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Drawing from what had already begun in Europe, the Nature School movement (Also called “Forest School,” “Farm School,” etc.) began in the USA in the 1960-1980s.1 In the last 15 years, it has soared in popularity (especially in Washington) as families have been looking for holistic, evidence-based, positive alternatives to traditional education and daycare.
Nature Schools:
In line with nature school philosophy, our instruction is child-directed, place-based, hands-on, and follows the rhythm of the seasons. Learning emerges from students’ observation and experimentation in their natural environment. Knowledgeable and nurturing teachers connect comprehension with student discovery. Our teaching team designs content-rich, interactive nature activities while drawing the best from a variety of curriculum sources including Singapore Math, All About Reading, Wild Learning, and others.
We have full restroom facilities near our outdoor classroom that are available for use.
If certain kinds of weather would not maintain safety for the learning environment (thunderstorms, wind storms, smoke from fires, extreme ice and snow, etc.), we will either move classes indoors into the building next to our forest classroom for the day or cancel school. We work hard to monitor this closely and communicate with parents with as much advance notice as possible.
No. People from any or no religious affiliation are welcome to enroll in Deeply Rooted Nature School. We are intentional to cultivate an environment that respects and values people from all backgrounds. We are a holistic education program that fosters physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual development. Research has shown that a child’s spiritual development is “the only thing that science has shown to reliably predict fulfillment, success, and thriving.” Through exploring and observing nature, children yearn for a power greater than themselves and their hearts are drawn to their loving Creator God. God has specially revealed His power and character of love in the Bible. Deeply Rooted Nature School prepares kids to thrive in life through teaching them the Seventh-day Adventists’ understanding Bible that paints a compelling picture of a loving God who is working out a plan to permanently remove suffering from the universe while maintaining the free will to love. We help kids discover their identity and purpose in the context of their Creator God’s love for them. Through studying the life of Jesus and learning to surrender to His power each day, children begin to learn how to serve others instead of themselves, which grows their character, promotes healthy relationships, empowers reconciliation, and prepares them for a life of meaning and purpose.
Yes! Deeply Rooted Nature School is part of the global Adventist accredited education system.3 Students achieve strong academic outcomes, like they would in a traditional school setting, but in a far more engaging, effective, and holistic way. Research is finding that children who attend nature schools are just as academically prepared as their peers from traditional environments, but they also develop persistence, self-reliance, the ability to stay on task, collaboration, and are more physically active. “In short, they’re just as smart but perhaps have more grit… And grit, we’re learning may be a better predictor of school success than academic test scores.”4
Deeply Rooted Nature School enjoys nearly two acres of green space at our forest location at 4707 Elwood Dr W, University Place, WA 98466 (rented from Olympic View Baptist Church). The forest setting provides plenty of space for kids to safely learn and interact with nature while remaining close and easy for parent pick-up and drop-off.
Feel free to come check out our site by scheduling a tour! Contact info@
100% of the day is spent outdoors! We strive for the children to experience all types of weather in order to embrace the values of a nature school. We like the saying, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing choices.” We provide a list of gear the kids can wear to keep them warm and dry in various kinds of weather. Kids continue learning outside unless weather becomes unsafe to stay outdoors.
Clothing and gear items you will need to provide for your child:
Your child will not need to provide some of these items until weather gets colder.
To start the school year, your child will need boots, rain pants and a rain jacket.
More details about gear can be found in our Deeply Rooted Nature School Handbook.
1. Lisa Miller, PhD, The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2015), p. 24.
2. North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). “Nature-Based Preschools in the US: 2020 Snapshot.” Washington, DC: NAAEE, 2020.
3. For research on the Adventist Education System’s reputation for high academic outcomes, visit https://v1.adventisteducation.org/cg2.html.
For a summary of the unique benefits and holistic approach of the Adventist education system in Western Washington, visit https://www.7advantages.org
4. David Sobel, Patti Ensel Bailie, Ken Finch, Erin Kenny, and Anne Stires, Nature Preschools and Forest Kindergartens: The Handbook for Outdoor Learning (St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press, 2016), p. 58.
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