Nature Pedagogy is an understanding of our sense of belonging to land, our sense of working with nature. There is a pedagogical shift when you move outside into nature... it's learning with nature, not just teaching about it

     - Claire Warden

Tuition and Registration:

 

Our Forest Kindergarten program is offered to children ages 3 to 6 years old.

  •  Children who turn 3 years old by August 1 are generally ready and eligible for this class. After the initial tour with your child, we will determine if your child is a candidate for our Nature Base program.  
  • Program requirements:
    • Three years old by August 1
    • Able to communicate their needs for a restroom and/or toilet trained,
    • Be able to wear the required gear
    • Follow safety rules and guidelines on /offsite and respond to name called 
  • We strive to create a balanced and diverse population of learners for our Multiage Forest Kindergarten class that meets regularly:
  • 5 days a week: Monday through Friday
  • Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.   
  • A 10 month school year, August - May:
    • Tuition:  $1,075 per month  ( due on the 1st of each month)
  • Yearly registration fee is non a refundable $200 (per child) to reserve a spot for the school year.
    • Currently enrolled Families have a discounted $150 registration fee during their enrollment period
  • Priority for Registration:
    • Currently enrolled Families & siblings of enrolled Families
    • Wait List 
    • General Public
  • Our school year follows the Cobb County School calendar (August - May), holidays and closings.
  • The tuition is prepaid and due by the first business day of each month.
  • There are no deductions of the monthly tuition for sick days, snow days, vacations, holidays, power outages due to snow/ tornado / hurricane or other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.
  • We maintain a very low teacher to student ratio 1-2:6
  • Our Parent Handbook will be available to view for greater detail on polices and procedures
  • Parents will be required to provide a list of gear items for all seasons while the school will also provide additional items to support all Children in the program. KMNP will also provide a school discount code for gear items such as boots, rain pants, etc. 
  • Parents provide home packed lunches in the school provided Bento Box while the school also provides 2 healthy snacks per day.
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 Application and Registration Process

We are pleased that you are interested in our Nature Preschool experience. Choosing an appropriate preschool for your Child and Family is an important decision and we hope to help you in this process.

Our process for applying and registration:

STEP 1:  Schedule a private school tour. Children are required to attend to attend the initial tour. 

STEP 2:  After taking a tour and reviewing the Parent Handbook, if we agree that Kennesaw Mountain Nature Preschool may be a right fit for your family and you would like to apply, then fill out an Application, scan and email the document along with a photo of your Child. 

  • ONCE the applications have been received, Families will be notified of the application status during our review and wait period depending on the number of applicants received. This process could take several weeks but we will notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner. Once you have been offered a spot in the program, please promptly notify us of acceptance or declination of the spot so that we may offer the spot to another Family. 

STEP 3: When you accept a spot in the program, you will receive the Enrollment packet that you need to return as soon as possible fully filled out (leaving no blanks) along with $200 deposit to hold your child's spot. Any missing, inaccurate information or alterations made to the contract may delay or forfeit your Child's spot.

  • Make sure to attach your Child's immunization records or Religious Exemption per GA State licensing requirements. The enrollment process will be officially done and your Child will be enrolled once we receive all the required enrollment paperwork, Registration deposit and our bank clears your payment. You may pay Registration fees by Pay Pal on our website, in person or mail to our school address

STEP 4: We will keep in contact during the Summer to help your Family prepare for Enrollment by sharing the Gear list and any other special events such as Parent Orientation, etc.

  • The WAIT LIST is an option for Families who are interested in our unique Nature Based Preschool experience and wish to be on the wait list for the event that a spot opens up throughout the school year. The first step to applying for the Wait List is to schedule a private tour for you and your Child. After you have taken a private tour, we have discussed your potential enrollment and have offered you a spot on the list, then you may pay the wait list fee of $25. You may pay this fee via pay pal or mail in a check with your application.

 

Ensuring success in our Forest Preschool program:

Clothing Requirements

  • Be prepared for your Child to dress appropriately for exploring freely outdoors, get dirty, and feel comfortable no matter the weather. Dressing appropriately for the outdoors is a requirement for the health, safety and emotional well being of all enrolled students. 

We borrow the old Scandinavian adage ~

There is no bad weather, but inappropriate clothing choices.

  • Dressing your Children in layers is critical during the winter months as the Georgia weather often varies throughout the day. Loose layers helps the body warm itself by insulating pockets of air in between layers of clothing.
  • We are here to support families and offer Parents recommendations for appropriate clothing for the factors of safety, durability, waterproofing, comfort and ease of use. When dressed appropriately, Children will be healthy and safe while happily playing outside and become accustomed to the seasonal changes. Dressing appropriately will support staying in the outdoors and nature for extended amounts of time so that Children will have opportunity to develop deeper play skills and relationship in nature. We will work closely with each Family to notify you of weather dressing needs. 

 

  • KMNP will provide these items for every Child's use while enrolled in the program: 
    • Rain Suits / Rain Coat
    • Wool Mittens
    • Waterproof mitten covers
    • Bucket Hat
    • REI Day Pack ( to carry lunch, extra clothes, etc.) 
    • Bentgo Chill Lunch box w ice insert 
    • Triton 24 oz Water bottle
    • Nap/ Rest mat, sheet, blanket
    • Forest animal 
    • Yoga mat
    • Safety gear ( vests, goggles, gloves, etc.) 
    • School T shirt 
    • Nature Journal

*Second Year students may be able to reuse these items: Day Pack, Bentgo Box, mittens, neck warmer, Winter Coat, and base layers if carefully sized. Items such as Rain Pants and Neoprene Boots will need to be repurchased due to growth and wear/ tear. It is important for Children to have a good fit for waterproofness and comfort while hiking and Nature play. 

Parents provide these items for their Child:

  • REQUIRED CLOTHING FOR EVERY CHILD PER SCHOOL YEAR:
    • Waterproof light weight winter coat (Ex. Columbia, REI, etc. )
    • Fleece zip up hoodie (medium weight fleece) 
    • Wool beanie 
    • Wool socks ( important layer under waterproof boots)
    • Fleece neck warmer (not a scarf)
    • Rain pants (Oaki rain pants)
    • Base layer (top and bottom thermal or wool)
    • Rain boots (Oaki, Neoprene) 
    • 2-3 full change of extra clothing including undergarments at all times
      • We will provide you with a school 25% discount code when you purchase from Oaki Wear. This code is specific to our Nature Preschool and will be very handy when ordering any outdoor gear, especially the rain pants and boots that are worn on a daily basis!
      • KMNP also provides a list of source options for the above items
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