We guide children in connecting with nature, building friendships, and developing independence through play and place-based learning!
Our students
Our summer program is for children ages 3-6. Our student to teacher ratio is 5:1, so each child can feel supported.
One of the highlights of this program is the community that is created throughout the duration of the summer between students, teachers, families, and the landowners. We also feel that routine and consistency help kids learn, express, and grow. For these reasons, we require students to enroll for all 9 weeks of the summer program.
Our Program
At Mountain Chickadee Forest School, kids explore nature (rain or shine!) with their friends. Some days we harvest natural clay and craft sculptures. Other days, we build trails for ants and identify insects. No matter the lesson, it is designed around the interests of the students.
Our summer program takes place Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from June 1st though July 31st. Our hours are 8:45am-3:00pm.
Our teaching values
Play-based
We allow children to follow their curiosities, and we challenge and support them with new experiences and learnings throughout their journey. We ensure that learning is fun and adventure filled!
Place-based
Our place affects who we are, just as we affect our learning environment. As we explore, we consider our place in the interconnected Montana ecosystems.
Community minded
A thriving community is central to individual health. Because of this, we foster peer-to-peer communication and social emotional learning.
Meet the Founder & Teacher
Natalie has worked with kids for over a decade. She began as a toddler swim instructor and a youth swim team coach. After graduating as valedictorian from Hamilton College with a degree in Environmental Science, she taught at an open air ecology classroom through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. While working with K-12 students, she saw firsthand the positive impact that outdoor learning has on students, teachers, and the landscapes they play in and study.
In 2018, Natalie moved to Montana to work for the Flathead Lake Biological Station. Part of her work there was spent developing and delivering aquatic invasive species curriculum to students across the valley.
Following her time at the Biological Station, Natalie worked at a forest preschool in the Flathead Valley. During her four years there, she learned from her fellow teachers, students, and the beautiful Montana landscape. The result is a teaching style that draws from many different philosophies, such as Scandinavian forest models, Montessori, and play based learning.