For the love of nature: First outdoor only preschool to open in the Pocket’s Camellia Waldorf School In September of 2017 Camellia Waldorf will be opening Wildflower Forest Preschool, one of the first of its kind in the Sacramento area, and will be in addition to the existing Desert rose Preschool.. Forest preschools originated in europe in the early 1900s. The difference between the traditional preschool and forest preschool is that a forest preschool class has an outside only classroom. All learning materials are provided by nature. The children learn to notice, appreciate and care for nature. They learn about the circle of life and how we all count on each other and should care for each other. Studies are showing that children that begin their educational journey in a forest school have significantly less emotional and deficit disorders, increased imagination and an easier time settling
in and focusing when they are inside. it improves their balance (both physically and emotionally), reduces stress, improves agility and lowers obesity. Children that attend forest preschool are also showing to have less educational “burnout”. Safety is first, of course, so if weather does not permit a safe adventure, the class will be held on school grounds. Additionally, if there is lightening, the class will be held inside. The Wildflower preschool program will be take place in outside areas of the Waldorf campus, the riparian woodlands behind the school, and Garcia Bend City Park (located a few blocks away from the school). The program will be Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 to noon, for 3 year old children who are fully potty trained. only 12 people will be accepted. Applications are now being accepted for fall.
There aren’t a lot of topics that you can fi nd mass numbers of people to agree on, but the idea that people (especially children) learn and retain information better when they are interested in what they are doing and having fun learning it, might be one of the topics that may just fall into that category. in 1919 the first Waldorf School was created in Germany, and their entire curriculum as well as their format for learning, was designed with this idea in mind. In addition, the developmental stages, and
summer school &
Summer Fun! j un e 19 –j u ly 28, 2017 High School Courses High School Review Courses Arts Camps (Grades 3–8) Engineering Camp (Grades 5–6) Leadership Camp (Grades 6–8) Middle School Advantage (Grades 7–8)
Music Camps (Grades 6–9) Robotics Camps (Grades 4–8) Science Camps (Grades 2–8) Sports Camps (Grades 3–10) TV News & Production Camp (Grades 6–8)
Enriching Summer Activities for Students 2nd Grade Through High School More information available at:
www.cbhs-sacramento.org/summer-program
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physiological changes and capacity for learning are key in the way the children are taught. infants and young children are constantly learning about their surroundings by the use of their senses such as feeling textures with their hands, feet and mouths. They also learn by imitation, and as they grow and begin to develop their imagination, playing games such as “dress up” allows them to become moms and dads or kings and queens, These may just sound like childhood games, but in a Waldorf School these childhood games are a learning time. it is during the time that the child is the king that he is taught fairness, and respect. When a little girl is being a mommy, she may be learning patience. These may not sound like school lessons, but Waldorf Schools believe that these are fundamental parts of a child’s growth and an important part of
developing a well rounded, caring, productive member of a community. All students spend a lot of time learning outside! rain or shine, there is something to learn about. The preschool class spends almost the entire day outside. The older kids still go outside, but the lessons grow with the children. Now, they may be in the “forest” they played in, but this time they are learning about Astrology. Camellia Waldorf School is not new to the area. established in Sacramento in 1989, the school was formerly housed in an old strip mall on Freeport Boulevard near executive Airport. Little by little the staff, students and families built up the old school. in addition to parents building furniture, or painting or other various tasks that were needed, items such as old tree stumps were See Preschool, page 5
A Better World Starts at Camp 2017 Overnight Camp YMCA CAMP RAVENCLIFF YMCA Camp Ravencliff
925 455 7975 • campravencliff.org
Youth Camp (Ages 7–13) Session 1 July 2-9 Session 2 July 9-16
Session 3 July 16-23 Session 4 July 23-30
Teen Camp (Ages 13-15) Session 1 July 30-August 6
For DETAILS or to register call us at 925 455 7975 or visit campravencliff.org Online registration is also available.
Fee
By Michele Townsend
Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3
$660 $580 $540
CALIFORNIA KIDS! Family Fun Guide • FEBRUARY 2017