Mission &
Philosophy
"Teach the children.
We don’t matter so much, but the children do. Show them daisies and the pale hepatica. Teach them the taste of sassafras and wintergreen. The lives of the blue sailors, mallow, sunbursts, the moccasin flowers. And the frisky ones—inkberry, lamb’s-quarters, blueberries. And the aromatic ones—rosemary, oregano. Give them peppermint to put in their pockets as they go to school. Give them the fields and the woods and the possibility of the world salvaged from the lords of profit. Stand them in the stream, head them upstream, rejoice as they learn to love this green space they live in, its sticks and leaves and then the silent, beautiful blossoms.
Attention is the beginning of devotion."
Mary Oliver, From – Upstream: Selected Essays
At Kettle and Crow Forest School, our mission is to inspire a love of learning through holistic, nature-based play and outdoor education. We aim to cultivate creativity, curiosity, and deep gratitude for the natural world while instilling an unwavering sense of community and belonging.
Mission
Our Philosophy
We celebrate the magic of early childhood, drawing from the traditions of European Forest Schools and Waldorf Education. Our philosophy emphasizes unstructured play, development of practical skills, and environmental stewardship, aiming to cultivate empathy and a profound connection with both nature and community. Our mixed-age preschool and kindergarten integrates early literacy and numeracy within a curriculum focused on nature study, seasonal rhythms, and fostering interpersonal relationships. Our approach encourages children to explore freely while developing mindfulness, observational skills, and a lifelong passion for problem-solving and confidence. This holistic education prepares children to advance gracefully to the next stages of their academic journey.
Core Values
Curiosity & Wonder: We encourage the children to question, explore, and discover the world around them. This value is central to fostering lifelong learners who are always eager to understand more about the world around them.
Sense of Place: Our curriculum emphasizes a deep connection to the local environment, and changing seasons, helping children develop a sense of place. This grounding helps them appreciate the uniqueness of their surroundings and understand their role in their community and ecosystem.
Skill Building & Risk: We integrate skill-building with guided risk-taking to enhance resilience and independence. Our program includes activities like tree climbing, whittling, tool use, and sewing, carefully supervised to ensure safety while promoting practical skills and confidence. This method teaches children respect for sharp tools, attention to detail, and decision-making, and instills a sense of responsibility while honing their dexterity and proprioception.
Unstructured Play: Unstructured play is vital for child development, providing opportunities for creativity and social interaction without set boundaries. This kind of play allows children to use their imagination freely, which is crucial for cognitive and social development.
Creativity & Interconnectedness: Creativity is fostered not just in arts, but in problem-solving and interaction. We teach children to see the interconnectedness of their world, linking lessons in nature to broader life lessons, which cultivates a holistic understanding of their environment and community.
Environmental Stewardship: We instill a strong sense of environmental stewardship, teaching children the importance of caring for the Earth through sustainable practices. This core value ensures that students grow to respect and protect nature, contributing positively to environmental conservation.
Community Engagement: We prioritize building a vibrant community within and around our school. Our approach encourages cooperation, mutual respect, and active participation, connecting students, families, and local entities to cultivate a supportive and interconnected environment.
“Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.”
— Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass.
