Suncatcher Forest School

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Suncatcher Forest School

Licensed Forest School for kids from 30 mos and up on Eastside

09/16/2026

The Fear of Being Behind
This is one of my fears, and I believe I’m not the only one: if we stop pushing, our children might fall behind.
But nature reminds us that growth cannot be rushed.
We don’t pull on a plant to make it taller. We don’t expect tomatoes to ripen before their time. We give them good soil, water, sunlight, and space — and trust the process.
Why should childhood be different?
Children grow naturally too. Yet we often try to speed up their development because we are afraid they will be “late.”
But preschool years have their own season. This is the time for movement, imagination, play, relationships, curiosity, and social-emotional growth.
These aren't things to squeeze in around academics. They are the roots that future learning grows from.
At Suncatcher, we believe in creating the right environment, providing support and opportunities, and giving children time to grow.
Nature doesn't rush. Neither should childhood.

09/14/2026

The first week of school is a time for new beginnings, connection, and helping every child feel welcome, comfortable, and secure.

Children experience the transition in different ways. Some eagerly explore the forest, while others take time to observe, stay close to a teacher, and learn the new routines. As they discover favorite places to play, meet new friends, reconnect with old ones, and learn where everything belongs, Suncatcher begins to feel like their place.

Teachers spend the week observing, listening, building relationships, and learning about each child’s personality, interests, strengths, and needs. We are energized by these first experiences and excited for the ideas, projects, and adventures ahead.

With warm days, abundant seasonal produce, and fall just around the corner, it is a wonderful season of transition, discovery, and new beginnings at Suncatcher!

ChildLedLearning BuildingCommunity LearningThroughPlay SuncatcherSchool FallAdventuresl

08/18/2026

School readiness worries often begin long before school is even on the horizon—and I completely understand why. The question: “How can I prepare my child for school”feels urgent and important.

School readiness is not about knowing the school curriculum before school even begins. In fact, being bored because a child already knows everything the teacher is introducing is probably not the best start to a long educational journey.

Before school, children need play, movement, independence, social skills, and confidence.

They need to climb, run, build, create, make friends, argue about whose stick is better, resolve conflicts, get frustrated, try again, ask for help, and sometimes discover that they can do things on their own.

This is why I strongly believe in a play-based, outdoor environment in the early years.

Childhood doesn’t need to become school in order to prepare children for school. LearningThroughPlay ParentingTips EarlyChildhoodEducation RaisingChildren ChildhoodMatters PlayIsLearning MontessoriInspired NaturePlay HealthyDevelopment ParentingSupport

07/29/2026

Isn’t it dangerous?” is one of the most common questions families ask about outdoor preschool.

In reality, one of the greatest benefits of outdoor education is that children learn to assess risks instead of simply avoiding them.

The preschool years are the ideal time to develop this skill. Young children are still moving at a pace where caring adults can stay close, guide them, and help them evaluate challenges before they become faster, stronger, and more independent.

At Suncatcher Forest School, teachers are trained to assess risks, remove hazards—not challenges—and support children in making thoughtful decisions. Children are trusted to explore independently while knowing an adult is always nearby to offer guidance when needed.

Learning to evaluate risk is one of the most important life skills. As adults, the greatest risks we face are rarely physical—they’re the choices we make about our careers, relationships, finances, health, and values. Children who learn to pause, think, assess, and make responsible decisions are developing skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. So, is the outdoors dangerous? No—it is risky.

07/17/2026

Why do we spend so much time in the garden?

Because gardening grows more than vegetables. It teaches biology, patience, responsibility, and compassion as children care for living plants from seed to harvest.

And the greatest reward? Watching children proudly eat what they grew themselves! We’re especially excited to see even our picky eaters picking sweet peas straight from the vine and discovering how sweet, juicy, and delicious they are.

Nature really is the best teacher.

Issaquah PlayBasedLearning

07/13/2026

Last week’s Forest Cooking Camp was a wonderful reminder that some of the best learning happens around a campfire.

Throughout the week, our campers made sushi, spring rolls, scrambled eggs with foraged greens, Three Sisters salad, campfire salmon, Colombian tamales, tacos, homemade ice cream, edible cookie dough, and more. We explored local produce, learned about food traditions from different cultures, and discovered that cooking outdoors is both fun and rewarding.

A huge thank you to our amazing families, friends, and community members who shared recipes, ingredients, and traditions with us. Your support helped make this camp truly special.

Most of all, thank you to our incredible campers. Their curiosity, creativity, kindness, and willingness to try new things made this an unforgettable week.

We’re already collecting new outdoor cooking ideas for future camps, so if your family has a favorite recipe or cultural dish to share, we’d love to hear from you!

CookingCamp OutdoorCooking KidsWhoCook HandsOnLearning PlayBasedLearning NatureEducation Issaquah PacificNorthwest SummerCamp LearningThroughNature CommunityMatters

06/26/2026

"I am bored! .... "It's boring!"
Many adults see boredom as something that needs to be fixed right away. We offer activities, screens, lessons, and constant entertainment.
But boredom isn't a problem—it's often the beginning of creativity.
When children have space and time, they invent games, create stories, solve problems, and discover their own interests. New ideas need a little quietness to grow.
And when children say they're bored, they don't always need more stimulation. Sometimes they simply need encouragement:
"I'm excited to see what you'll come up with next."
At Forest School, we see this every day. A child who doesn't know what to do next often ends up building a fort, creating a nature restaurant, climbing a tree, following a trail of insects, or inventing an entirely new game. Outdoors, there is always something amazing waiting to be discovered.
Boredom is not a disease we need to treat. It is a moment of stillness that deserves our trust.
Sometimes the best thing we can give children is the freedom—and confidence—to figure out what comes next.

06/24/2026

While soccer fans around the world are following the excitement of the FIFA World Cup, our campers at Suncatcher Forest School are creating their own World Cup memories in the forest!
This week at World Cup in the Forest Camp, children are staying active with a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, frisbee, team challenges, and outdoor games—all surrounded by nature.
We're especially excited that this year's camp is being led in partnership with professional sports coaches, giving campers the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence, practice teamwork, and experience the joy of sports in a fun and supportive environment.
There is something special about combining the energy of sports with the freedom of the outdoors. Watching the World Cup is exciting—but playing, learning, and growing with friends in the forest is even better!

06/20/2026

And just like that, another school year is over. We had a graduation party for our group, and now we are ready for the summer camp season.
It was a wonderful and busy year. We met so many amazing people and created so many bright memories. We already miss Kori Barton Mankowski and wish her good luck in her next chapter.
Hooray, Suncatcher graduates, we hope you will find time to visit us over the year.

05/22/2026

Children from highly structured programs are often excellent at following instructions and completing tasks. But when there is no assigned activity, many seem lost.

Some become chaotic or restless — not because they are “bad,” but because they have had fewer chances to practice independence, creativity, and self-direction.

Free play is not “doing nothing.” It helps children learn how to:• make decisions• solve problems• manage boredom• negotiate with others• follow their curiosity

At forest school, I often see children move from constantly asking “What should I do?” to creating complex games, stories, and imaginary worlds on their own.

That is real learning.

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2018/the-importance-of-play

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/3/e20182058

Research supports the importance of unstructured play for healthy brain development, creativity, emotional resilience, and executive functioning.

Children do not only need instructions.They need space to become authors of their own lives.

Address

18701 Se 60th Street
Issaquah, WA
98027

Telephone

+14259745076

Website

http://Suncatcherwa.com/

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