Nature Preschool Program
Roots and Wings (ages 4-6)
In
Roots and Wings outdoor nature preschool, children ages 4-6 have fun
and explore the natural world around them through nature activities
for kids, such as songs, stories and walks, and by observing plants
and animals with all of their senses.
As with all Wilderness Awareness Youth Courses, enrollment in our nature preschool is limited to ensure individual attention and mentoring opportunities for each child.
Roots and Wings Nature Preschool is committed to planting seeds for children's growth and connection with nature; safely, with confidence and fun.
Activities and Focus
- Circle time with songs and stories
- Nature walks
- Familiarity with the four directions
- Nature awareness games
- Nature activities for kids
- Safety in nature
- Plant and animal awareness
- Sensory awareness
- Nature skills
Register for Roots and Wings
| Apply | Ages 4-6 $2100, September to June, Friday, 9am-1pm; At our land in the Cascade foothills near Duvall, WA (60 min from Seattle) |
2011-2012 Nature Preschool Information
Course Registration Open registration starts March 1st, 2011. For more information about course registration or to apply, please call our office: 425-788-1301
Class Meets Fridays; 9 am - 1 pm; Linne Doran, Duvall*. (*We are 15 min. from Woodinville, WA; 20 min. from Redmond, WA; 30 min. from Bellevue, WA; and 50 min. from Seattle, WA).
Classes start Sept. 16th, 2011
Classes end May 25, 2012
Visit Days - You and your children are invited to share a day with our staff, students and other families to see our enriching school year programs in action!
Roots & Wings (4-6): March 9th & 23rd, 2012
Contact Us to sign up for a visit day!
To Apply
Call the office: 425-788-1301
Tuition
Annual: $2100.
Non-Refundable Enrollment Fee: $525, due upon registration. The remainder of tuition is payable in three
payments due September 1, December 15, and March 15.
Scholarships If you require tuition assistance, we invite you to submit a Scholarship Application along with your application for Roots and Wings Nature Preschool (download a Scholarship Application in PDF format, complete it and mail it in).
The non-refundable enrollment fee is required to hold the place of all registrants, regardless of scholarship status. If, within two weeks of scholarship notification, scholarship applicants decide not to commit to the course, we will refund your fee in full. (This is the only event where the enrollment fee is refundable.)
Tuition Assistance: Your homeschooled child (age 5+) can receive valuable tuition assistance that can be applied toward costs at Roots and Wings! More details
Our Educational Philosophy
At the core of our approach to educating young people is our concept of
"Passion-based learning." This is the idea that every one of us has special
gifts to bring to the world, things that spark our passions in life.
Our school's fundamental goal is to awaken this spirit in our students, and to help them identify and pursue their gifts. We believe that the most effective learning happens when young people are pursuing what they love, and so truly desire to learn.
Equally important is our philosophy that the most effective learning happens when students figure things out "on their own."
In their efforts to do this, they are individually guided by mentors who strive to create experiences and opportunities for students to discover their own answers.
We call this method Coyote Mentoring, a technique that encourages creative thinking rather than providing answers, and results in much deeper learning. It also stimulates the growth of problem-solving skills, and stretches the students into greater self-sufficiency in their living and learning.
Our Instructors
Sol
Marie Doran is a Lead Instructor at the Thursday Coyotes (ages 10-12) and Friday Roots and Wings (ages 4-6) programs. In the summer, she also teaches at various teen and adult programs, including the Art of Mentoring. She has been working with children since 1997 and has been mentoring with the Wilderness Awareness School methodology since 2002.
She came to Wilderness Awareness School in 2004 from southern California, where she worked with Wilderness Youth Project, ran an early childhood outdoor program, and earned a B.S. in Ecology. She is finishing her last Kamana field pack (naturalist studies), is a 2-time Tracking Intensive graduate, has trained in herbalism at Ravencroft, and has studied since 2008 with Kim Scanlon on various arts, including modern cultural development, leadership, and emotions. Her personal interests also include yoga and ethnic dance. She is currently a graduate student in Clinical Somatic Psychology.
Richie Booth is an Instructor for the Thursday Coyotes (ages 10-12) and Friday Roots and Wings (ages 4-6) programs. He was born and raised in Yelm, WA. Spending his summers camping on the Deschutes River in Weyerhauser with his dad he developed a deep love for the forest. Working with youth at Camp Cispus during high school and college he realized his passion for working with kids. He has dedicated his life to reconnecting with nature through the practice of primitive skills, and helping both kids and adults to find their passions by sharing his with them.
