Please reach us at contact@wildroots.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
Child-led play refers to play in which children have the freedom to choose their own materials and the direction of their play, without adults controlling the experience. Peter Gray has defined true play as play that is self-directed and self-chosen, intrinsically motivating and process-based, guided by rules that come from within the child(ren) rather than adults, and is creative and often imaginative (Play Makes Us Human). The role of the parent/adult facilitator is most often to observe and avoid interference. However, the adult is also responsible for setting and upholding boundaries around safety and the appropriate use of materials. This balance is an art, because we often have to efficiently weigh the pros and cons of stepping in at any given moment. When emotional or physical safety within the group is a concern, or materials are being used destructively, adults should step in and model for and guide children in how best to proceed. Boundaries set by adults help children to feel safe to explore freely. Boundaries are crucial in a group context for maintaining the safety of all children and the space.
We believe that every child develops at their own pace. However, our programs and activities are geared towards the early childhood years, and are most appropriate for children who are infants through approximately age 8. Some of our special programs are geared towards older children, in the 5-10 age range. We welcome homeschooling families as well as traditionally schooling families, and are an inclusive setting for ALL children and families.
No, we do not offer drop-off programming at this time. A caregiver must be present and responsible for their child(ren) during all programs.
In order to register for a program, click the "registration" link located under the program you are looking to join. It will take you to a Google form. We ask that payments be made through our website rather than cash, unless you need to make a different arrangement (please reach out!).
We value community and our mission comes to life when we collaborate, so please let us know if you have any skills or hobbies that can help us grow!
$10/week for a one-child family; siblings over 6 months of age are each an additional $5/week.
As a non-profit organization operated by volunteers, we are able to further our mission through the support of generous donations from individuals and businesses. We aim to keep our programming as financially accessible as possible. The program fee goes towards our insurance, toilet rental, materials, and other overhead operating costs so that we can continue to offer nature play to the community.
Our program is becoming popular and is often full, especially in the spring and summer. Your family's payment for each term reserves your spot in the program, even on the weeks you are unable to attend. We are no longer offering refunds for individual missed sessions. If we need to cancel due to weather, illness, etc., we will offer refunds for that session only in the event that we cannot schedule a make-up date.
We love and welcome the experiences rain brings for us. We operate in all-weather (unless hazardous) and ask that you and your child come dressed and ready to be outside, rain or shine. If you have the right type of gear and layers, play will last longer and remain fun.
We recommend always dressing in play clothes, the kind you know are going to get messy. On rainy or even wet days, having rain boots and rain suits/pants and a jacket are a must. It's better to come with too many clothes and have to take some off than not have enough. When it comes to colder days, layers are essential. The Outdoor School Shop provides a guide for how best to layer, as well as a gear checklist for different climates and weather conditions. We have a discount code for 15% off full-priced items. Please reach out to obtain the code.