At the Kitsap Memorial Campus children enjoy the expansive group campsite which is a combination of wide open spaces and forest, as well as a beach along the hood canal which fosters rich imaginative play. Children enjoy two trails that lead off of the group campsite where they encounter biodiversity and deepen their sense of wonder.
REGISTER NOWAt forest preschool the children visit the same woodland on a regular basis and are given the freedom to play, opportunity to explore and learn about the natural environment, and support while learning how to handle risks, solve problems, and cooperate with their peers. Preschool runs all year, where children learn and play in the woods in all weather: sun, rain, snow, warm and cold, (barring high winds or other extreme weather). As the forest is ever changing, each day brings new and different exploration opportunities. Children play, learn boundaries – both physical and social - grow in confidence, and become self-starters. Children in this environment learn that there are different ways of solving problems and they develop their critical thinking skills daily. Learn more about Magnolia's Forest Preschool program.
Ages: 2.5-5 years old
Location: Kitsap Memorial State Park
September 2022 - June 2023
Ages: 2.5-5 years old
(Registration and Materials Fees due at registration)
Waldkinder + Workshop Class, 2022-2023
Ages: 4-7 years old
(Registration and Materials Fees due at registration)
Summer camp is a great time to try out forest school and see if your child loves it as much as we do! We often begin registration for summer camps March 1. It is helpful if you contact us before then so we know you are interested and can give you priority on open spaces.
Ages: 2.5-5 years old
Locations:
Kitsap Memorial State Park, Poulsbo, WA
Shine Tidelands State Park, Port Ludlow, WA
Time: 9:00-1:00
Days: Monday-Thursday
Dates: July 5-August 18, 2022
Camp t-shirt included!
Enrollment opens March 2!
Jeanie studied education at Central Washington University, where she earned double Bachelor degrees in Elementary and Special Education. She has over 22 years of experience working with ages ranging from preschool to high school, including having taught 5th grade on Bainbridge Island. She is currently a member of the Washington Nature Preschool Association because she believes in outdoor play and is a proud advocate.
Outdoor education provides such an immense opportunity to learn and grow, Jeanie loves that through this environment children are allowed to use their natural curiosity and creativity. Being outdoors gives them ample space, time, and freedom to follow their interests. She firmly believes that through play children develop cognitive skills, physical abilities, speech and language progress, and social emotional intelligence flourishes. Magnolia provides a rich opportunity for children to build relationships, resilience, and confidence that will carry them through their further education.
As a native to the PNW, Jeanie enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and camping with her family. Having homeschooled her two kids for many years, she’s witnessed the benefits of honoring the way children learn, allowing them freedom to pursue their interests, and access to nature. Her son, Joe, is a local high school student and her daughter, Samantha, is studying at CWU.
Anna holds a Master's degree in Applied Linguistics from University of Marie Curie-Sklodowska in Lublin, Poland. Before moving to Washington in early 2017 she taught English as a second language in Poland and Germany for almost 10 years.
Throughout her teaching career she has always remained a learner first, but the most valuable lessons came from being a parent. She believes it's extremely important to let children become comfortable with the whole spectrum of emotions available to them in the earliest stages of their development. Providing a safe environment where they can freely interact with nature and their peers will help them become self-aware and respectful of themselves, others and the world around them.
Anna loves hiking and exploring Washington both solo and with her family. She's an avid yoga practitioner and a certified instructor. She's also a competitive strategy board gamer and an amateur piano and ukulele player.
Nathan graduated with an Associates degree in Pre-Nursing from Olympic College in 2019. After a change of degree paths, he is currently working on his Bachelor's degree in Zoology at Oregon State University.
Nathan has a long-standing passion for wildlife and ecology. Following his degree in Zoology, he is planning on pursuing a Masters degree in Education in order to teach Biology. He is very excited to have a chance to gain more experience working with children!
In his down-time, Nathan is an avid baker, writer, dog trainer, and natural history buff, as well as being a big fan of dinosaurs and other extinct megafauna. He also loves to travel; discovering this fascination with different landscapes after visiting Iceland and the Bahamas and learning about the ecosystems of Madagascar.
Ivy is a recent North Kitsap Highschool graduate looking to broaden her experience with children. Ivy loves to play music and finds it to be important that children expand their imagination through creative projects. She believes in letting children learn at their own pace, personally, and academically.
Attending her local community college, she will be studying business management to further her knowledge in how to run a successful business. Her hobbies include baking, playing guitar, and going on bike rides. As a first year teacher she is excited to see what she can teach a new generation but most importantly learn from this new generation.
Angela graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Zoology and a music minor. Her years in veterinary medicine and wildlife rehabilitation satisfied her love of science, nature and caretaking. When she accepted a teaching position in her daughter’s toddler class, she fell in love with early childhood education.
Angela started as a “Science Days” docent at Magnolia, and felt inspired by the children’s imagination and cooperation. She values making connections with the kids and watching them have “light bulb” moments.
Her spare time is spent paddleboarding, playing music, making amigurumi, gardening and of course, playing outside with her family. Angela is looking forward to more discoveries in the forest with the children of Magnolia.
William graduated from Olympic College in 2008 with a degree in Arts and Science with a special interest in both geology and biology. He started martial arts when he was young and eventually found a passion for it which led to becoming both a martial arts and fitness instructor for 15 years, helping guide children as young as two in developing important social, behavioral, and character development skills. It has been one of the most influential parts of his life growing up and he jumped at the opportunity to teach kids and fulfill the role of a mentor and fellow student.
A visit to his old elementary school helped him discover that it was time for a change of pace, which led him to Magnolia Forest Preschool, where he has been given a new opportunity to influence children in a different way, becoming a source of comfort and a guide for when they need him as well as a fellow student learning alongside them.
He believes in a hands-on learning approach and feels that there is no bigger motivation in learning than through having fun and making positive experiences, helping equip children with fundamental skills, and facilitating the time and space to practice those skills so that they can carry them for life. As a father and husband, William has been a member of our local Poulsbo community for many years.
At six unique campuses across Sequim, Edmonds, and Poulsbo, Washington, Magnolia children learn rain and shine. Preschool (ages 2.5-5) and Waldkinder (ages 4-7) programs meet September through June. We welcome lots of new friends at our summer camps, too!
SEE ALL LOCATIONSWe would love to meet you! Each campus welcomes new families for tours regularly September-June so that you can see the forest school space, meet the site director, ask questions and get a taste for the Magnolia Forest Preschool experience! If you are a newly enrolled family, stay tuned for details about our Back to School Open House where you can meet the teachers and see the forest spaces.
Schedule VisitForest school can be the perfect fit for so many children because it is uniquely tailored to support their strengths and interests. We look forward to connecting with you and your child further. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and hope to see you in the forest soon!
