1. Where is Semillitas located?

Semillitas Forest School classes take place at The Vegan Homestead, a three-acre permaculture farm and reforestation project in Edcouch, Texas. 

2. My child is autistic/deaf/nonverbal...etc. Can she still attend the school?

We especially welcome children with different abilities and learning needs. Our small teacher-child ratio allows us to provide specialized attention and celebrate each child's unique contribution to the group. Please let us know about your child's specific needs so we can provide the appropriate support and accommodation to enhance their experience. 

3. What are the benefits of a Forest School?

Forest schools allow children to develop a deep meaningful connection with the natural world from an early age. Children attending forest schools spend most, if not all of their school day outdoors. Extended time in nature provides children with various benefits, such as easing anxiety and ADHD symptoms and boosting confidence and self-efficacy. Unstructured play and open-ended experiences, a key aspect of forest schools, allows children to develop creative problem-solving skills essential for later in life.  

4.WHAT IF THE WEATHER IS BAD?

At Semillitas Forest School, we believe that there is no "bad weather", only poor weather preparation. Every weather condition provides new learning experiences for children, so parents are asked to dress children accordingly. Once at the school, we provide the activities and shelter necessary to ensure children have a safe and enjoyable learning day. We only cancel a school day if it is unsafe to be outdoors (example: lightning, hurricanes, etc. ). 

5. WHAT ABOUT SAFETY/ACCIDENTS?

Our top priority is the well-being of our students. All our practitioners are equipped with First Aid and CPR training, carry cell phones and first aid kits, and maintain a low teacher-to-student ratio for vigilant supervision. In the event of any accident, a comprehensive report will be documented, and caregivers will be promptly notified, typically by the end of the day.

Children who engage in outdoor play tend to experience fewer injuries compared to those with limited outdoor exposure. This is attributed to the opportunity for real-life risk assessment, the development of crucial gross motor skills, and an understanding of physical limits within a supervised environment. Acquiring these skills early in life contributes to a lasting sense of self-awareness and safety in outdoor activities.

6. WHAT DOES MY CHILD NEED TO BRING TO SCHOOL?

For all programs, students need to come to Semillitas Forest School with:
- weather-appropriate clothing and a change of clothes as they will likely get wet at some point.
- water bottle with child’s name on it
- small backpack to carry supplies

7. WHERE WILL MY CHILD GO TO THE BATHROOM?

We have a small, private, compost bathroom for children to use. All children attending forest school programs on their own must be ready to use the toilet by themselves. If your child needs to be reminded to go to the bathroom to prevent an accident, they might not be ready for forest school yet! Perhaps they can first attend our Parent-child forest play sessions. 

8. WHAT ARE YOUR CLASS SIZES/RATIOS?

Our student to practitioner ratio is very low. We typically have a 1:4 ratio and do not exceed a 1:7 ratio. 

9. Do you offer activities for ages other than 4-7?

At the moment, our forest school is only for ages 4-7. We do offer play sessions for other ages, but those are not scheduled ahead of time. To be notified about our next forest play session, we recommend that you sign up for our mailing list here.  For adults and youth ages 13 and older, there are outdoor activities offered by Hermana Luna on the community events page.

10. Who are the facilitators of this program?

Semillitas Forest School is led by qualified forest school practitioners who understand child development and are well versed in outdoor education and risk management. All practitioners and have received first aid and cpr training and are passionate about local wildlife and nature-based learning.