Chickadee Adventures

Offering Info

Age: 3-5
Overview: Forest School model, rebranded as Chickadees Circle.
Daily Rhythm: Half-day Tue/Thu 9–12, Lino Lakes.
Integrated Learning: Math, literacy, science, art, and social skills emerge naturally.
Tuition: $375

Enroll Your Child

Our Offering

At this age, children are wide-eyed explorers. They are full of wonder, curiosity, and energy, eager to discover the world through touch, taste, movement, and story. A Forest School nature connection program for 3- to 5-year-olds is not simply outdoor childcare, but a carefully tended village experience that nourishes the whole child — body, mind, heart, and spirit.

Core Vision

The purpose is to awaken and deepen children’s innate sense of belonging to the natural world. Through daily rhythms, stories, songs, and playful exploration, children begin to know the land as a friend, feel at home outdoors in all weather, and grow in their confidence to follow curiosity while being gently guided by caring mentors.

Guiding Principles (inspired by 8 Shields mentoring)

Nature as Teacher – Trees, birds, mud puddles, and seasons are living curriculum. Children learn through sensory immersion, discovery, and story.

Village Model – The children are surrounded by guides who model curiosity, patience, and gratitude, and who gently reflect back their strengths and gifts. Parents and elders are included in the story, weaving connection beyond the program.

Rhythm & Ritual – Songs at opening and closing circles, gratitude practices, fire tending, and stories bring comfort, predictability, and meaning.

Play & Imagination – Games, tracking animals, climbing logs, and pretending to be foxes or owls help children develop resilience, coordination, and social skills.

Tending the Heart – Moments of conflict, big feelings, or wonder are met with listening, compassion, and mentoring that helps children feel safe, seen, and supported.

What a Day Looks Like

Arrival & Welcome Circle – Songs, gratitude, and orienting to the land.

Exploration & Play – Free play balanced with guided invitations: building forts, following animal trails, cooking “forest soup,” listening for bird calls.

Storytime & Snack – Guides tell simple, nature-rich stories that anchor children in wonder and belonging.

Craft & Caretaking – Simple handwork with natural materials, tending plants, or helping prepare food.

Closing Circle – Sharing what they discovered, singing together, and saying thank you to the land.

Outcomes for Children

A sense of comfort and joy outdoors in all weather.

Early awareness of plants, animals, and seasonal cycles.

Developing imagination, creativity, and problem-solving through play.

Social and emotional growth through gentle conflict resolution and peer play.

Foundations of gratitude, reverence, and connection to something larger than themselves.

The Long View

Jon Young often reminds us that these early years plant seeds that can last a lifetime. By age five, a child may already carry an inner map of the forest, songs of birds in their memory, and a sense of being loved and held by a caring village. These seeds grow into empathy, resilience, and a life-long connection to nature.

Questions and Answers

What is the drop-off policy for young children?

We kindly ask that parents do not join their children in class. This allows each child to fully enter into the day’s rhythm, connect with their guides and peers, and build confidence in themselves.

Separation can be a tender moment, and we honor it as an important part of the parent–child relationship. By giving your child space to step into the program on their own, you are supporting their independence, resilience, and sense of belonging.

This also helps create the healthiest class dynamic, where children look to their guides and community for support, and ensures that every child has the same opportunity to grow within the circle.

Know that our team is here to support both you and your child during this transition. We celebrate the trust you place in us, and we are committed to helping your child feel safe, seen, and at home in the forest.

What if my child has food allergies?

Please notify us before the program begins. Our guides are trained to manage allergies and ensure safe snack and lunch practices.

What happens in case of illness?

Children should stay home if they are sick or show symptoms of fever, vomiting, or contagious illness. This helps protect the health of the whole group.

Are the Chickadee Guides licensed teachers?

Our Guides are trained in early childhood education and bring experience in both classroom and outdoor learning environments.

Testimonials

Melissa and Anthony are kind, gentle, loving souls with a fabulous focus on the beauty around and within. We met through the music classes I teach and they were focused on the rhythm of their children’s learning styles. Anthony brings an unmatched energy and Melissa brings a peaceful gratitude for all around her. They are right on track with healthy sustainable lifestyles for body, mind and spirit. Your family will be enriched by this family whether you have a moment with them or a blink of the preschool years or a lifetime of friendship. Highly recommend! With their thoughtfulness and dedication, their school will be of unmatched quality and bring joy to all who enter their life garden.

- Tibbe, Music Teacher

I would very much love for my children to be a part of Forest Lake Nature School. If I could roll the clock back in time and make it all happen somehow, cosmically, if they were small people, I think they would be nurtured well and certainly a couple days a week with you all. Which is the best compliment I can really give, because I am pretty particular about what I want my children to be a part of.

- Greg, Naturalist and Guide

Forest Lake Nature School has been one of the biggest blessings my wife and I have experienced in our community. Anthony and Melissa have created a space that is safe, that is nourishing, and the learning that happens is remarkable. My daughter is now a bird identifying expert, she has a deep desire to be outside, and the relationships she has created are set up to last a lifetime. We are so grateful for being introduced to the Ulrich family and everyone in this community.

- Aaron, Parent and community member

In a crazy world where so many people are disillusioned with school systems, and kids are bombarded with screens, this is an amazing change of pace AND a place for kids to learn the way they were created to learn!

- Bethany, Community friend

FLNS is a blessing to the twin cities! An educational and nourishing offering for families, an invitation to deepen relationships with the land and each other. A much needed invitation for children to experience the simple yet profound beauty of the natural world.. and to explore with freedom and ease!

- Bridget, Parent

My daughter and I are really enjoying the parent-child group through Forest Lake Nature School. Melissa and Anthony are so warm and welcoming and we’ve made so many friendships and found such a great community through our participation in their program. We love the community building, togetherness, learning, programming and atmosphere. Their group is always our favorite activity of the week because we get to play outside together while being apart of something that is really helping shape the next generation into loving, kind, responsible, aware and well rounded people who care about living a holistic lifestyle in balance with nature and who will be passionate about stewardship of the land. We love Forest Lake Nature School and look forward to our ongoing participation as part of this beautiful family they have created.

- Sarah, Parent

For our family, Forest Lake Nature School has meant connection, being closer to nature and nourishment of the mind/body/soul.