A Waldorf inspired nature immersion program for up to 8 year olds

KEW KIDS

FOREST SCHOOL

We re-opened on June 1st, 2020!

Join us for our new afterschool program from 2:30pm to 4pm or 5:30pm!

Robert Frost

“When I see birches bend to left and right...I like to think some boy's been swinging them.”

WHO WE ARE

Kew Kids is a forest school in a home daycare setting for young children. We are a mixed-age nurturing community of learners that values kindness, cooperation, curiosity, imagination, and respect for all living things. Here in New York City where forest area is sparse, we are lucky to live next to Forest Park, the third largest park in Queens covering an area of 538 acres and containing 165 acres of trees. Numerous trails wind through native hardwood (oak-hickory) forest and kettle ponds. Forest Park is the classroom, and Kew Kids uses the landscape, the hills, the edges, the trees to encourage exploration, experimentation and development.

We are part of the nature preschool movement and are proud member of Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools and Natural Start Alliance, an exceptional network of organizations dedicated to helping young children experience and care for nature.

Our teachers are creative, thoughtful, and trained for outdoor adventures. A small teacher-to-children 4: 1 ratio enables teachers to dive more deeply into the exploration of the forest, and into each child's personal learning journey.

WHAT WE DO

We offer a unique full day and half day year-round drop-off nature-based program and day camps that aim to cultivate in young children a love of the outdoors, hone a sense of wonder, provide healthy challenges that instill confidence, capability, and self-reliance. Through daily interactions with the environment, our program offers regular thoughtful opportunities for children to get to know and interact with outdoors and the world around them, to learn to look, listen, smell, climb, fall and get back up again, learn to be curious and to explore.

Kew Kids allows children to lead in an exploration of the natural landscape and each other. Children are encouraged to explore, take risks and learn in a safe and open ended setting that seems just like play.

Our children spend the bulk of their time outside daily.

WHO IS THIS FOR

Children up to 8 years old of all experience levels from expert salamander handlers to the novice trail blazers -- we invite young community members to enroll and experience the outdoor with us!

WHAT’S COMING UP

Stay up to Date with What’s Happening

We want you to come find your place with us. Words can only describe our school so much. A visit will let you experience it. Learn about our curriculum, community impact, and how we support our children here at Kew Kids. Join us in one of our upcoming events, activities and local projects. Sign up and reserve your spot today.

TOUR

Come visit our space and explore our program. Please send us an email or call to make an appointment.

SUMMER CAMP IN THE FOREST

July 6th - August 27th, 2021 (minimum 2-week commitment)

AM (8am-Noon) or Full Day

(School Holiday Camp Series)

SUMMER CAMP as it is meant to be...in the wild!

Join us for a very active, hands-on (and messy) summer camp and experience the wonders of our urban garden and Forest Park. We will become nature detectives, investigate the secret world of insects, make mud and slime, create art from nature and explore the wondrous trees and plants and learn camping and adventure skills while making new friends. We'll grow and taste from our garden and cook using the power of the sun and conquer many STEM challenges in our outdoor classrooms.

New theme every two weeks starting July 6th. Two weeks minimum.

See application details and pricing on Parent Information page.

Parent Info

FOREST PARK FAMILY VOLUNTEER PROJECT

Second Saturday of Every Month at 9:30am

Weather Permitting

Teaching our children to appreciate Mother Earth and to be her responsible steward.

Join Kew Kids Forest School and NYC Parks Department on the second Saturday of each month to help clean our forest classrooms and maintain the trails in Forest Park. Volunteers will participate in a range of trail maintenance tasks for all ages and abilities. From digging and brush clearing to raking and litter pickup, there is something for everyone! Toddlers welcome. Weather Permitting.

Volunteers will meet at the entrance to the bike path off Metropolitan and Forest Park Drive.

To follow NYC Parks restart guidelines, we are keeping our group to 25 to allow social distancing. RSVP is required.

CONTACT US

82-96 116th Street, Kew Gardens, NY 11418

646-450-6672