Saplings - Fernbrook Farms

Our

Philosophy

The Saplings program at Fernbrook Farms is a play-based nature program for young learners ages 3-5. Sapling students will have the unique opportunity to develop meaningful connections with their peers, teachers, and the natural world while immersed in the diverse ecosystems of Fernbrook Farms.

Our Saplings program is specially designed to provide the roots that will allow children to grow and develop at their own unique pace. Each day will follow a set routine that will provide opportunities for children to participate in activities where they will be encouraged to ask questions, seek their own answers, and openly explore the world around them.

"Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results."

-John Dewey

A handful of

Our Features

Emphasis on play-based learning
Child-driven activities
Indoor and outdoor classroom space available
A minimum of 50% of each day spent outside, most days more
Mixed-age class
Half-day and full-day options
Choose your days of the week
Small class size (no more than 12 students)

A sketch of

Our Day

*By creating a “sketch” of our day, our teachers are able to accommodate the flexibility that comes with child-driven education while still providing students with the consistent, predictable routine they require to be successful.

8:00 – 9:00 Optional before care
9:00 – 9:15 Morning round-up
9:15 – 10:15 Morning exploration
- A child-driven exploration of one of Fernbrook’s unique ecosystems – the forest, the creek, the pond, the meadow, or the garden.
10:15 – 10:35 Hand washing and snack time
10:35 – 11:05 Small group activity
- Small group activities could include crafts or special hands-on experiments. By providing time for small groups in our day, students are able to develop stronger connections with their teachers and peers.
11:05 – 11:55 Free choice nature play in our specially designed nature playspace
- Students will have the opportunity to engage in open-ended play
11:55 – 12:30 Hand washing and lunch time
12:30 – 2:00 Quiet time
- Students will nap or rest, or participate in quiet, independent activities as they rest, relax, & re-energize their bodies to prepare for their afternoon adventures.
2:00 – 3:00 Afternoon exploration
- Teachers will guide students to expand on the concepts addressed throughout our day, both in and out of the classroom. Our afternoon could include a letter scavenger hunt in the forest or searching for frogs at the pond after learning about their life cycle during small group time.
3:00 – 3:15 Snack time
3:15 – 3:30 Goodbye round-up
- Students will gather as a community to recall what they did and reflect on their day.
3:30 – 6:00 Optional after care

a few of

Our Activities

Scavenger hunt hikes in the forest
Bug and insect catch and release in the meadow
Playing mud kitchen in the creek
Baking treats for the animals
Shelter building

Tuition

Costs

Please note that your child must be 3 years old by September 8, 2020 and must be fully potty trained^ by the start of the program.

	Mornings (9 – 12:30)			Afternoons (1 – 3:30)*			Full Day (9 – 3:30)*
	Sept.-Dec.	Jan.-June	Sept. – June	Sept.-Dec.	Jan.-June	Sept. – June	Sept.-Dec.	Jan.-June	Sept. – June
	16 Weeks	24 Weeks	40 Weeks	16 Weeks	24 Weeks	40 Weeks	16 Weeks	24 Weeks	40 Weeks
2 Days/Week	$1232	$1848	$3080	$920	$1380	$2300	$2080	$3120	$5200
3 Days/Week	$1764	$2646	$4410	$1320	$1980	$3300	$2964	$4446	$7410
4 Days/Week	$2240	$3360	$5600	$1680	$2520	$4200	$3744	$5616	$9360
5 Days/Week	$2660	$3990	$6650	$2000	$3000	$5000	$4420	$6630	$11050

*Extended Care is available through our afterschool program.

^Fernbrook Farms defines fully potty trained by the following:

Child is able to use the bathroom without assistance, ie. can pull down/pull up pants and underwear, get on and off the toilet, and wipe after use on their own.
Child recognizes their need to use the bathroom before an emergency and will tell an adult they need to go BEFORE they have to go.

A 10% deposit of your tuition is required to confirm your child’s enrollment. Various payment installments exist and can be selected on the enrollment/registration form.

a quick look at

Our Calendar

September 8th, 2020 – First day of Saplings

November 25, 2020 – Half day

November 26 – November 27 – Thanksgiving break

December 23 – Half day, last day of first semester

December 24 – January 1, 2021 – Closed for winter break

January 4, 2021 – First day of second semester

May 31, 2021 – Closed Memorial Day

June 18th, 2021 – Final Day