CURIOSITY. CREATIVITY. CONNECTION.
We are a play-based, land-centered Forest Preschool for children ages 3-6, located in West Olympia, WA on 5 forested acres with beach access and a cozy yurt classroom.
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September - June
9am-1pm
Tuesday - Friday
Our 7:1, student-to-teacher ratio ensures a personalized, holistic learning environment.
Our Program
Land-Centered Education
The land is our primary teacher. We spend our days playing and learning from the Earth. We encourage deep listening, observations, question-asking, and experimentation. Children form meaningful connections by entering into direct relationship with the land. This tangible bond fosters a deep sense of identity and belonging and desire to safeguard and protect. Together we honor and give thanks to the land and demonstrate an ethos of stewardship.
Daily Nature Immersion
Our program includes a balance of guided and self-directed nature immersion, including teacher-led hikes, self-guided exploration, open-ended play, and movement games that encourage children to come into relationship with the natural world. Our forest and beach adventures provide children with a unique opportunity to explore and appreciate our unique local ecosystems. We build resilience and grit by learning how to navigate challenging weather and terrain.
Social-Emotional Learning
Our teachers take time to acknowledge the little moments of kindness, teamwork, and resilience that make each day special. With gentle guidance, we help our young learners navigate challenges and stay safe, happy, and caring. Children not only build confidence but also develop a strong sense of self-worth and personal boundaries. We also weave in GRUB’s Tend, Gather, Grow curriculum, turning to our native and naturalized plants as guides.
Storytelling and Art
We believe that stories and art are powerful gateways for understanding and engaging with our wild and wonderful world. Our stories and puppet plays are intentionally selected or mindfully crafted with beautiful language, living images and seasonal themes. Children are given ample opportunities to develop their own voices and self-expression through activities such as painting, drawing, singing, listening to and telling stories.
Play and Curiosity
Children engage with and make sense of the world through play. Self-directed play allows children to get creative and solve problems, practice interpersonal skills, and build self-confidence. At times, our teachers take a more active role in planning, observing and guiding play and exploration. We look for emergent opportunities to co-create learning experiences with the children and the land. Through outdoor play, children learn how to overcome manageable challenges, navigate healthy risk, and understand personal safety.
Holistic Nourishment
We take a holistic approach to nourishment, ensuring all aspects of our program support the development of the whole child. Nourished children are happy children ready for a day filled with learning and play! We offer a balanced menu with healthy snacks and hot lunch. We source organic ingredients from the Olympia Food Co-op and local farmers, ensuring fresh and wholesome homemade goodness. We also teach respectful foraging for native plants to be used in seasonal teas and treats.
Our Values
01
Rooted in the land
Nature is our greatest teacher. Our program is land-centered which means our curriculum and rhythms are direct reflections of the happenings in nature. We hold space for emergent learning through direct experience of the land, encouraging both child-directed and teacher-guided play and exploration. In this way, we encourage feelings of belonging, respect and connection.
02
Nurturing connection
We love nurturing children’s innate ability to connect with animals, plants, and the living Earth- fostering compassion and respect for all life. Through stories, songs and listening practices, we encourage children to explore different perspectives and ways of being. We seek to illuminate the interconnectedness of life, cultivate gratitude, and build conscious relationships with self, others, and the natural world.
03
Guided by curiosity
Our curriculum holds space for the emergence and delight that occurs when children are given the freedom to follow their curiosity. Learning occurs through direct experience, creative problem solving and taking healthy risks. Our balanced approach includes both self-directed and teacher-led explorations. The teachers act as role models, guides, and observers of the student’s learning journey.
04
Holistic health and safety
We prioritize the health and safety of our students and land. Our teachers are trained in first-aid and CPR, and follow safety protocols to minimize the inherent risk of nature-based programs. We also prioritize environmental health and sustainability, and we teach our students the importance of respecting and caring for the natural world.
NOW ENROLLING
Parent-Tot Class
Our Parent-Tot class offers a wonderful opportunity for parents and their little ones to come together for play, nature exploration, art projects, storytelling, and community building. These guided mornings and playful interactions not only help children develop but also allow parents to connect with others who are in a similar season of life. It's a chance to build a supportive community, share experiences, and create lasting memories in a beautiful setting. A wholesome snack is prepared and provided. For children 1-3ys with caregiver.
