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Core programs Frogs for 3 to 5 yrs The Frogs are our youngest explorers. They meet two half-days per week. They have to be fully toilet-trained, and able to attend independently from their parents. Coyotes for 6 to 10 yrs Coyotes get to observe and use first hand the knowledge they are learning in their regular schools. Dragonflies for 4 to 6 yrs Dragonflies meet once each week, for a 7-hr day packed full of adventure and fun. Everyone needs the stamina to keep up, without needing an afternoon nap. Wolves for 10 to 12 yrs The play of wolves is more collaborative and complex. Pre-requisite: One year of prior experience in forest school. Foxes for 5 to 7 yrs The Foxes program is great for more mature or experienced Dragonflies or young Coyotes who still enjoy the imaginative games of the younger kids. Special programs Summer camp for children 5 to 12 yrs A week-long summer day camp filled with outdoor adventure and fun, hosted by Rock's End Farm and led by a CFS forest school educator. CFS will not offer summer camp in 2026, unfortunately. Chipmunks for children under 5 yrs, with an adult This program is suited to children 5 yrs and under and their adult(s). Older siblings are also welcome. A forest school teacher will facilitate safe and fun outdoor play, learning of nature skills and crafts, answer questions, and sing a few songs along the way. Spring 2026 sessions: - Thursdays 10h-12h, from April 16 to May 28 (no class May 14) - Saturdays 10h-12h, from April 18 to May 30 (no class May 16) Registration opens on March 19 at 19h. HomeSquirrelers for children over 5 yrs, with an adult For homeschooling families (or homeschooling curious families) with children over 5 yrs. Younger siblings are also welcome. Weekly meet-ups for outdoor fun in the forest, guided by a forest school educator. The teacher will facilitate play, safe use of tools, nature skills and crafts, identification of plants and animals, and storytelling and songs. Spring 2026 sessions: - Thursdays 13h-15h, from April 16 to May 28 (no class May 14). Registration opens on March 19 at 19h. Register now. Not ready to register? Join our mailing list for program announcements and occasional updates.

Chelsea Forest School - nature school in Ottawa- Gatineau Alternative outdoor education from preschool to teens! | Éducation alternative en plein air, de la maternelle à l'adolescence ! Our website is getting a revamp. Once it is done, if all goes as planned, a visit here should have you as excited about Chelsea Forest School as we are . Thanks for your patience, and see you in the forest! Where nature and creativity come to play Chelsea Forest School is a beautiful part of my kids' childhood! Forest School Day is my son's highlight of the week. Most mornings he looks out of his window and regardless if it rains, snows or the sun is shining, he declares that we have perfect forest school weather and that he should be able to go more often during the week. We have had kids in different forest school programs for the past 5 years and even though my oldest daughter was already in grade 5 when she attended, she loved the freedom to explore, create, climb, and relax in a marvelous setting just as much as her younger brothers. I notice how the kids learn to take calculated risks in nature and are confident in making good decisions outdoors. The teachers are calm and patient and always have kind words to share about each child during pick-up, and my son has remarked that he feels understood. Esther Shoemaker, PhD.

Chipmunks: parent(s) and tots Register for Chipmunks Spring 2026 beginning March 19 at 19h. Chipmunks is our 6-week program for parents and kids together. This program is suited for children under 5 yrs with an accompanying adult. Older siblings are welcome, too. Enjoy wonderful time together in the forest, and get an introduction to play and learning in nature. Spring 2026 groups and schedule: - Saturdays 10h-12h, from April 18 to May 30 (no class May 16) - Thursdays 10h-12, from April 16 to May 28 (no class May 14) Chipmunks is a pay-as-you-can program, with a suggested contribution of $175 for the first parent and child, plus $25 per additional family member. Maximum of two children per accompanying adult.

Register now. We are no longer accepting applications for our core programs for the 2025-26 forest school year. Registration for the 2026-27 forest school year will open in May 2026. Register for our Chipmunks and HomeSquirreler Spring 2026 sessions beginning March 19 at 19h. Register now Registration steps. We respond to your online registration form submission, hopefully to confirm an offer to join one of our programs. Registration in one of our core programs is confirmed once we receive your payment of the CFS membership fee ($250). For our shorter programs, we ask for payment of the full cost. Registration is first-come, first-served. If we can't immediately offer you a spot, you will be added to a waiting list.

About CFS Chelsea Cooperative Nursery School (CCNS) has operated continuously for more than 60 years since its founding in 1964, delivering early childhood care and learning to generations of families from Chelsea and surrounding communities. Since 2013, CCNS has been known as Chelsea Forest School (CFS), reflecting its enthusiastic embrace of forest school pedagogy in all of its teaching. CFS strives to create a community of resilient, active children, empowered by valuing, enjoying and being curious about their natural and social surroundings.

The Forest School Philosophy "We define Forest School as an educational ethos and practice that centres the Land and the child-at-play. Children and educators build a relationship with the Land through regular and repeated access to the same outdoor space over an extended period of time. Educators support learning through a pedagogical framework that is rooted in place and play, directed and inspired by the child (emergent curriculum), and driven by a process of inquiry." Child and Nature Alliance of Canada Mission and Goals Mission: To provide accessible innovative outdoor education that is play-based and child-led. Goals: Our dedicated early childhood educators and committed parents strive to: Cultivate an early love of nature and interest in all aspects of their own local natural surroundings. Foster our students’ competence, self-confidence, and eagerness to safely explore and enjoy the outdoors. Provide pre-school children with an opportunity to meet and enjoy their peers and to learn how to operate in a group setting with respect, cooperation, patience, and listening skills. Ensure a relevant and sustainable future for the school through relationships with parents, other organizations, and the broader community. Promote among parents and the broader community the notion that being active and taking supported risks outside is critical to children’s social, physical and emotional development and prepares them for learning throughout life. Unleashing Your Child's Potential in Nature's Classroom Transformative Learning for Life: At Chelsea Forest School, we don't just prepare children for kindergarten; we equip them with lifelong skills. Picture your child thriving through cooperation, teamwork, independence, empathy, resilience, and self-confidence, all nurtured in an engaging, active learning environment. Homeschoolers' Social Haven: Our school adds a vibrant dimension to homeschooling, offering rich social interactions and peer connections that enrich your child’s educational journey. Fostering Physical Well-being: Watch your child’s physical fitness soar in our stimulating outdoor activities, promoting health and vitality. Year-Round Nature Immersion: We champion outdoor play in all seasons, instilling a love and respect for the environment and teaching adaptability. Expert Guidance, Safe Exploration: Our certified forest school educators and trained preschool development experts craft a child-directed, play-based curriculum. We encourage children to explore and expand their boundaries in a safe, carefully assessed environment. Personalized Attention: With high adult-to-child ratios, your child receives personalized support, ensuring a rich and attentive educational experience. Community at Heart: With over 50 years of community involvement, we understand the value of togetherness. Parental involvement isn’t just welcomed; it’s integral to our ethos. Risk Assessment & Forest School Play: Safety First! Risk Assessment At Chelsea Forest School, rigorous risk assessments are integral to every activity, from stick play to tree climbing. We evaluate each activity's potential risks, categorize them as high, medium, or low, and then implement tailored safety measures to ensure all activities are adjusted to a "low" risk level. Activities that cannot be safely managed are not permitted. Key Safety Measures for Our Activities: Stick Play: Benefits: Develops motor skills, coordination, teamwork, and creative thinking. Safety: We teach the 'Blood Bubble' rule for safe space, limit stick sizes, ensure close supervision, and enforce rules against hitting people or running with sticks. Tree Climbing: Benefits: Enhances physical strength, core stability, and promotes self-awareness. Safety: Supervised climbing only, tree health checks, clothing guidelines, branch strength assessment, a 3-meter height limit, and communication skills for safe climbing. Tool Use: Benefits: Builds muscle coordination and risk assessment skills. Safety: Designated supervised areas, use of safety gloves, the 'Blood Bubble' rule, and gradual introduction to tool use based on individual child's ability. Fire: Benefits: Teaches fire respect, builds confidence, and enhances practical skills. Safety: Fires are conducted with strict supervision, safety boundaries, and adherence to fire regulations. Children are taught fire safety and respect, with a focus on maintaining a safe distance. These measures are part of our commitment to providing a secure and enriching learning environment, where children can safely explore and engage with nature. A Day at Chelsea Forest School Each day begins at home base as the children arrive and parents check in with the teachers. The children are invited into play by a selection of loose parts put out for the morning. Once most children have arrived and settled in, we tidy up the toys and have circle time. At circle we sing songs, share news, play games and make plans for the day. Where shall we play today? Is there anything in particular that you would like to do? (make a fort in the forest, go sledding at Sandy beach, search for tadpoles in the pond etc. ). After circle we have our bathroom routine and eat our snack and then it’s off for more play in whatever location the children have chosen. Full day programs pause for lunch at noon which includes some quieter play, books and crafts once their lunch is eaten. Then a second location is chosen for the afternoon and off we go! The exact routine varies with the season, the weather, the class and the children’s interests but each day will include lots of play, a variety of learning opportunities, social interaction, risk assessment, songs, stories and gratitude while connecting with the land. We're excited to meet you! If you're curious about us... here's a little more information to get to know us better. What is Forest School? Our History Meet our teachers Our location Our Programs FAQ

