Alaska Forest School is a year-round program based in Anchorage, Alaska with a mission to connect young children to nature. Children attend with a caregiver with the option of joining once or twice per week. The program’s place-based philosophy helps children learn about Alaska and establish a relationship with the land where they live. Students learn to be good stewards of nature by forging a love for the forest through exploration. Children gain problem solving skills, confidence, resilience, group skills, and responsibility in this program held 100% outside.
Natural Start chatted with Alaska Forest School’s Director, Lia Keller, to learn more about the organization’s programs.
Some people may be surprised to hear that you operate a 100% outdoor preschool program in the coldest state in the US. Can you share what a typical day looks like, particularly in colder temperatures? What types of play and learning opportunities does colder weather provide?
A typical exploration in the single digits starts with us meeting at “the rock.” I have hand warmers and toe warmers to hand out if necessary, but I also remind the children that the best way to stay warm is to move. The children climb up and slide down the rock as we all gather. Then, I pull an ice-fishing sled full of our gear to the area the children select as our “base camp.”
On colder days, we stay moving as much as possible. This often looks like tracking animals, tarp sledding, using ropes to “rescue” each other or shovels to dig snow caves. We don’t play any organized group games, but instead they develop organically—for example, we might follow each other on obstacle courses, pretend to be lynx and hares in a tag-like predator-prey game, or pretend to be mushrooms as I “hunt” for them in an adapted game of hide and seek.
During colder months, we play with shovels, large scoops, mallets, and buckets in place of tools that require dexterity, so children can keep their mittens on. They love when I bring spray bottles filled with water and washable paint to color the snow or frozen ice shapes for building.
When it is cold, the trails are quieter, you hear the birds more clearly, and animals “pop” against a backdrop of white snow. We can find the tracks of snowshoe hares, squirrels, moose, and voles. Recently, we encountered a mother moose and her calf on the trail. We gathered together to move off trail and reviewed our safety plan. Making observations about the calf and its mother helped keep everyone calm. Later that day, I observed the children using sticks to mimic the moose antlers and making “moose food” with fallen branches. I love how the “play” helps them explore what they experience.
As a program that operates outdoors in cold temps, safety is of the utmost importance. What are some ways that you prepare parents, teachers, and children for play in cold weather?
Alaska has a large number of military and oil working families, so we are always getting new-to-Alaska families. Before their first session, I try to answer as many questions about dressing for cold weather as possible. I provide guidance on layering, starting with clothing that they already have in their closet. Fleece pajamas are great over thin thermal layers. Wool socks can be a great layer inside a mitten as well. If they have money to spend, I suggest using it on boots. I find that you can layer under a Costco coat and snow pants to stay warm, but it is hard to keep toes warm in lower price point boots.
The cold weather also provides experiences to teach about cold weather safety. We talk a lot about not staying still when it is cold, using insulation if you have to be on the ground, and covering up your skin when it is windy. My main safety concern as it relates to cold weather is the face. It is easy to warm up the rest of the body by moving, but the skin can easily get chapped and “nipped.” I encourage neck gaiters that can be pulled up over the nose, but a lot of children dislike breathing through the fabric. We talk about being musk ox who turn their back to the wind, or huddling together like penguins if the wind is blowing.
Our area has a pond, so we discuss safety when walking on frozen lakes and what to do if you hear it cracking (lay down and slide like a penguin on your belly). We often tie this into how animals survive Alaskan winters and how we don’t want to be wood frogs (they turn into frog-cicles)!
We only close if the local school district closes and that has only ever happened due to road conditions. My coldest day was -25° and we had two families that stayed just over an hour. We were on the move the entire time and the children were exhausted! As parents join their children during our program, they can leave when needed. Often, the parents go and sit in the car to warm up and the child keeps exploring!
We often hear from educators interested in starting a program. What guidance has been helpful to you as a program provider? Do you have any advice for others interested in starting a nature-based program?
I initially started a playgroup that met weekly at playgrounds around town. As I realized there was a need for similar programs, I tested my forest school program for a year as a free program. I quickly found that families found benefit and moved to my current model where families pay to attend once or twice per week.
This slow-start method allowed me to make sure there was interest in my program and provided two years to make connections with families interested in an outdoor program. It also allowed me to test out ideas, routines, and gear before committing to a new business. I used that first free year to read books about starting nature schools, pour through established school’s websites, and complete training. I completed courses to be a Certified Alaska Master Naturalist, and attended webinars on outdoor education and first aid.
I have had many people interested in starting a forest school or outdoor program visit our group. Typically, they join our time in the woods and then I spend time answering questions. I feel like there needs to be more outdoor school options, and I am happy to help!
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