Fern Gully Forest School

The Magic of Stone Soup & Little Hands at Work ✨🥣

One of our favorite forest preschool traditions is making Stone Soup together.

As children gather vegetables, wash, peel, chop, stir, and share, they are doing so much more than making a delicious and nutritous meal. They are strengthening fine motor skills, building confidence, practicing cooperation, and experiencing the joy of contributing to their community.

Each child brings something special to the pot, learning that when we work together, we create something greater than we could alone.

Fine motor activities are woven throughout our days in the forest. Whether children are threading beads, learning simple stitching, using scissors for nature-inspired art, or carefully preparing food, they are strengthening the small muscles in their hands that support writing, self-care skills, creativity, and independence.

These hands-on experiences also cultivate concentration, patience, problem-solving, and a sense of accomplishment. Best of all, they happen in a meaningful context surrounded by birdsong, fresh air, and the wonder of the natural world.

At Fern Gully Forest School, we believe learning happens through doing, creating, caring, and connecting.

🌿 Small hands, meaningful work, lifelong skills.

Enrollment is ongoing for the 26/27 school year until we're full.

Message us to schedule a tour and see the magic for yourself.

One of our favorite spring crafts: framing flowers! All it takes is cardboard, scissors, clear tape, creativity and a sense of adventure.

This time we made hummingbirds and bracelets while learning about the flowers and it sparked all kinds of imaginative play 🥰🙌🌹

This week the kids enjoyed art at the creek with pastels and forest treasures, finding wild edibles and making a cafe, picnics in the Cedar Grove, playing team games, reading and nature journaling, making plans for the farm stand and so much more! 🙌☀️💐🌲

Now enrolling for the 2026/27 School Year!

🪺Preschool through K programs are almost full, depending on the days you want. All of our programs have small class sizes, are all outdoors with plenty of fresh air, art, nature exploration and a supportive environment. Limited availability.

🐣Elementary ages: NatureWise Enrichment Classes for next school year are still on the Early Bird Special until June!

🦉Whooo knew? The afterschool program is expanding and we can pick up from ORLA!!

🥳Message us now for more info and to schedule a tour.

We hear that the Oly School District is cutting art programs next year!

In response we are opening our doors and forest trails even more to afterschool kids and elementary students to get their much needed ART and NATURE enrichment! 🙌🎨 🌿

💫Message us today to find out more and register now for the 26/27 school year!

www.communitynature.org/programs