Forest Preschool

at the South Cumberland State Park Visitor's Center

Our Forest Preschool Program is located at the South Cumberland State Park Visitor's Center in Monteagle, TN. Complete with an outdoor classroom pavilion, forested story-book trail, and nature play space, this location is the perfect spot for Forest School. Our preschool-aged students (ages 3-5) get a chance to experience the magic of the outdoors everyday at forest preschool with our entirely outdoor curriculum. From learning how to cook over a fire, to enjoying daily imaginative play, your student will receive individualized care and attention with a 1:5 teacher/student ratio, as well as a Reggio-Emilia focused approach to curriculum and learning. Programming each day is largely student-led, focusing on the interests and needs of the children. Our scheduling is malleable & can be shifted to fit your needs. Here is an example of one of our daily schedules:

8:00 - Morning circle and check-ins

8:30 - Outdoor exploration + free play

9:30 - Yoga + mindfulness

10:00 - Snack** and story time

10:30 - Daily lesson or hike

11:00 - Outdoor exploration + free play

11:30 - Craft + art play

12:00 - Lunch**

12:30 - Clean-up + closing circle

1:00 - Dismissal

**Food not provided by CFS - please pack your own snacks & lunches

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Children must be able to follow directions carefully, show respect towards other children and their teachers and be able to communicate effectively. Children must be toilet-proficient in order to attend.

DRESSING APPROPRIATELY

Appropriate clothing for Forest School is CRITICAL to the success of the program. All children should come prepared everyday with:

Rain boots with thick socks
Thermal top & bottoms
Warm fleece or puffy layer
Rain pants & rain jacket

If your family needs assistance in acquiring this necessary gear, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Weekend events, potlucks, and other family gatherings will be planned to provide a continuation of the Forest School experience for the entire family.

ENROLL HERE FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR

Our Outdoor Classroom

New Partnerships, & Location

Cumberland Forest School is ecstatic to announce its partnership with Friends of South Cumberland State Park & South Cumberland Regional Land Trust. In collaboration with these organizations, CFS launched our Forest Preschool at the South Cumberland State Park Visitor's Center in January of 2023.

With the help of a recently awarded grant from the South Cumberland Community Fund, we built a Forest School Pavilion at the S.C. Visitor's Center located in Monteagle, TN. Cumberland Forest School will be better able to serve families and students in the Grundy, Franklin and Marion county areas while we operate from the central location of Monteagle.