Kickapoo Valley Forest School -

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

It makes a big difference to have the right gear out here! As Forest Schools like to say " there is no bad weather only bad gear". Springtime is filled with water, mud, and thankfully some sunshine as well so we can dry everything out! #forestschool #springtime #leanringoutdoors #optoutside #kvfs #kvr #publicforestschool #outdoorgearforkids #outdoorschoolshop

Just a few Forest School highlights to end the week. Exploring the creek, indoor "work time", climbing trees and an enthralling puppet show. Have a great weekend! #forestschool #kvfs #learningoutdoors #optoutside #kindergarten #lafargewi #wisconsinforestschool #kvr

As we delight in the slow unveiling of plants and animals emerging from the thawing ground, we also find another thing emerging. Trash! Everyone knows how much trash is visible when the snow finally melts. Trash picking has become a borderline treasure hunt for these students! Thank you, students, for helping care for the land in this way, and thanks to everyone who gets out for the springtime cleanup! #outdooreducation #springcleaning #forestschool #KVFS #learningfromtheoutsidein #optoutside #lafargewi #kickapoovalleyreserve

From heart melting earthworms to tender little (grass) bunnies. Forest School children care a great deal about the wellbeing of both living and pretend play creatures. Some students were able to, ever so tenderly, observe and connect with the worms that are returning to the surface of the earth. These spring rains have also brought about a lot of worm rescue missions where the worms are returned to the dirt from the dangers of the cement sidewalks. . During free-play a few large "bunny homes" where built out of grasses to shelter all the baby grass bunnies. Forest school students can turn grass into just about anything! . Happy Wednesday! #kvf #forestschool #freeplay #optoutside #greetingspring #lafargewi

“Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart." -Richard Louv "Last Child in the Woods" "Look at this!" The natural world is zoomed in upon on a daily basis at KVFS. Counting the spikes on a bur, or examining the first green sprouts coming up underneath the snow. When you look at lichen from a distance it might look to be just one type covering an entire branch, when you look closer you can see that there are two, three even four different kinds! Have you zoomed in on the natural environment recently and noticed anything you haven't noticed before? #forestschool #KVFS #lafargewi #optoutside #connectexploreenagge #natureschool #evironmentaleducation #forestkindergarten

The varying landscape, wildlife and flora found at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve offer ample opportunities to play, learn and grow. Students have visited this little creek in almost every season and are enjoying it in its early springtime manner. All the grasses are laid flat and the creeks banks are more exposed than they are at any other time of year. #kvfs #kickapovalleyforestschool #gratitude #learningthelandscape #optoutside #kindergarten #forestschool #lafargewi #KVR

Bones! One of the many fascinating treasures found out on the land. The cycles of life become a little more familiar the more time we spend outdoors. KVFS students have come across a few different animals in various stages of decomposition. Here we found an entire deer skeleton! The children had an opportunity to touch, observe, put back together, and then let be, this amazing find. How cool was this ? "Very VERY Cool!" #KVFS #lafargewi #outdooreducation #kindergartenoutside #learningfromtheoutsidein #optoutside #kickapoovalleyreserve

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it. Perhaps this is what Thoreau had in mind when he said, “the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think the same is true of human beings.” David Sobel, Beyond Ecophobia #Forestschool #KVFS #lafargewi #learningoutside

What inspiring and resourceful teachers! They show up every day ready to navigate all the twists and turns of learning outdoors. They put an incredible amount of time, energy, thought and experience into creating this Forest School. We are SO happy that they are here and are very proud of what they have accomplished thus far. Thank you KVFS teachers and have a wonderful Spring Break! #KVFS #outdoorlearning #optoutside #teachersareincredible #springbreak #lafargewi #kindergarten

Our amazing AmeriCorps Farm to School Specialist Maiela is essential to the success of each day! Maiela coordinates with local businesses and farms to bring products and produce to KVFS. She makes the most yummy, hearty and healthy snacks everyday for our students. A well fueled day makes for a good day! Maiela also brings many opportunities to the students to learn about food and where it comes from. Sometimes students help process food, like walnuts that go into energy bars, or apples for applesauce. So much fun and so much good food! #AmeriCorps #snackprogram #thankyou #forestschool #forestschoolfuel #farmtoschool

We were so excited to see the grass again after all the snow of winter had melted away. The dry grasses provided material for some very creative play! Houses and shops were built and many crowns woven. Have you ever had a croissant made out of dried grass? They are SO GOOD! #imaginative #creativeplay #connectexploreengage #forestschool #emergentcurriculum #kvfs #KVR #lafargewi

We've had an excellent sledding season! Sometimes we make a train with our sleds and occasionally when we don't have sleds around we go without and it's just as much fun! Happy end of Winter! #springisnear #forestschool #kvfs #kvr #lafargewi

What fun it was to visit the RedLou Library for the first time! Students and adults had the opportunity to browse the books and check-out a few. The RedLou Library will visit KVFS once each month at dismissal time. KVFS teachers were also excited to borrow a few books for their homeroom libraries. For more information about this amazing community resource check out redlou.org #kvfs #forestschool #lafargewi #redloulibrary #libraryonwheels #learningoutdoors #kindergarten

KVFS has Kindergarten spaces available for the 2022-2023 School Year. Check out the link for more details: https://www.kickapoovalleyforestschool.org/o/kvfs/page/enrollment

A photographic ode to forts! It's in our nature to build and we sure do love building a good fort at Forest School. Each time students visit a new nature play space there are ample opportunities to build forts and structures. Making forts is a great way to learn the in and outs of teamwork, problem solving and the fundamentals of construction. Big forts have room for group creative play, while little forts can provide a calming spot for just one. #forestschool #creativeplay #forts #spacialawareness #kindergarten #outdooreducation #natureschool #connectexploreengage #lafargewi #kvfs #kvr

Thanks to Emily Schendel with the Boscobel Dial for this great article about the innovative approach to leadership at the Kickapoo Valley Forest School. And a shout out to our current all female Governance Council too! Happy GALentines! https://www.swnews4u.com/local/education/new-forest-school-offers-innovative-approach/ #kickapoovalleyforestschool #learningfromtheoutsidein #kickapoovalleyreserve #lafargewi #iloveforestschool #connectexploreengage #outdoorexploration #publicforestschool #kvfs

Observing bird nests, constructing forts, library time, long hikes and new reading games are just a few highlights from this week! Mornings are often cold but once we are all bundled up, off we go! We often find sheltered sunny places for playing, story time and song sharing. Happy Friday! #kickapoovalleyforestschool #learningfromtheoutsidein #kickapoovalleyreserve #lafargewi #iloveforestschool #connectexploreengage #outdoorexploration #publicforestschool #kvfs #schoollibrary

Mixed aged groups provide children many rich opportunities to help each other and ask for help from peers. Whether it's pulling a friend on a sled, helping each other to read a trail sign, or building an extravagant structure from wooden blocks, working together fosters connection and caring friendships and gives children opportunities to be helpful, responsible members of the community. #kickapoovalleyforestschool #learningfromtheOutsideIn #lafargewi #iloveforestschool #connectexploreengage #outdoorexploration #publicforestschool #kvfs