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Play-based, child-centred, inquiry into nature
At Hudson Forest Play, our educational philosophy revolves around the child and nature, acknowledging children as inherently creative, curious, and capable learners who actively contribute their unique knowledge, preferences, and skills to the learning process. With a child-to-teacher ratio of 6:1, we foster an environment that amplifies children's voices in learning, facilitates relationship-building, and nurtures a strong sense of community among the group, teachers, families, and the land itself. This approach, inspired by the Child and Nature Alliance Canada (2018), involves regular and repeated access to the same natural space over an extended period, promoting a profound connection between children and the land.
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Our curriculum is a dynamic blend of child-led inquiry, play-based methodologies, and nature-based learning, firmly grounded in research and emphasizing personal, social, and emotional development crucial at this stage of childhood. Informed by recent research, global experience in International schools, and your child's interests, we cultivate a learning environment that prioritizes outdoor engagement, eschewing the constraints of desks and screens. Multi-age groups collaborate seamlessly, fostering a love for learning.
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Goals:
Foster a love of the outdoors through play
Create a sustained process by exploring the same outdoor space over time and seasons
Provide access for students of multiple age groups to playfully learn, igniting wonder, agency, collaboration, and creativity
Build upon relationships cultivated between the land and the local community
Prepare students to be confident, mindful, and environmentally conscious leaders
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Emergent Curriculum:
As children discover, explore, and inquire with nature, they lead their own learning journey. Meaningful learning occurs when children are granted agency and freedom to take ownership of their education beyond traditional classroom confines. Guided by intentional questions, materials, and ideas aligning with their interests and development, our pedagogy supports a holistic educational approach. We believe in co-creating relationships between teachers, children, families, and the surrounding community, fostering a trusting, safe, and reciprocal learning environment.
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