WELCOME TO NATURE TIME

Nature Time's philosophy is that children need to spend a large portion of their day outdoors to get the stimulation and natural learning experiences their bodies crave. We believe that hands-on experiential learning is the best approach to developing a healthy body and promoting higher thinking. Being outdoors provides them with not only fresh air, it encourages imaginative play, creativity, hand-eye coordination, balance, physical strength, mental clarity, promotes social skills, reduces stress, improves vision, and increases attention span. When children’s natural curiosity is encouraged, learning flows organically from stimuli encountered in the outdoors.

The general structure will include circle time, wilderness exploration, learning discussion and games. Nature Time  provides a perfect launching point for growth and development in children, including those with mild to moderate learning disabilities. 

CLASSES

The Nature Time program follows the design of internationally recognized Nature Immersion expert Erin Kenny. With over a decade of experience, Nature Immersion Specialist Erin Kenny has become an internationally recognized expert in the Forest Kindergarten early childhood education model. Through her work, Erin has developed The Cedarsong Way®, a specific method of teaching science that is distinguished by the use of an outdoor classroom, child-driven flow learning, child-inspired emergent curriculum and an inquiry-based teaching style.  The Cedarsong Way® is a compassion scaffolded pedagogy which promotes advanced social skills, teamwork, cooperation and a high level of emotional intelligence. Through authentic nature immersion, The Cedarsong Way® stimulates children’s inherent stewardship towards nature; and through the unstructured flow learning, it encourages children’s natural love of science resulting in a deeper understanding and superior retention of natural science principles.

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Classes sizes are small, with a 5:1 learner/instructor ratio. The program is located on an 18 acre property in Penryn. This is an entirely outdoor program, rain or shine. There is no bad weather with the right clothing. Part time and full time classes are available. There are two program options; Forest Kindergarten serving children ages 3.5-6 years old and Forest Day serving children ages 4-17 years old with mild to moderate learning disabilities. 

BENEFITS

Ever-growing research tells us that Outdoor Nature-Based Learning supports whole-child development. Children are more physically active outside. They engage in more creative forms of discovery when in natural areas and engage in higher levels of cooperative play, developing the critical social-emotional skills needed to collaborate and negotiate in positive ways when conflict arises.

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Being in nature promotes creativity, problem-solving, and intellectual development. The natural environment increases children’s ability to focus and enhances cognitive abilities. They are healthier and happier when offered regular opportunities for free and unstructured play outdoors, and natural settings enhance peace, self control, and self-discipline, as well as reduce stress. Learning in nature, children receive all the mental and physical health benefits of being outdoors, plus expanded and innumerable opportunities for social and emotional learning, language and literacy development, STEM learning, and engagement with the arts. In nature, the whole child grows