Poulsbo

Sherman Hill

The Sherman Hill Campus hosts our Waldkinder program for ages 5-8. On 7 acres of wooded land adjacent to Petal and Pitchfork Farm, children are given time to explore their own interests, develop deep friendships, integrate STEM through building and creating, story writing and acting, and art. This is all freely chosen through play in a special learning community experience driven by the children and our wonderful educators whom we call playworkers. This class is a great fit for homeschoolers in the Kitsap area.

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Sherman Hill

Campus Programs

Waldkinder at Magnolia is much like our preschool except that the children are older (ages 5-8). Translated “forest children”, these older children are given the opportunity for constructive and socio-dramatic play. Executive function skills such as impulse and emotional control, flexible thinking, organization, and planning are honed as the children learn to work together with their peers deciding where to go in the forest and planning how they will spend their time together. Our program is based on the Danish forest school pedagogy which supports the children in four learning processes: ‘to be able to’, ‘to experience’, ‘to enjoy’, and ‘to understand’.

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Class Details

Location:
Petal & Pitchfork Farm, Poulsbo, WA

Waldkinder, 2023-2024
‍Ages: 5-8 years old

  • Mon/Wed, 9:00-1:00, $336/month

(Registration and  materials fee due at registration)

Summer Camp

Summer camp is a great time to try out forest school and see if your child loves it as much as we do! Enrollment opens March 1st. Email our registrar for more information: [email protected].

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Summer Camp Details

ENROLL FOR "Adventures Camps"

Ages: 5-8 years old

Location: Petal & Pitchfork Farm, Poulsbo

Days: Monday-Thursday

Time: 9:30-1:30 pm

Cost: $210/week

  • Week 1: July 8-11
  • Week 3: July 22-25
  • Week 4: July 29- Aug 1
  • Week 7: Aug 19-22

K-5th Grade

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K-5th Grade Details

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Visit Magnolia

Sherman Hill

and learn more

We 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!

Schedule Visit

Campus Director

Nate Clay-Ehart

Campus Director
[email protected]

Since he joined the Magnolia team in July of 2022 at the Kitsap Memorial site, Nate has found it extremely empowering for children to know that their voices are heard, understood, and important to those who listen. He is currently working on his bachelor's degree in zoology at Oregon State University and will graduate in 2025.

Nate spent much of his childhood fascinated by biology. Many of his birthday presents were anatomical models. Because his parents nurtured and encouraged these interests, he developed a long-standing passion for biology, wildlife, ecology, and learning. All things that lend themselves well to forest school! Following his degree in Zoology, he is planning on pursuing a Masters degree in education in order to follow in his Grandfathers footsteps and teach high school biology.

In his free time, Nate enjoys baking, playing with his dogs (Shroomy and Luna), making silly voices for stories, and creative writing.

Sherman Hill

Campus Teachers

Angela Reed

Campus Mentor

Angela Reed

Campus Mentor

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.

Erika Wisner

Waldkinder & Preschool Teacher

Erika Wisner

Waldkinder & Preschool Teacher

Starting as a Magnolia parent in 2022, Erika grew fond of Magnolia's method of teaching and dreamed of spending time with children in a forest setting. In early 2023 her dream became a reality when she started working for Magnolia as a substitute teacher. After getting to visit and experience all of the Magnolia campuses, she's excited to settle in as a full time teacher.

Born and raised near the shores and evergreens of Kitsap County, Erika has always loved spending time in nature. She has enjoyed camping and hiking since she was four years old, and now loves getting to work with children in the forest on a daily basis.

In 2014 Erika received her Associate of Applied Science in Commercial Photography from Seattle Central Creative Academy, and now enjoys photography as one of her favorite hobbies. Snapping candid photos of children immersed in play is one of her favorite things to do each day.

Erika is also a wife and mother of two girls, and has two cats named Thor and Loki.

Find Magnolia Forest School Near You!

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!

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“In the safety and freedom of the woods, [my child’s] little voice started asking for things she needed – and getting those needs met. Through climbing, exploring the natural world around her, her confidence grew. Magnolia’s style makes room for that.”
“One of the biggest leaps has been [my child’s] ability to communicate her emotions. Instead of endless tantrums or guessing games, [my child] has been able to clearly tell me what she’s feeling. Being able to identify a feeling is one of the first steps to working through it for her. This is a big deal in our everyday life, and I believe it’s truly added to her life in a dynamic manner. At Magnolia, I know I have a group of other caring adults in her life to help her learn to trust herself and others, during those difficult life moments.”
“ We look forward to the year, as well as the adventures of the K-8th program to follow. I want [my child] to continue to grow and learn to trust herself and grow into a confident child, and eventually young woman, with respect for life, others and the world around her. Those values are echoed by this school as well. Having the freedom to be 100% herself in a safe environment as she discovers who she is priceless.”
“Now, as a first time parent, I’ll admit, I had my doubts when it came to the theory behind child-lead learning, but I’m now sold on it. The confidence gained by learning to climb a rock transfers over to facing new learning milestones, like counting. [My child’s] imagination is free to expand with simple tools and toys, friends, fresh air, and the occasional snow ball. Imagination is the mother of invention. [My child] knows School is a safe place to make mistakes, explore, and grow.”
“I cannot say enough how much my child has grown since school started in September! She went from crying at drop off and clinging to a teacher, to confidently walking to a teacher at the start of a school day and strutting back at pick up.”
“[My child] has great stamina! Before Magnolia she wouldn’t walk very far and now she is able to hike up to 3 miles! She also has a longer attention span. She will stick with a task for 45 min or an hour. Again, before school she would flit from activity to activity.”

I'm interested in enrollment

We'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: [email protected] or Parent Liaison, Alex: [email protected].

I'm Interested

Have a question?

We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Forest 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, and we hope to see you in the forest soon!

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