around domestic animals/wildlife. Group teaching is also completed before holding any campfires or going near water and as new risks/hazards appear (e.g. ice).
First Aid Certification
A minimum of one in two educators have current first aid certification. Some of our educators also have wilderness first aid training and/or Forest School Practitioner certification. All of our educators are required to have criminal record checks including vulnerable sector checks.
4. How much does daycare cost?
Our licensed Forest School Early Learning Centres are eligible for Alberta daycare government grants and family subsidies the same as all licensed daycares in Alberta. Costs depend on the number of days that your child attends. An example of cost for two days per week after grants and subsidy is $125 per month. (assumes 60 hours per month and family qualifies for maximum subsidy allowance).
We can help you with an application for Alberta childcare subsidy.
5. Do you have any daycare jobs?
We are hiring early learning and childcare educators and are especially committed to diversifying our team. Free training is available through the Alberta government to gain Alberta Early Childcare Educator Level One certification.
If you have experience working with young children, love to be outdoors and are interested in joining our team please email Lisa at commondigs@gmail.com.
6. How do I register my child?
To start you can complete the registration form online in the link below. If you need help with the registration form please call or text Lisa at
403-465-4473. Visits to meet the educators and see our classrooms are available.
Have more questions? Want to see if your child will like it? Sign up below for a free parented one hour class where we can answer any additional questions you have while your child plays nearby in one of our nature settings.
References
Bilton, H. (2010). Outdoor learning in the early years: Management and innovation. New York: Routledge.
Brussoni, M., Gibbons, R., Gray, C., Ishikawa, T., Sandseter, E. B., Bienenstock, A., Chabot, G., Fuselli, P., Herrington, S., Janssen, I., Pickett, W., Power, M., Stanger, N., Sampson, M., & Tremblay, M. S. (2015). What is the Relationship between Risky Outdoor Play and Health in Children? A Systematic Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 12(6), 6423–6454. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120606423
Carson, Rachel (1956) The Sense of Wonder. NY, New York: Harper and Row
Lester, S., & Russell, W. (2010). Children’s Right to Play: An examination of the importance of play in the lives of children worldwide. The Hague: Bernard van Leer Foundation.
Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill.
Makovichuk, L., Hewes, J., Lirette, P., & Thomas, N. (2014) Flight: Alberta’s Early Learning and Care Framework. Library and Archives Canada https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/6238b139a5a3027d035ca6a3/6243589f979c467c82a2f63d_Flight%20Framework%20Document%20English.pdf
Sobel, D. (2008). Childhood and nature: Design principles for educators. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers