Nature Connection for Tiny Explorers & Caregivers
Does your little one love exploring but isn’t ready for preschool?
Are you craving connection with other parents while supporting your child’s natural development?
Forest Friends Playgroup might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.
This gentle weekly gathering brings together babies, toddlers, and their caregivers for morning adventures in the woods. It’s designed specifically for families who want to nurture121` your child’s wonder and your own sense of community.
The Spring Session of Forest Friends with Ray Lightheart begins April 25th.
Families will explore the application of two caregiving philosophies in a nature based setting over the course of 6 weeks.
- Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach (part of the RIE® method) a philosophy for caregiving centered on respect, trust, and observation, viewing children as competent individuals, not objects, to foster authentic, secure, and independent children.
- Waldorf, a child-centered philosophy aiming to develop intellectually, artistically, and practically skilled individuals by nurturing the whole child (head, heart, and hands).
The cost of the 6 week sessions is $225. Sliding scale and payment plans are available and our hope is that anyone interested in attending will reach out if finances feel like a barrier!
What to Expect
Arrival & Opening Circle
We begin with simple songs, movement games, and a welcoming rhythm that helps ground everyone for the morning ahead. Perfect for settling nervous energy and getting comfortable in our space.
Free Exploration Time
This is where magic happens.
Children are invited to:
- Wander the trails
- Splash in puddles
- Build with sticks and stones
- Observe birds, bugs, and woodland creatures
- Dig, climb, balance, and explore
- Ray will be present to mentor children and adults, offering guidance when helpful while respecting each family’s unique pace and style.
Snack & Closing Circle
We’ll gather again for stories, songs, and closure before heading home.
Why This Approach?
For Children
- Developmentally appropriate freedom within safe boundaries
Multi-sensory engagement with the natural world
Socialization without caregiver separation
Support for emerging independence alongside secure attachment
For Caregivers
- Relationship building with other families
- Mentorship in nature-based early childhood practices
- Models for supporting self-directed play
- Personal reconnection with nature and playfulness
