Secret Forest Playschool

A trip to our local farmers market helped us prepare for our very own Secret Forest Playschool Market Day!

The children, with the help of their mentor buddies, created market stands for their family to come shopping at. They “sold”: homemade jam (from berries they picked at our local farms), wildflower bouquets, fresh produce from the school garden, popcorn, and lemonade. This activity is rich in dramatic play, creativity, and real world experience. To see these children take on the roles and the responsibilities of being vendors and to see the pride they took in their products was so much fun!

Miigwech families for supporting your child’s learning through play!

Honeyberries: if a blueberry fell in love with a sweettart

We picked delicious honeyberries, we visited the chickens and fed them grass, we saw the solar panels and talked any clean energy and had some bonus strawberries. Farmer Brett is an amazing human who did so much, above and beyond, for the kiddos.

Please support this local farm: pick their berries, buy their eggs, support them on social media. These folks values align with a healthy, peaceful and hopeful future.

Lucie
Farm LoLa

Glensheen with Emily Ford !!

Strawberries and Snap Dragons!! Miigwech Emily for sharing these beautiful gardens with us. We love coming to hang with you and your plants in all their summer abundance.

*UPDATED* 8/2/26
Miigwech, We are full. Join the waitlist.

Original post 8/1/26
Families in The Forest is an outdoor program designed for families who are intentionally seeking a protected childhood for their toddlers and preschool-age children! In addition to playing in nature, these sessions are about creating community and connection for the whole family! Each session takes place fully outdoors. Families will gather for a story, head out on a short group hike, and spend the majority of our time enjoying unstructured outdoor free-play (and adult conversations) together in The Secret Forest.

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Overview: These seasonal 2-hour outdoor sessions will take place entirely outdoors. This is a non-separating class and an adult is required to attend alongside their child(ren). Families need to arrive dressed for the weather.

Ages: toddlers and preschool-age children (~ 2 years old to kindergarten)

Fall Series 1: Schedule 9:30am- 11:30am
• Friday, September 11th
• Friday, September 25th
• Friday, October 9th

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
1) Registration Process: email your interest to [email protected]
2) Registration forms will be sent to you from Daily Connect
•If space is available in the series you requested you will receive an invoice
•If spaces are filled you will be added to the waitlist and contacted if an opening becomes available
3) Your registration is complete after your payment has been processed and you have received notice of acceptance

Registration Fee: siblings of any/all ages are welcome at no extra fee

• Option 1- $60 per family for 3 sessions (*standard rate, this rate reflects the cost of similar programs locally)
• Option 2- $50 per family for 3 sessions (median rate)
• Option 3- $40 per family for 3 sessions (accessible rate)
*full scholarships are available and will be granted upon request

Families in The Forest is an outdoor program designed for families who are intentionally seeking a protected childhood for their toddlers and preschool-age children! In addition to playing in nature, these sessions are about creating community and connection for the whole family! Each session takes place fully outdoors. Families will gather for a story, head out on a short group hike, and spend the majority of our time enjoying unstructured outdoor free-play (and adult conversations) together in The Secret Forest.

PROGRAM INFORMATION
Overview: These seasonal 2-hour outdoor sessions will take place entirely outdoors. This is a non-separating class and an adult is required to attend alongside their child(ren). Families need to arrive dressed for the weather.

Ages: toddlers and preschool-age children (~ 2 years old to kindergarten)

Fall Series 1: Schedule 9:30am- 11:30am
• Friday, September 11th
• Friday, September 25th
• Friday, October 9th

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
1) Registration Process: email your interest to [email protected]
2) Registration forms will be sent to you from Daily Connect
•If space is available in the series you requested you will receive an invoice
•If spaces are filled you will be added to the waitlist and contacted if an opening becomes available
3) Your registration is complete after your payment has been processed and you have received notice of acceptance

Registration Fee: siblings of any/all ages are welcome at no extra fee

• Option 1- $60 per family for 3 sessions (*standard rate, this rate reflects the cost of similar programs locally)
• Option 2- $50 per family for 3 sessions (median rate)
• Option 3- $40 per family for 3 sessions (accessible rate)
*full scholarships are available and will be granted upon request

memengwaa (butterfly) magic!

Recently while biking, a child said to me over and over again “I am scared. I CAN’T do this!“

I got down and I listened to them and I replied with “I hear that you are saying you are scared. I want you to know that it is OK to be scared. I am here to keep you safe. We are working together as a team. This is hard, you are learning, and it takes practice.”.

The child worked hard alongside me through some tears and frustration and then they started to trust me and the process. I said to them and they repeated “I CAN… I WILL… I AM!”. To them the change of expression on their face and their body language was incredible! And the even bigger change, was in their mind!

Things typically come a little easier for some children than others. But struggling isn’t necessarily negative, it reminds us we still learning and growing. And in those moments it’s good to remember how good it can feel to be on the receiving end of support and encouragement.

A little, Puppy Pick-Me-Up! Because we could all use some positive energy 🐾

Puppy socialization for future and athletes. Miigwech and Lost Key Sled Dogs for the opportunity to snuggle these sweet, new team members of yours! Elva, Roger and Graycie we can’t wait to cheer you all on as you mush down the trail together.

John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Emily Ford

“Ms. Meghan what will happen to the baby birds and eggs in the nests of trees [where the wildfires are burning]?“. I felt this question deep in my heart. The children are worried and concerned for our winged relatives. Our children are protectors, and they want to be helper and healer in this concerning situation.

We are currently experiencing “hazardous” air quality here at Secret Forest as smoke from neighboring wildfires has moved into our area. While the fires themselves remain a great distance away, our air quality has been significantly impacted. We are experiencing an AQI of more than 900 (a good AQI is less than 50). This is not sustainable.

We need to wake up! We are living in a climate crisis! I have been programming for nearly 14 years and while I can prepare children to dress comfortably in subzero temperatures or stay hydrated during heat advisories, I cannot safely protect their lungs during outdoor play on days like today. This is deeply unsettling to me.

While we wait for rain we hope for the safety of all of our relatives as more than 55,000 acres have already burned in southern Canada and Northern Minnesota we are grateful to those who are working hard to support our communities in countless ways during this time. Miigwech to our Canadian allies and for the tireless work of our Forest Service, firefighters, first responders, and Minnesota National Guard members. Take care and stay safe!

When it gets hot we go to Gichigami.

This lake truly is Superior! We are so fortunate to live in this place where the water is fresh and clear. This beautiful place is where these children get to grow up. Miigwech nibi (water) we feel refreshed!