Welcome to the Clover Patch, where we learn, grow, and explore through nature play!
Clover Patch Kids is our nature play program for kids ages 2-8 (siblings can also enroll to participate) along with a parent or caregiver who attends and gets to join in the fun.
We gather to share circle times with stories and songs, and to explore and create with corresponding natural materials. Sessions follow the seasons as well as expressed interests: one week we might visit with our chicken or bee friends, and the next we might cook up some childhood classic mud kitchen specialties in our outdoor “classroom” in the woods!
New and returning families can apply for the 2024-2025 enrollment lottery HERE.
Details at a Glance:
Fall 2024 : twelve Thursdays, 9/12/24 - 12/5/24 (no class on break day 11/28), from 11am - 1pm
who: ages 2-8 along with a parent or other caregiver (siblings under 18 months old may attend without enrolling; other siblings of any age can apply to enroll and attend as well)
where: Prairiewood Forest School at St. Francis of the Woods (a 580 acre non-profit in Coyle, OK with the vision of transforming the world through community, creativity, and care for nature)
cost: $245/student for 12 weekly sessions (most families pay this Standard Class Fee which is reflective of the program's True Costs; as your financial situation allows, you may elect to instead enroll at Supporter Pricing to contribute to the Scholarship Fund, or Subsidized Pricing if those rates make the class more accessible to your family)
Emergent Curriculum: Prairiewood Forest School draws inspiration from educational philosophies including the forest school model, inquiry-based learning, nature-connected mentoring, and place-based education. Mentors model using observation skills and asking questions to deeper our connection to the natural world. Class play prompts are selected to help us model our values of practicing kindness, caring for the land by practicing reciprocity and giving more than we take, and learning directly from the natural world as our teacher, using only the simplest and most natural materials intentionally selected to inspire students to experience sensory play, process art, and creative exploration. Please chat with a class mentor or email prairiewood@stfrancisofthewoods.org if you have any questions!
handbook: Please read our program Handbook (linked during enrollment) in its entirety. To hold your spot, you'll need to complete the waiver below the Handbook BEFORE submitting your payment.
**use the arrows above to scroll through a gallery of photos from past sessions!**
