Outdoor Gear for Forest School

CHILDREN should arrive to the forest with APPROPRIATE CLOTHING AND OUTDOOR GEAR FOR THE WEATHER EACH DAY. 

The lists below are meant TO SERVE AS A GUIDELINE AS YOU PREPARE FOR THE YEAR. 

When in doubt, overpack! Extra layers can always be added or taken off as long as they are with your child when they arrive for the day!

If you don’t have these items already, second-hand stores and garage sales may have most everything your child needs. This is an outdoor-based program and we spend almost all our time outside every day, rain or shine, cold or hot. Kids learn that by being prepared and dressing for the weather, the outdoors can be enjoyed year-round!

To ensure your child is protected from the elements, and feels comfortable to fully engage in play and exploration (including mud!), please have appropriate gear available.

Please label everything your child brings with them. Please provide one full change of clothes in a daypack or ziploc bag. Please remember to replace spares that come home before the next session.

All Seasons

• Clothing: appropriate outdoor wear that is okay to get dirty. We recommend long pants/leggings until it is extremely warm outside. This helps to prevent injury, scratches from trees, bug bites, etc. No dresses or skirts without shorts/pants underneath (see below for seasonal details)
• Backpack that fits all daily supplies/extra clothes/etc
• Water bottle (one that will not spill if tipped over - water only please, no juice!)
• Bag for wet/dirty clothes

Summer

• T-shirt/Long sleeve sun shirt
• Pants/Leggings/Shorts
• Shoes: Closed-toed shoes are a must. NO sandals or flip flops.
• Backpack that fits all daily supplies/extra clothes/etc
• Extra set of socks, shoes, pants/shorts, underwear, shirt
• Sun hat
• Sun screen and bug spray
• Sunglasses (optional)
• Water bottle (one that will not spill if tipped over - water only please, no juice!)
• Towel
• Bathing suit + water shoes (on hot days we may have a sprinkler set up!)
• Bag for wet/dirty clothes
• Cold lunch (with ice pack - lunches will not be refrigerated)

Fall/Spring

• Long sleeve base layer shirt
• Warm Jacket (it is always cooler in the woods!)
• Sweatshirt/Fleece/second warm top layer
• Long pants (preferably no jeans - they can be difficult for children to put on and take off independently, they absorb moisture quickly, and they restrict movement during play.)
• Tall, warm wool socks (NO ankle socks)
• Shoes: Closed-toed shoes are a must. NO sandals or flip flops. We highly recommend waterproof hiking shoes or BOGS boots
• Extra set of socks, shoes, pants, underwear, shirt, sweatshirt/fleece
• Warm hat and gloves

Winter

• Top and bottom base layer
• Weatherproof winter jacket with secure hood
• Sweatshirt/Fleece/second warm top layer
• Third top layer (optional)
• Bottom outer layer (sweatpants, fleece pants, outdoor pants - preferably no jeans - they can be difficult for children to put on and take off independently, they absorb moisture quickly, and they restrict movement during play.)
• Snow pants
• Tall, warm wool socks (NO ankle socks)
• Shoes: Closed-toed shoes are a must. We highly recommend  BOGS boots or snow boots. NO tennis shoes in the winter.
• Warm hat that fully covers ears
• WATERPROOF mittens
• Neck gaiter or hat/neck gaiter combo
• Extra set of socks, shoes, pants, underwear, shirt, sweatshirt/fleece, hat, gloves

 if you are unable to provide required items for your child, please speak with our director. we maintain a variety of extra gear for families in need of items, or to be used if a child forgets something they need that day! 

Have gear that your kids no longer use but is still in good condition? We would love for you to donate it to our gear closet!!