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Afterschool Forest School, Kindergarten - 2nd grade
3:30-4:30pm @ Toll Gate Grammar School, Pennington, New Jersey
class size limited to 8 children
100% outdoors, barring hazardous weather
Coyote Club provides children respite after a busy day of learning where they have spent their day primarily indoors. We set up a rhythm that is both flexible and predictable allowing each child to feel comfortable and confident with the structure of the afternoon. We let the children's needs, feelings, and energies be our guide as we move through transitions.
SAMPLE RHYTHM ~
3:30pm - After the children are picked up by the guide at the end of their school day, we hike over to our Base Camp where there are a variety of options provided to meet the children's needs based on their energy level, personality, and interests. If they are full of energy to burn off, we have nature games and materials available for that. If they are tired after a long day and need to sit quietly under a tree drawing or just listening to the birds, we have space for that.
The start of our time together focuses on allowing each child to connect with their surroundings and to each other as they settle in to the space.
4:00pm - We circle up together to share songs, tell stories of our days, whittle,, and ask questions to ponder. The guide presents materials and tools that are available for the children's use during their forest play time. If anyone is interested in going for a hike, we grab walking sticks and head out. If they are more interested in gently wandering, we lean into that. This time belongs to the children - the guide is present to give support and be a resource.
4:30pm - A pack howl at the moon marks the end of our time together as parents arrive to take their canid home happy, healthy, and dirty!
(or if registered with the YMCA aftercare program, the guide will sign the child(ren) into their care until parents arrive for pick-up.)
2025-2026 Sessions:
SPRING - at Toll Gate Grammar School, Pennington, NJ
Mondays - FULL
(7 weeks)
$250
April 6 - May 18
Wednesdays -
(7 weeks)
$250
April 8 - May 20
-
100% outside, in all weather
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