Please find a list of common questions & answers below. If you have a question not addressed on this page, please reach out. I Am happy to answer any questions you may have.
What can I expect to happen at a class?
Families have the option to sign up for Tinkergarten series classes and/or Nurtured in Nature Seasonal series classes/pop-ups. Tinkergarten series include 7-9 classes (depending on the season) and focus on a thematic skill for the entire series. Nurtured in Nature Seasonal Classes/Pop-Ups can be attended as a one-time pop-up class or as an entire series. Nurtured in Nature Seasonal classes contain unique content and follow a theme across the series.
What will a Tinkergarten class be like?
Tinkergarten classes are outdoor, play-based education classes for kids 2 years to 8 years old (accompanied by an adult). Classes include an opening circle, featured creature learning segment, invitation to play, read-aloud, and closing circle. Tinkergarten seasonal classes rotate between 8 core skills that include wellness, problem solving, empathy, communication, focus, persistence, creativity, and sensory. The activities presented in class progressively build week after week, season after season. In each class, children are encouraged to drive their own learning – an engaging scenario allows kids to launch and direct their own play. Please visit the Tinkergarten website to find out more. Children are invited to engage in whatever way honors their developmental level. Children are not expected to sit still.
What will a Nurtured in Nature Seasonal Series or Pop-Up class be like?
Seasonal Series & Pop-Up classes are outdoor, play-based education classes for kids 3 years to 8 years old (accompanied by an adult). Classes will include an opening circle, read-aloud, short hands-on learning time, science/creative expression activity, and closing circle. Children are invited to engage in whatever way honors their developmental level. Children are not expected to sit still.
How do I prepare for class?
When preparing for class, please pack weather appropriate clothing (layers are helpful), a change of clothes (depending on the activity this may be a good idea), a water bottle, and a blanket to sit on We will have a meeting tarp but blankets can be helpful if you prefer to work in your own space within the outdoor classroom during the invitation to play/create.
What ages are these classes appropriate for?
Both Tinkergarten class and Nurtured in Nature Seasonal Series offerings are provided in a mixed-age format. The recommended participation age for Tinkergarten is 2 years-8 years old and the recommended participation age for Nurtured in Nature Seasonal Series is 4-10 years old. Mixed-age play offers many benefits to both older and younger children. Older children grow through serving as a more knowledgable other to their peers. The opportunity for older children to independently apply knowledge and skills fosters agency and confidence. Patience and empathy is also developed through working with younger peers. Younger children are encouraged to try new things through observing older peers engaging in the same content in a different way. Younger children are also exposed to more complex language and play schemas through playing with older children. Although each class type has a suggested age range, we respect caregivers as the experts on their children and invite children of all ages to join us.
How do teachers foster a safe learning environment during class?
Each child is accompanied by a guide (parent or caregiver). Teachers support guides and do all that they reasonably can to provide a learning environment that allows for safe risk-taking.
Leaders bring a First Aid Kit to class, which can be utilized by attending adults if needed.
A few, simple rules help to address most situations:
Children can explore on their own as long as they can still see or hear their guide or the Leader.
If explorers are taking physical risks, we check in to make sure that they feel sturdy and safe in their risk-taking.
Leaders encourage children to engage in risky play, but give clear redirection if or when safety and the safety of friends in the class could be compromised. For example, we celebrate that sticks are the #1 toy of all time, but we make sure that our sticks have plenty of space so they do not touch our friends' bodies. Ultimately, over time, we want to help children learn how to learn their limits while still playing in a way that keeps them and their friends out of true harm.
We encourage children not to put nature treasures in their mouths. If a wee one is doing so as a natural part of exploring the world, we work with their guide to try to honor that need in the safest way possible.
What happens in inclement weather?
Decisions about whether it is safe to hold class are determined by the teacher using local weather guidance and a weather chart.
The teacher will update families at least 90 minutes prior to class by email and text message.
Whenever possible, the session will be offered at another time within the same week.
Are credits or refunds offered for missed sessions?
Credits and refunds are not offered for classes missed by families in Nurtured in Nature pop-up classes.
Families that purchase a Tinkergarten series or Nurtured in Nature Seasonal Series package may receive a refund if more than 2 rescheduled sessions in one series are not able to be attended by a family.