< Back Foundations in Forest School Workshops April 26 - An Introduction to Forest School and Child Led Play May 10- Risky Play Intro to Forest School and Child Led Play What does child-led play look like? What language should you use to support it? What is your role as the adult? How should you be prepared for emergencies big and small? This and so much more will be covered in our hands on workshop aimed at making you more comfortable playing outside with the children in your care Risky Play Workshop This workshop is for parents, early childhood professional, teachers, or anyone else interested in learning the skills to confidently navigate risky play with the children in their care. Learn how to do a risk assessment for your site, for the activities that the children participate in, and practice doing dynamic risk assessments. Previous Next

Our Programs We offer forest school program for children ages 3 to 12. Led by bilingual teachers, children engage in age-appropriate outdoor exploration and play-based learning that develops independence, social skills, and academic foundations. From our pre-K morning sessions to advanced activities for school-aged children, each program nurtures resilience, creativity, and a deep connection with nature. Register now! Frogs for 3 to 5 yrs Tuesdays AND Thursdays from 8h30-11h30 This class is designed for our youngest explorers. Children must be 3 years old by December 31st, toilet-trained, and able to attend independently from their parents. Over the course of the year, Frog parents should expect to see some wonderful growth and to hear of wild adventures from the forest! Some frogs will be away from home without a parent for the first time, or for the first time looking to someone other than a parent for help. They’ll be starting to develop independence, empathy, self-confidence, and emotional regulation. They will develop strength, balance and coordination from all of the outdoor play. Their minds will grow as they become more aware of and curious about the world around them. As with all of our preschool programs, parents take turns volunteering as a duty parent with the class. Each family’s turn comes up every four to six weeks. Tuition: $2976 Dragonflies for 4 to 6 yrs Tuesdays OR Thursdays from 9h to 16h The Dragonflies program was so popular this year that we added a second group. One will meet on Tuesdays, and the other on Thursdays. It is for 4 and 5 yr olds with the stamina to last a full 7-hr day packed with adventure, without needing an afternoon nap. Children should be able to get dressed and undressed mostly on their own, with only a little help for the tricky bits. As with all of our preschool classes, parents take turns volunteering as a duty parent with the class, about once every 3 months. Tuition: $3,072 Foxes for 5 to 7 yrs Wednesdays 9h to 16h The Foxes program is for is ideal for more mature/experienced Dragonfly aged children or young Coyote aged children who still enjoy the imaginative games of the younger kids. The younger children should have the stamina to keep up with their older classmates. All children will develop their empathy, leadership and problem solving skills. Along the way, they will grow in self confidence and improve their ability to communicate, resolve conflicts and assess risk. As with all of our preschool classes, parents take turns volunteering as a duty parent with the class, about once every 3 months. Tuition: $3072 Coyotes for 6 to 10 yrs Mondays OR Fridays 9h to 16h Coyotes develop and enhance many of the same skills as in younger age groups, but also get to observe and use first hand the knowledge they are learning in their regular schools. Literacy skills (journals, communication, conflict management, story telling), math (measurement, volume, balance, problem solving), life cycles (plants, insects, water cycle) and physics (simple machines, force, pressure, friction) are just a few of the things that are experienced through play. Coyotes must be able to dress and undress from their outdoor clothing independently, look after their own belongings, and follow group