About Us
OUR STORY
As an experienced children's program developer, Owner, Salisha saw a need in the Norfolk & Erie County area for meaningful children's programs that encourage self-discovery and to live in harmony with nature. We encourage the children to free play and interact with their environment. Children become more focused, independent and confident in themselves as they play.
They gain skills and knowledge they simply cannot get at school or in a classroom.
Every day is unique and comes with new experiences!
"I created our school to foster every child's innate skills, and lead them to natural self-discovery in harmony with nature."
Salisha currently studies and practices Holistic Nutrition. She graduated with honors in Social Service Work (2005).
BENEFITS OF OUR FOREST SCHOOL?
Cultivates a strong connection with nature
Created strong bonds within the family and with friends
Better physical fitness
Improved mental health
Better communication skills
Learning through hands-on experience
Exposure to manageable risk
Better sleep and mood
Builds confidence
Self discovery
*Excellent for children with ADD/ADHD*
DAILY ACTIVITIES
Activities include tracking, climbing trees, learning about nature, messy play, storytelling, wildlife identification, and den building. The children will learn how to move around outdoors safely and how to take safe risks, cooking by campfire, tracking, using small tools, family farming, where food comes from, animal husbandry and so much more!
Class
MONDAY'S 9 am-3 pm.
We will be closed on all Snow days and Holidays.
We also run special holiday and weekend classes, sessions for nurseries, pre-schools, primary & secondary schools. We hold classes at our homestead in Clear Creek, Ontario or at your location or school.
Age
Children between 5-12 years old. Our school operates at a 8 to 1 ratio.
WHAT IS FOREST SCHOOL?
WHAT IS FOREST SCHOOL?
Forest schools are the name the UK has given this approach to outdoor child-led play and exploration. Forest Schools was introduced at a time when many parents and educators were becoming increasingly discouraged by the national curriculum. The national curriculum was introduced in the 1980s and the focus went from child-led learning to more traditional pedagogy. At a similar time parents were increasingly more afraid of stranger danger so there was less playing out on their own and more adult-led opportunities, this limited children to be able to make their own decisions and manage risk. This led to many people feeling like children in the UK were been ‘wrapped up in cotton wool.’ These frustrations and restrictions of learning and the culture of managing their children’s play helped the forest school movement to grow quickly.
We also help people to slow down, observe, be aware, and reconnect to the outdoors. The ethos of Forest Schools started in the 1950s in Sweden; by the 1980’s Denmark was running sessions for preschool children. The UK became aware of the concept after some students from Bridgewater College (in Somerset) went to Denmark in 1993 and they were inspired by their ‘Naturbornhaven’ and ‘Skogsbornehaven’ which allowed the children to play outside, manage risks, make decisions and learn about nature. They saw the positive effect it had on their confidence, knowledge, and appreciation of the environment, social skills, and resilience.
Forest School helps children to grow in confidence as a result of the freedom, time, and space they are given in their learning. This allows them to demonstrate independence at each individual stage.
WHY US?
"To foster every child's innate skills, and lead them to natural self-discovery in harmony with nature" We are the only program that offers forest school at our homestead! We have chickens, ducks, and goats. Your children will have so much fun they will come home totally exhausted, dirty, and ready for another day at forest school.
We started our small homestead with our desire to reconnect with our food and live a more self-sufficient lifestyle. We want to pass on our knowledge and know-how to every student. Your child will reconnect with where their food comes from, gain knowledge about farm animals, and fun guiding their own outdoor learning. Combined with the proven forest school approach, Homestead Forest School will leave you and your child happy and emotionally connected with themselves and nature.
*Excellent for children with ADD/ADHD and other learning disorders.
