Little Nest Forest Preschool
I had the pleasure of meeting Catherine Cummins in the Spring of this year. I had been googling 'alternative education vancouver island' and came across her website for Little Nest. The more I read about Catherine and her vision for starting this preschool in the fall, the more I experienced a strong gut feeling that I needed to meet her. Everything she stood for aligned with my own principles for learning...plus she just seemed really cool. I felt inspired to send her a lengthy email about my own 'forest school' teaching experiences in Waterloo, and asked if it would be possible to visit... This led to a trip to Salt Spring Island and several days hanging out with her family, discussing education, brainstorming, and walking around the forest which was the intended site for her school.
Catherine, her husband Brett, and her preschool aged son Luca were all lovely and welcoming and I felt immediately at home. They invited me to come back and stay again, and so, when brainstorming for this trip, I worked in another visit to Salt Spring. This trip was similar in nature - I was not there on a preschool day, so unfortunately did not get to see 'school' in action, but had more opportunities to discuss, to brainstorm, to hear Catherine verbally work out for herself how classes were going, how personalities were affecting dynamics, and what direction she felt she might head.
Catherine's education style is based on a combination of Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and European forest school philosophies. It is a hands-on, child-led approach that invites exploration of the immediate environment through imaginative play and grounded in life-skills and real work. Children are encouraged to ask questions and find answers through their curiosity and exploration in an outdoor setting.
Though I did not have the opportunity to see Catherine in action with the preschool children, I did spend much time together with both her and 3 year old Luca, and was struck by her loving and gentle approach. Catherine has an attentive presence and respect for children that is evident in the way she communicates with them, supports their curiosity, and affirms their emotions and needs.
I, too, was on the receiving end of this style of teaching as I found myself playing with Luca using an old set of wooden marionettes whose strings had been removed. Catherine noticed me trying to figure out how the strings would have worked, and in short order she had provided fishing line and scissors 'just in case I wanted it'. With some trial and error and experimentation, I got the woodcutter puppet to dance and walk, and then Luca tried him out as well. Having the space to play and experiment without rush, without judgement, and with no expectations or needs for results...a lovely atmosphere to be in!
I was honoured to be able to explore with both Luca and Catherine, and was blessed by being invited to spend time with, share meals with, and be part of the daily events of this family.
Catherine and family are moving to Bowen Island in the fall where they will be establishing the second incarnation of Little Nest Forest Preschool! Click the link to see Catherine's webpage, which includes clear and interesting descriptions of her philosophies and visions for schooling:
Catherine, her husband Brett, and her preschool aged son Luca were all lovely and welcoming and I felt immediately at home. They invited me to come back and stay again, and so, when brainstorming for this trip, I worked in another visit to Salt Spring. This trip was similar in nature - I was not there on a preschool day, so unfortunately did not get to see 'school' in action, but had more opportunities to discuss, to brainstorm, to hear Catherine verbally work out for herself how classes were going, how personalities were affecting dynamics, and what direction she felt she might head.
Catherine's education style is based on a combination of Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and European forest school philosophies. It is a hands-on, child-led approach that invites exploration of the immediate environment through imaginative play and grounded in life-skills and real work. Children are encouraged to ask questions and find answers through their curiosity and exploration in an outdoor setting.
Though I did not have the opportunity to see Catherine in action with the preschool children, I did spend much time together with both her and 3 year old Luca, and was struck by her loving and gentle approach. Catherine has an attentive presence and respect for children that is evident in the way she communicates with them, supports their curiosity, and affirms their emotions and needs.
I, too, was on the receiving end of this style of teaching as I found myself playing with Luca using an old set of wooden marionettes whose strings had been removed. Catherine noticed me trying to figure out how the strings would have worked, and in short order she had provided fishing line and scissors 'just in case I wanted it'. With some trial and error and experimentation, I got the woodcutter puppet to dance and walk, and then Luca tried him out as well. Having the space to play and experiment without rush, without judgement, and with no expectations or needs for results...a lovely atmosphere to be in!
I was honoured to be able to explore with both Luca and Catherine, and was blessed by being invited to spend time with, share meals with, and be part of the daily events of this family.
Catherine and family are moving to Bowen Island in the fall where they will be establishing the second incarnation of Little Nest Forest Preschool! Click the link to see Catherine's webpage, which includes clear and interesting descriptions of her philosophies and visions for schooling:
I was intrigued by the Reggio Emilia approach, to which I had never previously been introduced. Many preschools and kindergartens instinctively follow Reggio principles as much as they are able. Though there are similarities to Montessori, they are not the same.
For an interesting and colourful look at Reggio Emila in practice, click here:
For an interesting and colourful look at Reggio Emila in practice, click here: