Spring 2025 Programs!

Adult & Tot

Registration Opens March 1 at 9am*

*Registration opens Feb 24 at 9am to returning EFSS families — email directors for an access code.

Robins adult and tot groups are a gentle and fun way for you and your little one to learn and play together in Nature. Together, you will follow your curiosity and develop a relationship with the Land, tune in to your own bodies through outdoor sensory play, and connect with like minded adults and tots. Adults are supported through readings sent through email on topics such as Risky Play, Emergent Learning, Benefits of Play in nature, and the many ways of Learning through play. These readings provide a framework for our play together and open rich dialogue between the participating adults and educators.

This is a parented program.
One adult may supervise a maximum of two registered children.

Jessica is an early learning consultant, course facilitator, and certified forest and nature school practitioner with nearly 20 years experience in the child care field. As an educator and new parent herself, she delights in seeing Mother Nature through the eyes of the child and is honoured to be able to help young children connect with the natural world.

Jessica’s 1 year old son Otto will be joining as co-facilitator for this Robins session.

April 22 – June 10
Gold Bar Park

This adult & tot program is targeted for children who are walking AND not yet walking.

Cindy enjoys learning and growing together on the land with children and adults. She has an ECE background, a degree in Psychology, and many years of experience in multiple childcare settings. The Forest and Nature approach is a natural and intuitive fit for her personal philosophy and she has been actively involved in Forest and Nature since 2018. She is a Certified Forest and Nature Practitioner and also works with Child and Nature Alliance of Canada. Her favorite role is Grandmother.

April 23 – June 18
Gold Bar Park

This adult & tot program is targeted for children who are walking. Knowing this, not-yet-walkers are welcome to register.

Queer Forest School

Registration Opens Feb 24 at 9am

April 25 – June 20
Big Bear Park

Dragonflies is a child-led Safe(r) space for forest school play, exclusively for participants identifying as Queer or from Queer families. Dragonflies is designed with special care for all gender diversity by EFSS & Camp Dragonfly. This is a safer space for you if you are transgender, trans, Two-Spirit, a boy, a girl, gender creative, agender, intersex, non-binary, questioning your gender, genderfluid, or any other gender words you use for yourself. Educators are trained in 2SLGBTQIA+ allyship and work to ensure expertise around gender diversity and gender creativity in each space.

*Age exceptions are possible. Email registration@edmontonforestschool.com for more information.

**Participants can arrange with Eduactors for late drop off or early pick up as needed. Email directors@edmontonforestschool.com if you want support talking to your child’s school admin about the benefits of pulling from school early on Fridays. 

EFSS is a child led, play-based program where children can build a meaningful connection with the land, each others, and themselves.

Camp Dragonfly is an organization that runs programming for queer children and families, created specifically to be inclusive of youth under the age of 14. Camp Dragonfly hosts activities year round including a 2.5 day summer camp, family swims, dances, games and caregiver support meetings.

Is cost a barrier? Email directors@edmontonforestschool.com — we’ll get creative!

This spring pilot is subsidized in part by an Every Kid Can Play Program Community-Level Grant from Alberta’s Sports, Physical Activity and Recreation (SPAR) program.