programs

Place-based, interest-led, nature-immersed education

Roots Outdoor Education is committed to connecting children to nature, promoting learning through unstructured play, and building self confidence. At Roots, we are outside, rain or shine. In a place-based program, children continually re-discover their “classroom” as the seasons and environments change, and they form a strong connection to place.

Ages 3 – 5

preschool

September – June M-F nature immersion, emergent curriculum preschool

Ages 5 – 8

kinderoots

September – June child-led, unit-based, small group nature immersion to accompany alternative elementary education

Ages 3 – 10

summer

June – August M-F day camps with varying nature and interest-based themes

enroll now

rates and enrollment

Tuition rates below are for 2024-25 preschool program:

rates:

1 day per week: $4,000/year – (10 monthly payments of $400)

2 days per week: $7,500/year – (10 monthly payments of $750)

3 days per week: $10,300/year – (10 monthly payments of $1,030)

4 days per week: $13,000/year – (10 monthly payments of $1,300)

5 days per week: $15,000/year – (10 monthly payments of $1,500)

Roots Outdoor Education is a licensed outdoor preschool and therefore families are eligible to apply for subsidy benefits to help with tuition costs. You can find information at Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families or go directly to the online application through the Washington Connections Application. You can also call the DCYF Subsidy Contact Center directly at 1-844-626-8687.

scheduling

Monday – Friday 9am – 3:30pm

Maximum class size of 18 students accompanied by 3 teachers,

giving us a 1:6 ratio.

activities

explore the “downstairs”

here we’ll spend time in our second growth forest classroom digging in the mud, building homes for slugs, comparing shapes of leaves, splashing in puddles and so much more

wildlife quest

on 5+ acres we’ll search for insects, frogs, and butterflies, and spot eagles and other birds

day hikes

on our series of trails we’ll get great exercise while finding different types of mushrooms, flowers, and ferns

nature art & recycled crafts

utilizing recycled materials and what nature provides

natural building

working together, we’ll construct forts, waterways, and natural obstacle courses

sign language

Ren has studied ASL for the past few years. She has found many positives with sharing what she knows with the children.

gear

At Roots, we firmly believe that “there is no bad weather, only bad gear!” The right gear makes all the difference in keeping children comfortable, engaged, and able to fully enjoy their time outdoors. Many products claim to be waterproof but fail to hold up in our environment—our goal is to help families invest in the right gear, not waste money on items that won’t perform.

Children should come dressed in layers that allow them to regulate their temperature during active play and restful moments. Truly waterproof outer layers—not just water-resistant—are essential. For most of the school year, insulated rain boots such as Bogs are the best choice for keeping feet warm and dry. Each child should bring a backpack with a filled water bottle, lunch/snack, and, during colder months, an extra pair of mittens.

We know that quality gear can be expensive, and we don’t want cost to be a barrier. Our Gear Library is available to help outfit your child with reliable, weather-appropriate clothing. If you need assistance, please reach out via email—we’re happy to help however we can!

POLARN O. PYRET OUTDOOR SCHOOL GEAR PROGRAM

Polarn O. Pyret is a Swedish children’s clothing brand that is famous for being the unofficial outfitter of traditional Scandinavian Forest Schools! Polarn O. Pyret’s gear is made to stand up to the intense wear-and-tear that forest-school kids put on their gear. While Polarn O. Pyret’s gear can be pricey, they offer a fantastic 20% discount to any family who is enrolled in an outdoor school program. To get enrolled with them, you just have to fill out a simple application found on their Outdoor School site. Roots Outdoor Education has already been approved, so you can just mention that you are in our program on your application and you should be good to go!

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT EMILY DIRECTLY WITH ANY QUESTIONS!