08/23/2026
We have an opening in our Rooted & Ready yurt, but those on our wait list are too young. If this is something that speaks to you and your child was born between Sept-Dec 2021, please email [email protected].
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Over the last few years we’ve slid a bit into the trap of societal pressures (even though we know better) and we’d like to regain our footing, standing firm and true to the values of our program backed by loads of evidence-based research. We’re re-branding our program and calling it “Rooted & Ready.”
Rooted & Ready is a specialized pre-kindergarten program designed to honor the natural timeline of child development. It is built upon research that highlights the profound benefits of an additional year of play and holistic growth before formal schooling. We are dedicated to pushing back against the societal trend that has increasingly prioritized early academics, effectively "pushing the play out" of traditional kindergarten. We replace this with an approach that truly prepares a child for lifelong learning and well-being.
Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that social, emotional, and physical growth are the true foundations for academic success. We are a forest school and proudly play-based, recognizing that purposeful play is the most effective form of learning for young children. Our program is characterized by:
Less Structure, More Freedom: We offer significantly less structure than a typical kindergarten class, allowing children the time and space to direct their own learning.
Immersive Outdoor Play: Following the forest school model, we prioritize more outside play, fostering a deep connection with nature, resilience, and gross motor development.
Hands-On Learning: Every concept, from literacy to mathematics, is explored through hands-on, experiential learning that engages all the senses.
Who We Serve
"Rooted & Ready" is ideally suited for children who:
Missed the standard age cutoff for their public kindergarten enrollment.
Are of age for kindergarten this year, but whose parents have made the intentional decision to wait an additional year for public school enrollment (e.g., enrolling in public kindergarten in Fall 2027). This decision is often because they are still so young (those summer babies), because developmentally they could use a stronger foundation to build essential soft skills (self-regulation, sharing, taking turns, active listening, following instructions, empathy, managing emotions, and independence in tasks) or because they recognize that their child is a more active learner who they don’t want behind a desk or on a screen.
Families who are deciding to homeschool beyond kindergarten, but want their children to have the social and emotional foundation of a play-based program and the physical foundation that the forest school provides.
While our core focus is on holistic development, our indoor and outdoor environments are intentionally designed to spark curiosity across all domains. Learning "centers" include:
An Art Center for creative expression and fine motor skill development
A Library Nook to foster a love of literacy and quiet reflection
Circle Time on the Rug for community building and social-emotional learning
A Play Kitchen for imaginative role-play, negotiation, and cooperation
An Alphabet Center for hands-on, play-based introduction to letters and sounds
A Math Center for exploring early numeracy, spatial reasoning, and patterns through tangible objects
https://ed.stanford.edu/news/stanford-gse-research-finds-strong-evidence-mental-health-benefits-delaying-kindergarten
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2140009/
https://ifstudies.org/blog/should-boys-start-kindergarten-one-year-later-than-girls
Nationwide, 70% of high school valedictorians now are female. Women now outnumber men at four-year colleges in the United States by 59 to 41; and women are now substantially more likely than their brothers to graduate from a four-year-college. We all applaud the rise of girls in school and at univer...
