New Structure Taking Shape in the Outdoor Classroom

Over a decade ago, when Aja Stephan was the kindergarten teacher and FSP had recently moved from Mackworth Island to its current location, the kindergarten class established an outdoor classroom in the woods as a means to limit the human impact on our grounds while still providing children with exposure to the vast benefits of extended time spent in nature.

With the help of parent volunteers, a wooden platform and canvas tent were erected, complete with a wood stove that would allow children to have a warm place to gather in inclement weather. The kindergarten class spent each Friday morning in the outdoor classroom all year long, in all kinds of weather.  

Since its inception, kindergarten forest days at FSP have been filled with laughter, playing, learning, discovering, singing, questioning, and exploring. Students have built connections with each other, developed a deeper understanding of themselves, and fostered a love of the land we spend our time on through shared experiences in nature. They have carried their stewardship beyond the kindergarten outdoor classroom and beyond the boundaries of Friends School.

During the 2020-2021 school year kindergarten's use of the outdoor classroom more than doubled, and kindergarteners began spending two full days a week in the outdoor classroom. During the coldest days, snowy conditions, and drenching rains kindergarten classes have continued to gather in the forest tent.  

Last February, after a weekend of dynamic winter weather, the tent collapsed under the weight of the precipitation. Though it was not the first time the FSP tent had to be replaced due to damage from the weather, it became important to make a plan for a more sustainable structure that could withstand the conditions in the forest and stand sturdy for the next decade of kindergarteners. Many people came together to design a new structure, raise the funds for the new structure, acquire the necessary permits, shore up the boundaries of our property, and remove unsafe trees before we could finally begin building.  

The construction of our new, yet rustic, forest pavilion has begun. Children began their forest classroom experience this year by exploring our space, building routines and habits, and learning about safe ways to play in the outdoor classroom. They found sit spots that were special, made hedgie homes and fairy houses, hunted for salamanders, and listened for birds. They have already begun to form a relationship with the forest! While the new pavilion is under construction, kindergarteners have been balancing outdoor time between a temporary forest location on FSP's grounds and taking field trips to off-site natural locations. During our forest days, we look forward to regular check-ins with Dale and Eric from Spindrift Carpentry, and trips to see the structure take shape!  

After watching the saw mill create boards from the trees taken out of the forest, kindergarteners visited the outdoor classroom to begin envisioning what our new structure might be like. Kindergarteners drew what they imagined it would look like, then made revisions to their initial drawing after consulting with classmates about the features they included. 

Pictured above: A second-grade student created a map of her memory of the kindergarten classroom.

We look forward to keeping you updated about how things are unfolding in the forest!