Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
Let the children play, and let them play in the richest classroom of all!
Our early childhood program is suspended, but you can find Jessica, our founder, and Dana, one of our past teachers, at the Charlottesville Waldorf School as teachers in their early childhood program and gardening program, respectively.
You can also continue to connect with Jessica through our consultation services.
We have been proud to partner with Ivy Creek Foundation, Albemarle County Parks & Recreation,
and Charlottesville Parks & Recreation.
At Blue Ridge Forest School, we support the young child's full developmental needs: physical, cognitive, social-emotional, and nature-connection. According to best practices in early childhood education, children need abundant and regular opportunities to move freely outdoors, fill their senses, study natural laws, experiment using open-ended materials, problem-solve, take initiative, collaborate, use their imagination, and develop social skills through child-led play and exploration. Being a part of a consistent community of mixed-aged children in an outdoor setting, facilitated by responsive, highly-qualified adult guides, allows for this whole-child development to occur at this critical period in a person's life. The results are empowered, active learners, rather than passive consumers of information. The results are relaxed and joyful children that take care of each other and the world around them.
Children with these nature-rich, playful, child-centered experiences learn to manage risks, have better critical-thinking skills, are more relaxed, have better focus, better social skills, and have healthier, more neurologically-integrated bodies (visit the "Resources" section for links to this research).
Becoming connected to a natural place during childhood--to intimately experience it change week by week, season by season--will provide gifts of skill, wisdom, and a profound sense connection and wonder that will last a lifetime. These consistent, quality outdoor experiences are often difficult to provide within the framework of our modern lifestyle. It is such a privilege to be able to help Charlottesville's families meet this need!