rules and expectations. Coyotes are physically capable of bigger explorations and adventures during a 7 hour day outside. There isn't a regular duty day requirement for parents of Coyotes, but we do invite parents to spend at least one half-day with the group during the Fall semester. Tuition: $2,916 Wolves for 10 to 12 yrs Mondays 9h to 16h This pre-teen program is for mature children aged 10 to 12. Wolves need a minimum of supervision and are trustworthy enough to be given greater responsibilities. Child led programming is still quite evident as the Wolves are given ample opportunity to explore their own projects and discuss with their teacher and classmates what they want to learn over the year. The MEQ (Quebec Ministry of Education) program is supported in a more formal manner. Wolves still love to play but their play is more collaborative, involved and complex. Prerequisite: Children must have at least one full year of previous Forest School experience. Tuition: $2,916 Special Programs: CHIPMUNKS: Parent & Tot Registration for Chipmunks Fall 2025 sessions are now open. FALL 2025 schedule: * full * Saturdays from 9h30 to 11h30: Oct 18, Oct 25, Nov 1, Nov 8, Nov 15, Nov 22 * full * Mondays from 10h to 12h: Oct 20, Oct 27, Nov 3, Nov 10, Nov 17, Nov 24 Wednesdays from 10h to 12h: Oct 22, Oct 29, Nov 5, Nov 12, Nov 19, Nov 26 Registration is PER SESSION and for either Saturday OR Monday, however you may register for more than one day if you wish. Description: This program is for children aged 0 to 5+ and their accompanying parent(s). While toddlers will benefit most from this class, babies-in-arms and siblings are welcome too. Anyone curious about child-centred play in a natural environment will love this time together! An experienced forest school teacher will facilitate safe and fun outdoor play, answer any questions for parents, provide guidance on clothing, and sing the occasional song too! The day will start with free play, followed by a quick circle time. We'll then head off to the forest to play, and end our day with an appreciation song. Bring a snack and come dressed for all types of weather (wind, rain, snow, and sun). Parents will be expected to supervise their own children at all times while the Forest School educator is there to facilitate the group, and model guidance of child-led learning. This is a pay-as-you-can program, with a suggested contribution of $175. Cost: $175 per session (suggested), or pay-what-you-can. Additional child 12 months and under - no charge Additional child over age of 1 - $25 extra More than 2 additional siblings? - please contact admin Register now! SUMMER CAMP Week 1: Jul 7 to 11 for kids ages 8 to 12 Week 2: July 21 to 25 for kids ages 5 to 7 Camp starts daily at 9h, with pick-up between 15h45 and 16h. No after-camp care is available. A week-long day camp filled with outdoor fun and learning. Inspired by forest school, but from a wonderful working farm setting! Camp will take place at CampRock's End Farm, 88 Chemin Echo Dale, in Farrellton, Quebec. $340 per camper Invoices are sent shortly after registration submissions only if there is a spot available. Payment is then due in full within 48 hrs to secure the registration. Apply for Summer Camp Foundations in Forest School Workshops April 26 - An Introduction to Forest School and Child Led Play May 10- Risky Play Intro to Forest School and Child Led Play What does child-led play look like? What language should you use to support it? What is your role as the adult? How should you be prepared for emergencies big and small? This and so much more will be covered in our hands on workshop aimed at making you more comfortable playing outside with the children in your care Risky Play Workshop This workshop is for parents, early childhood professional, teachers, or anyone else interested in learning the skills to confidently navigate risky play with the children in their care. Learn how to do a risk assessment for your site, for the activities that the children participate in, and practice doing dynamic risk assessments. $150/workshop Register Anchor Chipmunks

