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What is Forest Kindergarten?

Discover the Benefits of Learning in Nature at WSCS!
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About Us

At West Side Christian School, our forest kindergarten curriculum offers a unique and immersive educational experience. Imagine your child playing in puddles, climbing over fallen logs, and digging in the dirt as core parts of their learning journey. This may not sound like a traditional elementary classroom, but it’s a cornerstone of our innovative approach to early childhood education.

The Journey

of Forest Kindergarten

Seven years ago, we embarked on the journey to pilot our forest kindergarten, and we haven’t looked back since. The transformation in students and curriculum has been remarkable.

According to Hannah Litwiller, one of our amazing kindergarten teachers, “It has been an incredible experience to watch this forest program grow. The kids’ creativity and problem-solving skills just blossom in this environment. They thrive in the outdoors, making real-life connections to the world around them, and it gives them an opportunity to live into their God-given strengths that might not be seen as much in a typical classroom environment.”

Fostering Curiosity and Real-World Connections

Our forest kindergarten is designed to ignite students’ sense of wonder. The natural world becomes a classroom where curiosity drives learning. Children ask questions and their innate desire to explore fuels their motivation to read, write, record, and count—making real-world connections to content standards.

Hands-On Learning with Nature’s Tools

Discovered slimy worms do more than wiggle and squirm; they become powerful educational tools. Students learn sight words, count and tally, comprehend stories, increase vocabulary, and praise God for His creations through hands-on experiences. Here’s what some of our kindergarteners have to say about their forest classroom:

Join Us at West Side Christian School

At West Side Christian School, learning is an adventure where every day brings new opportunities to explore God’s world. Our forest kindergarten program helps children discover their potential in a setting that fosters curiosity, creativity, and a deep connection to God’s creation. Join us and let your child experience the wonder and joy of learning in the great outdoors!

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What Our Kindergarteners Are Saying:

“Outside we climb over logs and find worms. In our classroom, we read books about worms. Now we have worms as class pets!”

– Aiden

“Every day we see new stuff! There are many animals that live in our forest. Even the logs in our classroom have animals. The log protects them and some of them even eat the log. That’s funny! It’s like they are eating their house.”

-Kylie

“I like that we go outside every day, even when it’s raining. We find worms. I learned that worms stretch, which helps them move. Worms live in our school compost pile. God uses them to recycle and help the soil for our school garden.”

– Austin

“I have an inside AND an outside classroom!”

– Simon