Our Program
About the Program
Times: 8:30-3:30pm
Days: 3 days per week, with a 4th field trip day for Tracker-level students.
Location: Hazelton Road Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424
Tuition: Sliding scale
Curriculum: We’ve assembled a range of curriculum that reflect best practices in teaching and learning including. We draw on the wisdom of educational researchers including Reggio Emilia, Montessori, the BEETLES project, David Sobel, Project Wild, and more.
The Classrooms
Our outdoor classroom features acres of forest and field, a cedar grove, a climbing tree, and a natural spring. We have exclusive access, allowing us to create long-term projects that stay up and to steward the land.
Our indoor classroom is filled with a wide range of Montessori learning materials, books, geometric shapes, art supplies, a clay pottery wheel, carving knives and wood, fun educational board games, a calming space, musical instruments, journals for each kiddo and open-ended toys such as magnetic tiles, blocks, Lego, K’nex, small world animals and people, a dollhouse, and a play house. It is comforting and really inviting for the project times of the day and solace from the bitter weather days.
Annual Big Picture Projects
- Farmers Market Merchants
- Scott’s Farm Stand garden tenders
Daily Rhythm
Morning Game
Morning Meeting: Check in with how we are all feeling, things we need to share what we are grateful for. We sing songs, share oral and written stories, mini lessons and introduce the day’s projects.
Morning walk: This usually leads to some unstructured play in the woods or in the winter, starting the fire.
Project Time: Independent work and reading and math groups. Teacher directed lessons in science, geography, and primitive skills. Kids have choice during this time of what they work on as we give them a folder of “homework” at the beginning of the week, and there are resources around the classroom to choose from. They are guided by the goals you (the parent), us the teachers, and the kiddo set quarterly.
Lunch together as a community <3
Exploration time in the woods
Project Time: Back to our projects from the morning
Game and closing circle
Meet the Teachers
Our forest school stands apart by being led by teachers with formal training in education, decades of experience working with students, and a strong foundation in outdoor education and skills. Most of all, we have a contagious passion that inspires students! We pride ourselves on being lifelong learners and dabblers in all things, so we can support students in a wide range of activities from ASL poetry to leathercrafting, from board game design to carpentry.
Alyssa Smith
Founder/Director
- B.A. in Social Studies Teaching with a focus on Political Science
- Founder and Director of Frolicking since 2019
- Ferns Farm Preschool & Childcare
- Instructor at Whole Earth Nature School (7 years)
- Co-op Family Center Teacher (2 years)
Also, hobby farmer, lover of adventure, and avid book reader!
Alicia "Foxfire" Rose
Teacher/Curriculum Specialist
- B.A. in English and Anthropology
- M.A. in Environmental Education
- M.S. in Game-based Community Learning
- Creator of Wildkin, a program used coast-to-coast for inspiring student engagement in outdoor programs
- Lead Teacher at Frolicking Ferns
- Programs Director and Instructor at Whole Earth Nature School (2013-2022)
- Living Earth School Instructor (2013)
- Adams International Montessori School instructor (2012-2013)
QUESTIONS?
For our parent handbook, to schedule a tour, or ask for more details, reach out!
Speak to our director Alyssa Smith at 541-743-1074.
or email frolickingferns@gmail.com