Join our team of educators. We are presently searching for one or two bilingual educators to join our team, beginning in January 2026. Link to full job postings in English and French . To apply, send cover letter and CV to chelseafs.humanresources@gmail.com.

2024-2025 CFS Bursary Download PDF Chelsea Forest School (CFS) is a registered charity serving families in Chelsea and surrounding areas. Fundraising efforts allow CFS to keep tuition fees accessible to the majority of our community, but these fees remain too high for some families. With this in mind, CFS has established a Bursary Program to subsidize tuition fees for lower- income families who may not otherwise be able to join our school. Please note that as our budget is limited, we may not be able to respond favorably to all requests for assistance received in a given year. Eligibility The Bursary Program is open to families currently enrolled in CFS, as well as those looking to enroll in the school. Families need not reside in Chelsea to apply for a bursary. Families may apply to receive a bursary for more than one child. Receipt of a bursary one year does not guarantee funding for the following year. Families will need to re-apply for the program at each registration period. To be considered for a bursary, families’ total income should be at or below the Low- Income Thresholds used by the Government of Canada (GoC) to determine eligibility for its student grants program. nb.: Total income should reflect all sources of income, as reported on tax returns. This could include wages; employment insurance, disability insurance, social assistance, and other government benefits; child or spousal support; etc. If a child resides in more than one household (in the case of shared custody, for instance), the income of both households will be taken into account. For the 2024-25 academic year, these thresholds are as follows: Family Size (number of people) 2 3 4 5 6 7+ Maximum Gross Income Eligibility (Annual) $35,429 $50,104 $61,365 $70,859 $86,784 $93,737 Application Process Applications for full-year bursaries should be submitted as part of the registration process for each new school year. Applications for temporary assistance may be submitted at any time during the course of the school year. Families wishing to apply for a bursary should complete an application form. Successful applicants will be asked to provide supporting documentation regarding the family’s financial situation. Families selected for a bursary will be required to provide a copy of their latest tax return to support statements made on their application, before a formal bursary offer is made. This should include all sources of income (e.g., wages, child support, alimony, employment insurance, social assistance, other government benefits, and any other source of income.) If a child is living in a shared custody arrangement, both parents must report family income and household size for their respective households. Apply here Evaluation of Applications and Allocation of Bursaries • The school’s Financial Assistance Committee (FAC) will assess and rank applications received according to financial need. (Committee made up of a small selection of non-parent board members, with 1 person removing the names of applicants before review.) • The value of a bursary offer will vary according to the needs of each qualifying family. Some families may require a full bursary for their child, while others may need more modest assistance. Assistance may be provided for the duration of the school year, or on a temporary basis, depending on the needs of each family. • Following final approval by the school’s Executive Committee, the FAC will communicate with all applicants to let them know whether a bursary will be available for their child, and if so, the amount being offered. • All families receiving a bursary will be expected to meet the other membership requirements of the co-op, such as participation in duty days and fundraising events. Protection of Privacy • Bursary applications will be kept strictly confidential, and measures taken to protect the identity of applicants.