Forest Kindergarten and Early Elementary

In Fall 2021, Manzanita launched our Forest Kindergarten and Early Elementary program (for grades 1 and 2), the cohort known as Seeds. All three years offer deep, immersive learning experiences in nature, on a daily basis.

Forest Kindergarten takes place entirely outdoors. (As the saying goes, “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing!”) The Forest Kindergarten model is based on decades of research into the optimal contexts for a young child to develop confidence, curiosity, imagination, a love of the earth, and interpersonal competence. Our program is directly aligned with our award-winning and fully-accredited nature immersion programs for the upper grades. Teachers are trained and certified for this specific methodology. The Forest Kindergarten movement has deep roots in Europe, where it is an established educational model. More and more educators worldwide have come to understand the importance of early nature immersion, self-directed play, and exploratory inquiry in the healthy development of young people, and to create the strongest foundation for academic success and overall well-being later in life. We are thrilled to offer this remarkable program on our 21-acre campus. You can learn more about our Forest Kindergarten program by reading the “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQS) page here.

Our 1st and 2nd grades combine daily nature immersion with academic study. Students learn in both indoor and outdoor spaces each day through embodied, experiential academics in a nurturing environment. To learn more about these programs, to join an orientation meeting, or to apply for a spot at our school, please contact our Director of Admissions, Eva Sanchez-Calixtro.

Please click here for Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade Curricular Overview