Welcome!
We are so excited you’ve chosen this adventure!
Please read this Trail Guide carefully as it has important information for a successful year: what to wear, what kind of gear is best, our safety procedures, all the dates for the year, and some information on how we learn together outside.
Ratios
The ratio of teacher to children is 1:5.  

Schedule

September Session
Week of September 7 - September 30	
Fall Session
Week of October 5 - December 10
No school November 11	
Winter Session
Week of December 13 - March 4
Winter Break: weeks of December 20 and December 27	
Spring Session
Week of  March 8 - May 20
Spring Break: week of March 21	
Late Spring Session
Week of May 24 – week of June 17	
Fee Payment & Registration
The September Session (4 weeks) is paid for upon registration. For all other sessions, an invoice will be issued and must be paid in full before the first day of classes for that session.  Session typically run 10 weeks.  To re-register, send us an email indicating your intentions. If you plan on missing a session but want to return for the next one, your name will be added to the waiting list.
Where We Meet
All classes meet at the entrance to McHugh Bluff on 3rd Avenue and 6th Street NW.
		Indoor Classroom Space
When the weather dictates and we need to be indoors, Upstream Forest School’s indoor space is 661 3rd Avenue NW.
“The Cabin” is a shared classroom and living space owned by Lea Komaromi.	

What to Expect in Forest School

Forest School is a unique place to play and explore the world. It also is an opportunity to have uninterrupted, unadulterated play time. This means that there are times during each day when the children are free to explore their own interests, ideas, curiosities and questions. As teachers, we try to observe and support without interfering. We have ‘levels of intervention’ that help us decide when to engage and interrupt the play, and when it’s best to keep observing. Our first step is asking “Were we invited?” If not, we wait. Unless the children are in danger, emotionally or physically, we usually wait until there is a real need to interrupt their play.
Because of this philosophy, we encourage the children to have their secret places and personal nooks in the forest. Our rule is: you must be able to see the teacher, and she must be able to see you. If both parties can do this, then the play is within boundaries. Because of this freedom, your child will not be directly (within arm’s length) supervised at all times. Within sight and hearing, yes. If we feel the play needs to be supervised more closely we will situate ourselves close to the play without being too obtrusive.
You will also notice that your child has scrapes and bruises that they may not know how they acquired. This is a normal part of the type of play we see; it is so active and engaging that the children sometimes don’t notice that they are hurt!
If we see an injury or need to give a Band-Aid, we’ll ask you to sign a quick form at the end of class. Thanks for your help with this!
Forest School presents your child with many unique challenges: the weather, the physical exertion used in play, the amount of independence they have, the responsibility of caring for their own things, and the intense social interactions.
The demands on your child, just by being outside and in charge of their play, are more than in other classroom environments. As a result, it is normal for any issues or areas of growth that your child is working through to increase in intensity for a time. We believe Forest School calls out to all of us our own areas of growth, and we look forward to helping your child on that journey!
We are always available to discuss any concerns or questions you may have. Please email, call, or chat with us after class. We love to engage with parents and believe the whole family is nurtured and changed by Forest School.
If you would like more detailed information regarding our approaches to playing, sharing, and roughhousing, our document How We Play is available by request.

Upstream Forest School Vision & Philosophies
At Upstream Forest School, we strive to:
•	Foster and encourage the natural curiosity of children
•	Observe the growth and challenges of the children while in self-directed play
•	Provide opportunities for children to connect with nature in a meaningful and inspired way
•	Encourage the personal growth of children through appropriate risks and challenges
•	Offer unadulterated play space and time
We believe in the value of Free Age Mixing and encourage children of different ages and abilities to interact and engage with each other. Some of the many benefits are:
For younger children:
•	Playing in the zone of proximal development (Vygotsky created this term to describe what children can accomplish when in collaboration with others who are more skilled than they)
•	Learning by observation
•	Receiving care and emotional support (it is freely given by older children and authentic, whereas with adults it is not always)
For older children:
•	Learning to nurture and lead
•	Learning through teaching
•	Creativity-enhancing effects of younger children (older children join in with younger children in games they may have already stopped playing, and tend to add more creativity than they ordinarily would)
At Upstream Forest School we practice Inquiry-Based Learning, which is a dynamic process driven by the children’s curiosity and wonder. It places the children’s questions, ideas, and theories at the centre of our ongoing activities. Children engage in multiple and diverse means of investigation where the end or final product is not known at the outset. The focus is on development of skills and critical thought, rather than content mastery. Teachers remain flexible and responsive to the children’s ideas and needs, and facilitate learning through reflective discourse.

