AFK Connects is all about facilitating connections - between families and our educators, between neighbors interested in getting their children playing outside together more, between parents and developmental experts, between our Faculty and other school teachers, and more. Read more below about our affordable and free community programs, partnerships, and our advocacy goals below.
Parents at the CPR-T workshop debriefing after practicing the technique with their child.
Caregiver Education
Since our founding in 2018 we have brought parents and caregivers together to connect with each other and experts in our community while they learn new skills and ideas about children, nature, or themselves. Past highlights include a Forest Therapy workshop withTina Tinsley; a Child Parent Relationship training (CPR-T)workshop, led by local play therapist Jessica Sigur, LPC of In Play Family Counseling and Resource Center, a Circle of Security Parenting workshop about developing secure attachments, and an online book club. These programs are offered free or at low cost to the community.
educational training
At Athens Forest Kindergarten, we are proud to offer a variety of training opportunities that not only benefit our students but also contributes to the development of the wider education community. Firstly, we have established a partnership with the University of Georgia to provide practicum opportunities for Education students. Through this collaboration, students are placed at AFK, where they gain hands-on experience and immerse themselves in our unique educational approach. We also offer paid internships and fellowships for those seeking long-term training opportunities. These programs provide experienced educators with a deeper understanding of our forest kindergarten philosophy, pedagogy, and curriculum. Additionally, we facilitate structured opportunities for other university students to engage in meaningful field experiences at our preschool. Lastly, when caregivers of our enrolled students join us as Forest-Helpers, we all benefit from the co-learning that takes place! These caregivers work alongside their child’s teachers which strengthens our partnership with families and brings a richness to our whole preschool community. Find out more here!
AFK Playgroup
Over the years we’ve run AFK Playgroup and AFK Forest Friday at a variety of rotating and regular spots around Athens. In this drop-in format we inspire nature play, connect families with one another, and promote exploration of the natural spaces in our community. This is also a great chance to speak with our Educator for tips about facilitating nature play, age appropriate risk-taking, and resilience at home. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to hear about 2023-2024 AFK Playgroup options!
Children at AFK Playgroup have the space and the community to work on their own ideas that require planning, teamwork, and problem-solving, like this fort.
Former AFK Board President, Dr. Shara Cherniak at an event for families.
Research and Advocacy
We aim to add to the growing body of research that supports immersive nature-based experiences as a fundamental component of early childhood education. In 2019 our faculty led a workshop at the Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia conference. In 2020 we developed lesson plans to share with K-12 teachers at the SciREN Networking Event. Since the pandemic, we have also worked with Green Schoolyards America to develop resources for their National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative. With increased funding and the growth of AFK Connects, we hope to contribute programs, research, and assessment to our local and state education policymakers and decision-makers.