The Forest Gnomes
A Classroom With No Walls.
Since 2009, The Forest Gnomes waldkindergarten program has taken place in the woods on the 27 acres of conservation land the Farm calls home. This half-day program, from September to May, takes place in a classroom without walls, changing with the seasons. Our Forest Gnomes spend 95% of their day outside in all weather. As we like to say on the Farm – there’s no such thing as ‘bad weather’, just ‘bad gear’!
Program Details
- Ages 3-5. Children must be fully potty trained.
- Monday – Thursday, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
- Currently registering for September 2025 – May 2026.
- Anywhere from 2-4 days per week.
- 2 days: $5865/year
- 3 days: $8670/year
- 4 days: $11,220/year
- Looking for a Friday activity? Sign up for Friday Farmers and spend your whole week at the Farm!
- Scholarships are available- reach out to us.
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Waldkindergarten? Forest kindergarten? Nature Preschool?
Waldkindergarten originated in Germany as outdoor preschools, where children fostered an authentic connection with the natural world, and the outdoors served as their classroom.
Forest Gnomes is inspired by waldkindergarten and the forest kindergartens of Europe and is a child-led, play-based program. Our program was originally founded in 2009 and inspired by Richard Louv’s “The Last Child in the Woods,” as well as the national children in nature movement.
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Nature preschools emerged as part of the environmental education movement, primarily in nature centers throughout North America. The curriculum of these preschools is nature-based and although children spend some time outside, they also spend a great deal of the day indoors. Forest Kindergartens originated in Europe and children spend 90% of the program outside, regardless of weather. Forest Kindergartens emphasize unstructured free-play and risky play rather than a set curriculum. Teachers adopt the role of facilitator and give children the freedom and space to create an environment for imaginative free play. Forest Gnomes is a forest kindergarten!
A Typical Day in the Woods
The day starts at 8:30am...
Morning Circle
After our Gnomes say their goodbyes to their Grown-ups at our Hug and Kiss Post, we gather for a morning circle where we take time to greet each other, say hello to Mother Earth with our morning song, and take a mindful moment to notice the many sounds near and far on the farm.
Heading to Gnome Woods
When our circle has concluded we head to the stream for exploration and play, and then we head out to the Gnomes Woods!
Gnomes walk, run, jump, dance, and crawl at their own pace until they reach the back pack shelters in the Gnomes Home. We then meet briefly to discuss the plan for the day.
Cooking Projects and Trail Snacks
Gnomes will help gather the tinder and prepare the fire. The Gnomes are offered the opportunity to help with the cooking project, which could include cutting, adding in ingredients, and mixing ingredients together. Some of our cooking projects have included: hot cinnamon apples, roasted delicata squash, popcorn, and stick bread.
On non-campfire cooking days, we will take a much longer hike and prepare our trail snack while out on the trail! Teachers float around the space to observe and assist if needed (problem-solving, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, or if a Gnome needs to “tree pee”).
They also work with the Gnomes on taking turns to prepare the trail snack (cutting the apples and cheese along with setting out the water bottles).
Lessons and Play
When snack time has concluded, the Gnomes play, climb trees, create imaginative games and participate in nature based activities of choice (nature art, building fairy homes, observing bugs, etc…). Teachers take time to observe Gnomes and their interests. From these observations, the teachers create small lessons that further the Gnomes’ knowledge. Gnomes may choose to participate in a lesson or continue with their play.
Observation and lesson example: Gnomes are noticings frogs near the pond and are showing an interest in learning about frogs. The teachers will create observation lessons to help Gnomes learn about the frogs’ habitats, what they eat, and their life cycle.
Hot Snack and Clean Up
- **You may have noticed that we did not specify times within our day, besides drop-off and pick-up. This is because our daily rhythm is flexible and adapts to the interests and needs of the group dynamic on that given day. We strive to provide our Gnomes with the space and time they need to explore, play, and form connections with each other and the natural world.
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