Welfare Requirements
Going to school in the outdoors presents its own unique challenges that require some creative solutions.
Hygiene
After toileting, when it’s time to eat, or any time hands need cleaning, the children are given wet wipes to wash their hands. The wipes are packed out and disposed of later by the teacher.
Toileting
There are no toilets at our site, so children are educated about toileting in the wild:
•	Using trees that we’re not using
•	Finding a private space
•	Washing hands with wet wipe (if taking off mittens)
Teachers can help in dealing with outdoor wear and helping the children balance, but children are responsible for wiping themselves. In the winter when mittens are worn, no hand washing is performed. If the child defecates in the woods, wet wipes are used as toilet paper and both the feces and the wipes are buried under the ground or rocks, or packed out in a doggie bag when necessary.
Food and Drink
Because of allergies, food is never given to the children without checking with parents ahead of time. Food is never shared between the children for the same reason.
When we prepare food or drinks together, the teacher provides the plates/cups and takes them home for proper cleaning.
Parents will be told before classes begin if there are any foods that can’t be brought to school (for example: in the case of a nut allergy).

What to Bring
“There is no poor weather, only poor clothing” is a commonly heard phrase in Forest Schools! Please assess the weather with your child and help them decide on the best gear for the day. Make sure they are equipped with the clothing and supplies they will need for a successful outing.
Each child is responsible for carrying their own backpack. The backpack must be big enough to carry their snack, water bottle, gear, and extra clothing. We have found that a backpack with a clip across the chest makes it easier for your child to carry.
The following table outlines what your child will need to bring to Forest School, including items they will need to bring everyday, as well as season-specific clothing and gear.
Daily	
	•	Snack
•	Please label all containers and bottles
•	In cold weather, please pack snacks that are easy to eat with mittens on (muffins, fruit cups, opened granola bars, etc.)
•	Water bottle
•	Extra set of clean, dry clothing (pants, top, underwear, socks, mittens) in a plastic bag	
Winter (cold weather)	
To have an enjoyable winter experience, it’s important that the children are dressed to be outside. Layered clothing is the best option!
	
Base layer 
(closest to the body)	•	Thermal underwear and shirt
Wool or silk fibres are best for staying warm and keeping moisture away from the body, but they can be uncomfortable and expensive. Synthetics are readily available and more affordable and work well too. Avoid cotton as it retains moisture and makes us feel cold. 
•	Fairly thick wool or wool-blend socks that are comfortable in the boot. Now is a good time to ask for ski socks for Christmas!	
Middle layer	•	Fleece pants (fleece is cozy, comfortable, and warm)
•	Stockings, leggings, or pyjama pants
•	Fleece or wool top, hoody or pull-over	
Outer layer	•	Water-resistant snow-suit for younger children. Water-resistant snow pants with a bib work nicely to keep the upper body insulated for older children along with a snow jacket. 
•	Snow/winter boots (bog type boots are NOT insulated enough to keep feet warm on the coldest winter days) 
•	Toque or hat that fits snugly and cover the ears 
•	Insulated mitts or gloves with waterproof outer layer (reusable hand warmers are great if your child suffers from cold hands and feet). Also, a split-finger mitten as a base-layer helps keep hands warm when bulky mitts/gloves are taken off to perform tasks.
•	Neck warmer (much safer and easier than scarves) or balaclava 
•	Sun block and sunglasses (optional)	
Early Spring / Fall (cool weather)	
	•	Thermal underwear and shirt (see winter wear) 
•	Fleece pants 
•	Fleece or wool top, hoody or pull-over 
•	Water-proof rain pants and jacket 
•	Closed toe hiking shoe and/or rubber boots 
•	Thinner toque or hat and light waterproof gloves 
•	Wool or wool-blend socks/ski socks
•	Sun block and sunglasses (optional)	
Late Spring / Summer (warm weather)	
	•	Closed-toe supportive shoes (we’ll let you know when it’s a sandals day!)
•	Water-proof pants & jacket (in backpack)
•	Rubber boots (if muddy and wet)
•	Sun hat
•	Sun block
•	Bug spray (optional)	
A printable version of this table is available by request.

