"Learning, thought, creativity and intelligence are not processes of the brain alone, but of the whole body....Memory is not stored (solely) in the brain (but in) neural pathways that fire together as patterns throughout the entire body."
- Dr. Carla Hannaford, author of Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All In Your Head
#forestschool
#publicforestschool
#kvfs
#kvr
#lafarge
#learningoutdoors
Making friends in the forest.
From shrieks of joy and delight to tears and hurt feelings. It's all part of learning how to express care and concern for ourselves and others. Teachers at Forest School will use language like "I see that our friend is upset, let's check in with them." and "let's wait for all our friends to arrive and then we will start our hike". With support from their teachers students will learn that it's okay to experience a range of emotions. It's okay for friends to take space or alone time and that friends will return to play when they are ready.
#makingfriends
#socialemotionallearning
#forestfriends
#forestschool
#charterforestschool
#publicforestschool
#kvfs
#kvr
#lafargewi
Our intrepid 1st graders are out exploring! Discovering trails, critters, rock formations, new games and so much more!
#firstgradeintheforest
#kvfs
#outdoorlearning
#puclicforestschool
#charterschool
#optoutside
#lafargewi
#kickapoovalley
#kvr
Enjoying acorn pancakes around the fire with the beginning of the fall leaves dancing around us!
#schoolsnackprogram
#forestschool
#farmtoschool
#americorps
#wildedibles
#forestkindergarten
#forestfirstgrade
From ABC's to climbing trees Forest School is a great place to be :)
#kvfs
#forestschool
#lafargewi
#kickapoovalley
#driftlessregion
#learningoutdoors
#optoutside
#forestkindergarten
#firstgradeforestschool
Working hard or hardly working?
Purposefully unstructured free time in nature provides space for all sorts of creative play and play is a child's work.
You'll find them excavating decomposing logs, building detailed townscapes out of pieces of nature and asking lots of questions as they come across new bugs, plants and natural materials.
They are definitely hard at a work :)
Happy Friday and first day of Autumn!
#forestschool
#unstructuredplay
#kvfs
#lafargewi
We live in a changing world, and it is important to learn how to assess and face the unexpected. In Forest School we have plenty of opportunities to practice assessing situations for safety, planning next steps and taking healthy risks. All of this sets our students up for success in a changing environment. The Forest is such a great place to learn.
#learningallthetime
#learningoutdoors
#learninngindoors
#kvfs
#kvr
#forestschool
#forestkindergarten
#firstgradeintheforest
Children are designed to be messy and unpredictable, playful and imaginative, and to be very different from both their parents and from each other. The variability and flexibility of childhood lets them innovate, create and survive in an unpredictable world.
~A. Gopnik
#forestschool
#kvfs
#learningoutside
#emergentcurriculum
#optoutside
#lafargewi
#kvr
#excellentquotes
KVFS First Grade takes off for their inaugural scooter ride on Old Hwy 131. But not before learning important safety and trail etiquette! They came back sweaty, tired and beaming from ear to ear!
“Uncertain times require personal responsibility, independence of thought, self-initiative, self-assertion, flexibility, creativity, imagination, and willingness to take risks.”
—Peter Gray (2013)
#forestschool
#kvfs
#learningoutdoors
#scootertofreedom
#3wheelscooters
#1stgrade
#kvr
#lafargewi
" What we learn with pleasure we never forget." - Alfred Mercer
And what a delight it was for students to meet (and attentively study) a few baby snappers that had just hatched and where making their way down to the Kickapoo River!
#forestschool
#Kickapoovalleyforestschool
#learningoutside
#snapperbabies
It was a great first day of school!
Students circled up to meet their classmates and prepare for a day of scholastic and outdoor adventures.
Meanwhile parents chatted around the coffee cart and got to meet some their peers as well!
Looking forward to an excellent school year!
#kvfs
#forestschool
#learningoutside
#optoutside
#kickapoovalleyforestschool
#lafargewi
#lafargeschooldisctrict
#educatingoutdoors
#firstdayofschool
#kvr
#kickapoovalleyreserve
KVFS staff prepare for the school year by exploring play spaces and carefully noticing sensitive areas and species while considering our impact. KVFS is fully committed to engaging children in nature while moving with care on the landscape.
#backtoforestschool
#forestschoolteachers
#learningoutdoors
#outdooreducation
#movewithcare
#kvfs
#kickapoovalleyforestschool
#mushroomsgrowingeverywhere
#wisconsin
#lafargewi
#kickapoovalleyreserve
#kvr
The Governance Council and Leadership Team extend a HUGE thank you to The Quack Attack for choosing KVFS as a recipient of proceeds from the 2022 Duck Race!
Nearly $2500 was donated- pictured is Governance Council member Jen Oium accepting the donation (third from the left).
To the whole crew at The Quack Attack, and KVFS parents Damian and Ashley Dinger, especially- we are so grateful!
Pizza Night Fundraiser for KVFS at Sittin Pretty Farm!
- Online ordering time slots with limited walk in availability
- Bar offerings include on tap rotation featuring Driftless Brewery, kombucha, wines, hard ciders, sparkling waters, and sodas
- Outdoor banquet table seating or bring a picnic blanket
- Indoor seating for rainy weather
- Sunset walks along the ridgetop with views across local farm fields
- Come and take in the farm's curation of old farm machinery, trucks, lily pond, permaculture gardens, and rustic building designs at the woods edge
Thanks to the KVFS staff and families that participated in the La Farge 4th of July Parade earlier this week!
We were surprised by an unexpected thunderstorm, but as the forest schoolers we are, still had tons of fun!
We have a few spots left for 2022-2023 school year... message here, email us at kvfs@lafarge.k12.wi.us, or visit kickapoovalleyforestschool.org!
#LearningFromTheOutsideIn
We have a few spaces available for 5K and First Grade!
Apply today!
#enrollinforestschool
#forestkindergarten
#learningoutside
#optoutside
#outdooreducation
#theforestisourclassroom
We certainly get our share of scrapes and bug bites at Forest School! Thankfully Nurse Emily is here to help!
If you want to get a peek into the life of a school nurse in this day and age check out https://www.wischoolnurses.org/wasn/a-day-in-the-life-home/emily-oium
for a great interview with Nurse Emily!
#schoolnursesrock
#forestschool
#lafargewi
#kickapoovalleyforestschool
#lafargeschooldistrict
To explore and affiliate with life is a deep and complicated process in mental development. – Edward O. Wilson, Biophilia
Humans are designed to connect with nature. Seeing as we are part of nature it is only natural that schooling might happen in the forests, woods, prairies, along the creek-sides, and in every other environment where humans exist.
When we are outside we are more likely to enter a state of effortless attention. Being able to experience that from the very beginning of life will help later on when attention is required in a variety of environments.
#KVFS
#forestschool
#forestschooling
#educatingoutdoors
#optoutside
#lafargewi
#kickapoovalleyreserve
Rain or shine we are out here having fun and learning as we go!
Here is a little Forest School Friday photo blast to start your weekend!
#forestschool
#learningwithoutwalls
#outdooreducation
#kvfs
#learningoutside
#lafargewi
#KVR
#kickapoovalleyforestschool
#kindergarten
#springtime
While we are often active, slowing down and focusing is an important part of what we do as well. Periods of quiet, focused attention hone a child's ability to be mindful of their surroundings, the work they do, and each other. Many observations from nature make their way onto the pages of student workbooks. #learningwithoutwalls #outdoorkindergarten #indooroutdoorleanring #forestschool #kickapoovalleyforestschool #kvfs #kvr #lafargewi
