Parent and Child Preschool Group
Our Red Tree Parent and child group will meet once a week on Thursday mornings 10am-12noon through December 2024.
We will circle around the fire together, celebrate the seasons, sing songs, play and explore the magic of the woodland and nature, have fun in the mud kitchen, enjoy healthy snacks and hot drinks around the fire. Red Tree is a laid back group run by a trained forest school leader, inspired by the Coyote Way mentoring, aspects of Steiner, Earth based values and the Experiential Learning Cycle. It is as much a space for parents to connect and get nourished from community and nature as it is for our little ones. Let's create a gentle and nourishing space to hold our growing little people together.
Sessions are most suitable for 2-4 year olds, but younger children, and a bit older ones are welcome too. Siblings that are non-walkers (babes in arms) are free.
Tickets:
We encourage booking for at least a month at a time if possible, as it builds cohesion in the group, and the little ones grow a sense of belonging to place, stewardship and familiarity in the woodland. Booking a month at a time is discounted by 15% to encourage these regular meetings.
Tickets are available for one adult and one or two children. Parents are responsible for their children and must supervise them at all times. This means always keeping visual contact, even when parents are engaged in activities or deep conversations with other parents. Extra adults can purchase a discounted ticket, and babes in arms siblings are free. Partners, aunties, uncles, grandparents, carers, close family friends and neighbours all welcome!
When completing the booking, you will need to provide us with necessary participant information and sign the risk declaration during that process. This includes: participant & parent names, contact details, emails, emergency contact details, relevant health and allergy info, photography consents, and risk acknowledgements.
Cancellation policy:
Unfortunately we cannot offer refunds or transfers to customers that have paid but cannot come to a session for any reason. We will offer refunds if the request is made 7 days in advance of a session, so there is enough time to offer the space to another participant. In this case, the refund will be made minus the processing fees.
Red Tree Forest School sessions will go ahead in all weather except high winds because of the safety risk in the trees in the winds. If we have to cancel due to high winds or extreme weather circumstances, we will send out a refund for the session.
What to wear and bring?
Red Tree forest school is located in 4 acres of woodland, and sessions are held in all weather conditions except high winds and extreme weather warnings. This means dressing right for whatever the weather! Waterproofs, layers, sunhats, long sleeves, closed shoes/wellies.
Red Tree forest school is located in 4 acres of woodland, and sessions are held in all weather conditions except high winds and extreme weather warnings. This means dressing right for whatever the weather! Waterproofs, layers, sunhats, long sleeves, closed shoes/wellies.
- Footwear: Closed shoes & socks, wellies in the wet weather and for muddy play.
- Clothing: Long trousers and shirts are recommended even in the summer in order to protect participants from stings, scratches, and bug bites. A good way to protect from nettles and ticks.
- Puddle Suits/waterproofs: Wet weather, and also just for fun muddy play and not worrying about where your little one sits down.
- Sunny days (fingers crossed for a lovely summer!): Sun hats and sunscreen.
- Bug spray and sunscreen: The best protection is prevention!
- A water bottle - Water is life, stay hydrated little and big people!
- A change of clothes for little ones if they get too wet or dirty to change into after the session, and layers for any type of weather that might pop up.
Location:
Red Tree Forest School is located on top of Tut Hill in Bishops Caundle overlooking the beautiful Dorset countryside.
We have kindly been given permission to park and use the woodland at Tut Hill Farm. This is a private residence and we ask for care and respect on the property at all times, especially in the parking lot near the houses.
Participants will get more detailed location instructions after signing up.
Red Tree Forest School is located on top of Tut Hill in Bishops Caundle overlooking the beautiful Dorset countryside.
We have kindly been given permission to park and use the woodland at Tut Hill Farm. This is a private residence and we ask for care and respect on the property at all times, especially in the parking lot near the houses.
Participants will get more detailed location instructions after signing up.
