Edwin County Farms has announced plans to open a new Nature Kindergarten in the County, “a part-time or full-time forest and nature-based program,” Wildhearts PEC.      

Claire Telford and Nick Sorbara of Edwin County Farms, and Julie Fowler of Wildhearts are collaborating to develop a “full-time Holistic Grade School option, a Waldorf and Forest-school inspired full-time school program for children in Grades 1-4.”

“We are nearing the final stages of completing our new log cabin school house [for] the Grade School, Nature Kindergarten and Forest Friday programs. Of course, we will also be embracing the forest, fields and farm as our classroom,” said Ms. Fowler in the announcement.

In a deposition to Committee of the Whole on 28 March, Ms. Telford and Ms. Fowler described the project at length. In addition to part-time, single-day visits for children to “learn and practice many skills including nature skills, risky play and social-emotional learning,” a full-time school could offer “an alternative to traditional school, inspired by Waldorf and Forest Schools, where children join us to learn the standards (reading, writing, arithmetic, science) as well as arts (music, handwork, creative expression), all anchored in the seasons and surrounding farmland.” 

Waldorf education is now over a century old. Based on the mystical philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, “anthroposophy,” it emphasizes a holistic approach, and privileges imagination and creativity while resisting standardized testing. Forest schooling, which is more recent, especially in Canada, integrates these principles with deep attention to, and immersion within, the natural environment.

The proponents of the Wildhearts school assert that its benefits include support for: creativity and imagination; emotional regulation; confidence, social skills, independence, communication and concentration; and physical development including balance, coordination and stamina.

Landscape architect Victoria Taylor, acting for Wildhearts, noted in a deposition to the Planning and Development Committee on 14 August that, “the plan is to start by welcoming eight full-time students and also 15 part-time students from the community to complement their public or homeschooling education the hope is to eventually grow to 40.”

At that meeting, Edwin County Farms received Council approval for rezoning “to permit a nature-based private school to accommodate a maximum 40 students.”

The Wildhearts PEC school is still awaiting site plan approval before officially opening for business. Nick Sorbara of Edwin County Farms estimates about six weeks. They are also putting the finishing touches to their log cabin schoolhouse. Teaching staff are on site and working with the children of the families to start. They hope to roll out programming when everything is in order, beginning in late fall. The Gazette will report on developments.

The cost could be $65-$75 per day, depending on the program.