Opening Summer of 2023, the NEW Port Orchard Campus is located at Manchester State Park. Amidst the old growth forest, trails, and meadows, our classes will experience the joy and beauty of nature's outdoor classroom. Manchester State Park has access to a beach, too. This will provide rich diversity of experience that will ebb and flow with seasonal changes.
I'm INTERESTEDAt 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.
Location:
Manchester State Park, Port Orchard, WA
Ages: 2.5-5 years old
September 2023 - June 2024
(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!
Ages: 2.5-5 years old
Locations:
Manchester State Park, Port Orchard, WA
Time: 9:00-1:00
Days: Monday-Thursday
Dates:
Weeks 5, 6= $170 each
Camp t-shirt included!
Enrollment opens March 1 for current families. New Families will be invited to join based on waitlist status. Email our registrar for more information: info@magnoliaforestpreschool.com.
Our Open House will be Saturday, April 29, 10-12pm. We would love to meet you! This is a great time to see the forest space, meet the site director, and ask questions. For more info on the Open House, visit https://tinyurl.com/PortOrchardOpenHouse. If you can't make the Open House, schedule a tour at the link below.
Schedule VisitAlex is a graduate of Western Washington University with a degree in elementary education and literacy. She’s a certified K-8 teacher in Washington with experience in both primary and secondary grades. Teaching the foundations of literacy is her passion!
Alex and her husband Benjamin are parents to five kiddos all of whom have attended Magnolia! She has a deep love of learning and a passion for observing and facilitating lifelong learning in children. Magnolia has inspired and forever changed their family. The Magnolia philosophy has directly impacted their parenting and shifted the family dynamic in completely unexpected ways. Alex joined the Magnolia team as a teacher and then as the Parent Liaison in order to share the Magnolia Method with children and their families.
When not in the forest Alex is a flower farmer and loves to share her garden and home with others. She is often found with her nose in a book and loves to travel and cook. As a family they spend their time working and free ranging on the farm, exploring, camping, kayaking, and fishing.
Alex is thrilled to be experiencing the forest alongside children as they grow and develop in curiosity and insight together.
Rebekah studied at Seattle Pacific University and has been working with children for 16 years in a wide variety of settings. Most recently she created and directed an outdoor after school program in California that prioritized free play outdoors and fostered a meaningful connection between children and nature. She is a certified Washington State Naturalist as well as a Stream, Forest and Beach Naturalist in Kitsap County. Rebekah grew up on a ranch near Mount Rainier and is passionate about passing on the positive impacts of extended free play outdoors that she benefitted from as a child.
Rebekah cares deeply about children receiving respect and basic trust to initiate and explore at their own pace. Supporting children in problem solving and seeing them enjoy mastery of their own actions has been an incredibly rewarding part of her career and motherhood! Magnolia’s philosophy was a perfect match for her own and Rebekah is thrilled to join a team of like-minded people and share Magnolia with her 3 year old.
In her free time Rebekah loves being with family, creative writing, camping, exploring low tide, and community building in her neighborhood. She lives in Port Orchard with her husband and son.
Tom has a Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and Culinary Arts, and received Birth Doula training from Bastyr University. They have volunteered with Open Arms Perinatal Services as a pre/postnatal Doula, serving marginalized birth parents in the Seattle area. Tom has also worked as a volunteer cook at Operation Sack Lunch, serving Seattle’s homeless community.
As a child (and adult), Tom spent most of their time outside in the woods exploring, playing, imagining, dreaming and learning. As a queer/trans, gender non-conforming, birth-parent, Tom Crowley-Thomas has a passion for fostering equitable learning spaces and empowering students.
Currently, Tom is working on a degree in Psychology/Social Work and believes social emotional learning is paramount during formative Pre-K years. Making this connection to the land is foundational. In their free time, Tom loves to make up songs for their child, read poetry, ride their Vespa, play music with their band and spend time in the garden.
At unique campuses across the Puget Sound Region in Washington, Magnolia children learn rain and shine. Preschool (ages 2.5-5) and Waldkinder (ages 5-8) programs meet September through June. We welcome lots of new friends at our summer camps, too!
SEE ALL LOCATIONSWe're so glad you're interested in enrolling your child at Magnolia! Families often have lots of questions, and we're here to help. Complete the interest form below, so we can support you in your journey toward forest school. You can also directly contact our Registrar, Taylor: info@magnoliaforestpreschool.com or Parent Liaison, Alex: alex@magnoliaforestpreschool.com.
I'm InterestedForest 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!
