Cedar Valley Farm and Forest is a school designed for infants and toddlers to explore their autonomy, build loving connections, and engage with local food and the circle of life. We create these opportunities through authentic interaction with our farm setting, messy and appropriately risky explorative play, and by staffing dedicated teachers who follow Developmentally Appropriate Practices. Rather than adhering strictly to a specific educational doctrine, Cedar Valley Farm and Forest incorporates aspects of many different educational and natural philosophies into our daily experiences. We believe that children are capable, smart, independent people with valuable ideas and curiosities. Our role as teachers is to create a safe and nurturing environment for children to grow, play, and develop socially.
We believe that learning in an outdoor setting is invaluable to children. Fostering a connection to nature guides children to develop empathy, problem solving skills, and an overall sense of what it is to be a citizen of earth. The farm allows children to participate in planting, growing, and harvesting, in order to create a grounded and more personal connection with food. Children on the farm also interact with and care for farm animals. These relationships connect children to creatures of the Earth and help them to foster an intrinsic sense of responsibility towards them. As stewards of the land, it is important that our space celebrates all weather. We maximize our time spent outside in nature, including meals, naps, and other daily routines. We believe that children deserve to learn in an environment where their basic needs are met and their education is hands-on and play-based.
“Our flexibility and willingness to follow a child’s lead will allow remarkable things to happen, if we let them.”
— Bev Bos
