It's important to ensure that they have eaten enough, are dressed appropriately, and have applied sunscreen, including a hat.
We don't require your child to be school-ready but we do require them to be forest school ready. this looks very different than your traditional schools.
Fill out this Forest School Readiness Guide to see if your little one is ready!
If there's rain in the forecast, it's time for some fun puddle jumping! Woods Forest School is an all-outdoor program. We do not believe that rain is bad! As long as we dress appropriately, weather can be our best learning tool- mud, dirt, and water are vital learning resources.
Children do not get sick from the rain or cold. On the contrary, research tells us that children who spend more time outdoors, in all weather, are less likely to become sick!
It's important to make sure your child is dressed appropriately with layers, a rain jacket, and rain boots. Don't forget to bring extra clothes (and socks!) just in case. Our gear closet is stocked with everything your child might need in case of rain.
Site assessments will be done in heavy rain, trail closures do happen. Families will be notified
24-hours in advance for location changes.
In severe cases we will close the program
for the day.
Drop-off is at 9:00 am
We will meet as a group and wait for everyone to be dropped off before we begin our adventures. Please ensure your child is on-time; I will give about 15 minutes to wait for all students to arrive.
Pick-up is at 1:00 pm
Please arrive no later than 1:00 pm to pick-up your child from school. We offer aftercare until 2:30 pm for those who sign up. Space is limited.
At Woods Forest School, the safety of all children is our top priority; we take this very seriously. Our forest school program may include activities that are considered high risk. We monitor risk by following guidelines and procedures. These include site assessments, tool training, and proper equipment. Taking risks is an important part of learning. We provide a supportive environment for children to manage risk.
We have 33 species of snakes in California.; of those snakes, six of those are
venomous rattlesnakes.
We have one species in our area.
CROFAB
Thousand Oaks, CA
(805) 497-2727
Rattlesnakes are generally not aggressive but can strike when threatened or provoked. We teach the kids to be aware that snakes are here, not afraid. Fear can make an encounter with a snake very dangerous.
We teach about how to identify rattlesnakes, where they live, and how to hike cautiously. If we see a snake, we back off and give them room to retreat. They don't want to mess with you!
Please ensure your child has a bath after school, check them for ticks. Your child's risk of developing Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick is very low. To be safe, though, you'll want to remove the tick as soon as possible. The risk of infection rises 24–48 hours after the tick attaches to the skin. The tick can be sent to a lab for testing.
We do have wildlife in our area. Wildlife includes deer, bobcats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums, gray foxes, and mountain lions.
Protocal for wild animal sightings is to back away and give space. Tips if you encounter these animals while hiking with your children:
Mountain lions
Make yourself as large as a possible by standing tall and holding out your arms. Pick up children to appear larger. Do not run or make any sudden moves.
Coyote Encounters
Keep a safe distance. Back away slowly.
Keep small children and pets close and in boundaries.
Make loud noise—yell, clap, blow a whistle.
Make yourself look bigger (e.g. wave your arms)
Let the coyote leave the immediate area on its own.
Contact the Rangers who are on site
Ensuring your child has the appropriate gear is the best way to prepare them for their day.
*You only need to pack gloves if they are for the walk-in/ out. Children cannot function in play with gloves on so they get soaked or dirty.
* You only need one warm clothing change in the backpack. The children who get wet with water play or rain will be warm if dressed above, even when wet! We will not change them multiple times a day and especially when cold as that is when they get chilled and have a hard time warming up again. They may come to you at pick up wet and warm, so be prepared to change them before getting in car.
*Always pack extra socks
The Forest School Association has wonderful information on what a forest school looks like, and information you may need to understand the benefits of enrolling your child. Watch their video and take a look at their website for more information here.
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