Managing Risk
We perform a Site Risk Assessment (we call it a Safety Check) at the beginning of every class to evaluate the safety of a specific site. We highlight any concerns we have about the area, and how we can minimize the risk. If we cannot, we leave the site.
Lea also performs a thorough Assessment for every site each season. For every activity, there is also an experience assessment completed which details how we minimize risk and educate the children about safety in the experience. If you would like to see these, let us know and we will email them to you.
What’s in our bag?
•	First Aid Kit: as well as grab bag of band-aids, gloves, and wipes	Medical needs list for children in class	
•	Children’s Benadryl, Wasp-ease, and Sunscreen lotion	Spare clothes (hats, mitts, rain-pants, etc.)	
•	Knives (2)	Towel	
•	Toilet Paper and trowel	Whistle	
•	Tarp and rope	Flashlight	
•	Emergency blanket	Sterile water and syringe	
•	Emergency Procedure documents	Water drops to filter water	
•	Emergency Fire Kit	Saw	

The staff have current First Aid Qualifications and Police Checks.

Appendix 1: Emergency Procedures
Missing Child	
•	Teacher and children search the area as a group.
•	If child is not found within 5 minutes, call Police (911). Notify the parent of the missing child.
•	One teacher will manage the remaining children while the other teacher continues the search until the police arrive. If that teacher is unable to rejoin the class, the rest of the parents will be notified and the children will be sent home.	
Bee Sting/Insect Bite	
•	Clean the area and treat with Benadryl Insect Bite liquid.
•	Monitor for signs of allergic reaction, such as: difficulty breathing, swelling in face, rash.
•	Call EMS (911) if these signs are noticed. Proceed to nearest cross section/road to wait for ambulance.
•	Alert parent.	
Injury	
    Child	
•	Treat injury according to First Aid training.
•	If the teacher’s attention will be needed for a while, have children proceed to circle to wait with other teacher. 
•	If serious, contact parent and have them come pick up the child. Proceed with all children to closest road access. If not serious (band aid only) inform parent after class. Fill out incident report and have parent sign by next class.	
    Teacher	
•	If the teacher needs first aid they can’t administer it to themselves, the children will be called to a meeting spot. The other teacher will provide the care, while the children are engaged in a storytelling activity.
•	If the teacher needs to be sent for emergency care, the children will be taken to the Cabin and parents will be asked to pick them up.	
Suspicious Person in Area	
•	Move the children to a safer spot in a public area. Have phone out and visible.
•	Discuss with the children why we moved, and what to look for in a potential not-safe person. 
•	Inform parents after class of incident, as well of steps taken. 	
Environmental Emergency	
Move students to a safe location and call parents/help.	

Appendix 2: Tool Use and Safety Procedures
	Knife	Saw (Folding: F, Bow: B)	Hand Drill	Pruning Shears	
How is the Tool:	

		
Walked with	Knife is in sheath, hand on blade section.	F: fold blade, carry by side with arm down.
B: carry with cover on, arm by the side.	At side, holding handle.	At side, safety lock on.	
Passed	In sheath, handle towards receiver.	Handle out, blade in cover.	Handle toward receiver.	Handle towards receiver, 
safety lock on.	
Placed	In sheath, above ground level on a stump or in the hanging storage basket, top shelf.	With cover on, off the ground. Against a tree or on stump.	Leaning against tree or on stump, off the ground.	On stump, or in storage basket, top shelf.	
Used	Carving, whittling, using with mallet to cut wood pieces, cutting rope.	Cutting of branches or pieces off logs.	To make holes in wood.	Taking small branches off trees and logs.	
Used with a PPE*	No glove on tool hand (weather permitting), glove on helping hand.	No glove on tool hand (weather permitting), glove on helping hand, no cutting above eye level.	Glove on helping hand.		
Maintained	Sharpen when needed. Run thumb over blade to catch grooves, check for sun reflection on dull blade.	Check for the V in the blade, replace blade when not cutting well. 	Make sure drill opening is clear of debris and parts are oiled and functioning. Remove broken bits,	Sharpen when necessary by filing, or replace.	
Cleaned	Wipe clean after use with cloth.	Remove rust when necessary using blade scraper and sand paper.	Wipe clean and keep openings free of debris.	Wipe after use with cloth.	
Stored	In a dry place; in the top shelf of the hanging storage.	In dry place: F in top shelf of hanging storage, B at home.	Dry place, at home.	In dry place, in top shelf of hanging storage when using.	
* PPE = Personal Protective Equipment