When does application and enrollment information come out each year?

Do you have part time enrollment options?

What is the difference between Athens Forest Kindergarten and your other community offerings?

We don’t have a set schedule for this because we’ve grown each year of our program and that takes a lot of creative flexibility! We typically begin enrolling for the upcoming school year in February, with priority enrollment for currently enrolled students, and will continue with rolling admissions until the class is filled. We do not operate on a strict first-come, first-served basis, but getting your child’s application in early will increase your chances of being invited to enroll!

We offer both two day and four day a week enrollment options. We find families enjoy the ability to choose the option which best suits their needs, whether that be part time or full time Forest Kindergarten!

Our forest kindergarten is a preschool program for children aged 3.5-6, who enroll in a yearlong drop-off program. We are outdoors in all weather and our curriculum is guided by the children’s interests. It’s a tuition-based cooperative program where families become part of the school community by committing to attend for the full length of the school year and work in a role either behind the scenes or with children to support the program.

We have both recurring and one-time programs for the wider community. These are typically geared toward the full range of early childhood (ages 0-8) and their caregivers. AFK Connects programs are usually offered at lower cost. Offerings from AFK Connects include playgroups, parent education workshops, and more.

Will my child learn wilderness skills in your program(s)?

In a sense, being comfortable in nature is a skill of its own! However, we will not regularly, or explicitly teach wilderness skills. Our programs prioritize skills best developed by relatively unstructured play experiences--social and emotional skills, risk-assessment abilities, and a mindful presence with oneself and the earth. Athens is lucky to have a vibrant nature education scene and we encourage AFK families to explore the other programs available in our community to further deepen their nature skills and relationships.

Do the children really play outside in all weather?!

Yes! Our forest kindergarteners will be outside except in cases of dangerous weather extremes. Parents can promote a positive and resilient attitude by expressing excitement and curiosity about what rain, cold, or heat might change about our beloved forest time.

Our other programs, like playgroups, are sometimes cancelled due to the weather. We understand that families have not always invested in the outdoor gear necessary to make the experience safe and comfortable.  

We follow a loose rhythm that prioritizes the children's needs over the clock. Generally, at drop off in the meadow next to the forest we have one Educator greeting children. The second Educator offers a game or facilitates open exploration in a field nearby. We open with a brief circle time that reinforce values of compassion toward self, others, and the Earth. We typically spend the first portion of our time together in free play. We share snack and story time on the forest floor. We sometimes check out a second forest site, offer a specific invitation, take a hike, or work in our garden before having lunch. Lunch and our closing circle invite reflection and integration. We frequently offer yoga, storytelling or guided mindfulness activities in our circle. 

Cooperative preschools have an American origin story, having been formed by a group of women in Chicago in 1916. They organized a collective childcare program in order to give themselves time to volunteer, to create meaningful social experiences for their children, and to provide parent education. In that same spirit, 102 year later, our school was formed with many of the same goals - to create opportunities for parent involvement and parent education in high-quality, play-based early childhood programs.

At AFK, our cooperative structure means that parents work directly in our programs or behind the scenes in exchange for partial tuition to the Forest Kindergarten program. Families self-select the tuition/time balance that best fit their available resources in a given year. We also offer an inspiring selection of workshops and classes related to parenting, child development, the natural world and more. These events are offered at a low cost to the public. Enrolled families and other community members attend AFK Connects events together to build connections.