​Winter Semester:
Monday - 9am -11am
or
Saturday - 9am-11am
$480 ($160 a Month)​
Our Rhythms
Daily Rhythm
Welcome Circle and Listening Practice
Nature Walk and Reflections
Snack and Story
Forest or Beach Play
Art or Craft
Lunch
Pickup
Weekly Rhythm
Tuesday: Watercolor painting | Fruit + energy balls | Pizza + Veggie Sticks
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Wednesday: Story | Fruit + Popcorn | Coconut rice + Veggies + Beans
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Thursday: Bread baking | Hummus + Crackers + Veggie Sticks | Soup + Buns
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Friday: Drawing or Beach day | Apples + Buns + Cheese | Beans + Rice
Seasonal Rhythm
Early Fall - Aug. 1​- Sept. 21
Late Fall- Sept. 22- Oct. 31
​Early Winter - Nov. 1 - Dec. 20
Late Winter - Dec. 21- Jan. 31​
Early Spring - Feb. 1 - Mar. 19
Late Spring - Mar. 20- Apr. 30​Early Summer - May 1 - Jun. 21​
We acknowledge and celebrate the quarter and cross-quarter days as a way to anchor our program in the rhythms of nature. The year can be thought of as having 8 seasons, each lasting about 6 weeks.
We shift our theme of inquiry with each season. Guiding questions and activities are provided by teachers with space reserved for student contributions, wonderings, and emergence.
Seasonal Family Festivals
Our community events are more than just celebrations of the changing seasons; they're opportunities for families to come together and strengthen bonds. As each season transitions, we gather to honor the beauty of nature and the connections we share. Through shared activities, such as crafting, storytelling, and enjoying seasonal treats, families forge deeper relationships and create lasting memories. These gatherings foster a sense of belonging and unity, enriching our community with warmth, laughter, and a shared appreciation for the rhythms of the natural world.
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Welcome Potluck - September
Autumn Lantern Walk - November
Winter Spiral of Light - December
Welcoming Summer - May
Goodbye Potluck - June
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Afternoon Care
Our afternoon program is designed to provide children with a calm and restorative rest time focusing on sleep/relaxation, quiet play, and stories. After a busy morning of activities, children can unwind, relax and recharge. The program includes a cozy rest period, opportunities for quiet, imaginative play, and listening to stories. This gentle transition from the day's excitement helps foster a sense of peace and well-being, preparing them for the rest of their day.
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Available Tuesday-Friday
1-3 pm
$250
*Can be prorated depending on number of hours and days desired*
Forest and Beach
Our children have access to a secluded and private forest sanctuary, where nature's wonders await around every corner. We follow winding trails that lead through the lush canopy, revealing hidden treasures at every turn. We often pause by the tranquil pond, where the gentle sounds of wildlife fill the air, and reflections dance upon the water's surface. Among towering trees, ancient nursery logs provide a glimpse into the forest's rich history, while a vast meadow invites moments of quiet contemplation beneath the open sky. In this enchanting haven, surrounded by the whispers of the woods, serenity and beauty converge to create an unforgettable retreat into nature's embrace.
The Yurt
Our charming little yurt is nestled in the heart of the woods, bursting with natural toys, snug corners, shelves stocked with books, and art supplies waiting for eager hands. Laughter fills the air as children explore, imagine, and create amidst the tranquil surroundings. This magical haven invites curiosity, sparks imagination, and fosters a deep connection to nature.
Tuition
2 days a week
September - June
9am - 1pm
$450 a month
3 days a week
September - June
9am - 1pm
$580 a month
4 days a week
September - June
9am - 1pm
$700 a month
$100 Deposit upon enrollment(applied to first month tuition), $250 Supply Fee due July 15
10 monthly Tuition payments beginning August 15
Shared Responsibilities
With deep gratitude and humility, we pay homage to the land, the water, and the First People.
We reside, live, work, play and learn, in the home of the Steh-Chas Maritime people who lived and prospered along the shores of the southernmost inlets of the Salish Sea for untold centuries. Since time immemorial, the Steh-Chas presence infused the surrounding mountains, valleys, shorelines, and waterways. In honoring the people of the Squaxin Island Tribe, our Coast Salish neighbors, we embrace our shared responsibilities to this cherished place—their ancestral homelands—where we all coexist harmoniously.
Schedule a time to talk with a teacher!
Contact information
Email: wildbeginningsolympia@gmail.com
Phone: 360.510.2571