Our Living classroom: The forest as the third teacher

"We are so incredibly blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world. Vancouver Island holds so much magic and mystery deep within our dense forests and stormy ocean waters.
At Little Bears, our campus is a 4-acre forest, which then backs into an additional 50-plus acres of untouched forest land.
We have a special meeting place in the heart of the forest that we call the "Forest Piazza".
Another favorite spot is through the back gate and about a 15-minute walk towards Lost Lake. The "chimney" is a hidden gem where a small stream trickles, and a large brick chimney remains from what we think must have been an old family homestead from the early 1900's.
Every inch of the forest is a learning opportunity.
When considering a forest "Atelier," our outdoor environment is a canvas waiting to be uncovered.
Unlike a blank artist's canvas, the forest is a "living canvas" already rich with "paints" and "textures"-such as moss, mud, and light-that act as invitations for discovery.
This perspective shifts the educators roll as a co-researcher into one as also a co-creator.
The educators and children can use the forest's sensory details to express complex ideas through the "Hundred Languages of Children".

One of the best parts of being in the forest while the rain is pounding down on us is the smells and the sounds of the trees and the dirt.
A torrential downpour is NOT a reason to go indoors; it is actually a profound sensory shift that reconfigures the "Forest Atelier."

When the rain pours (which is often here in Victoria), the forest transitions from a static environment to a dynamic, high-definition playground that engages a child's very soul.

A Sensory Symphony
The most immediate transformation is auditory and visual. The forest floor, usually muted, begins to "speak" as raindrops strike different surfaces-the hollow drum of a cedar stump, the rhythmic patter on broad maple leaves, and the splashing into rising puddles.

The rain acts as a saturating lens, making the deep greens of BC's moss and ferns glow with fresh, neon intensity. All Colours intensify and become alive!

Forest creatures often hidden during the dry hours-frogs, slugs, snails, and worms emerge, offering spontaneous "pop-up" laughter and wonder on our living outdoor Atelier.

For our Little Bears, a puddle is much more than a splash-zone: it's a foundational laboratory for physics and engineering.

Children naturally begin to experiment with "loose parts" like sticks and rocks to create dams, bridges, or channels to direct water flow.

They observe cause and effect firsthand-why some objects float on the puddle while others sink, and how the water's surface reflects light and movement.

Navigating slippery stumps and jumping into muddy puddles builds physical coordination, risk assessment skills, and "grit".

Our Mud Atelier: AKA: Dirty rocks and dirty water

Rain transforms the forest floor into the ultimate open-ended medium.

Wet earth becomes a malleable "clay" for making mud pies, sculptures, or textured "paintings" on tree bark or rocks.
The "Squish" of mud between fingers and even toes provides a deep tactile experience that grounds children in the present moment, often reducing anxiety and improving focus.

***Side note: In the BC Early Learning Curriculum (ELF), one of my former staff members, Shannon McDaniel, has published a Pedagogical Narration, which was written in our forest Piazza at Little Bears!
She writes of her trepidation while removing her own boots and socks and allowing her bare feet into the mud. It's a brave and open look into an educator struggling with her own beliefs and comforts while working with children in an outdoor classroom.

There is a unique sense of autonomy and release that comes with being allowed to get wet and messy.
In an outdoor Atelier, "bad weather" is reframed as a "new world" to be conquered. This freedom fosters a sense of agency-the child is not a passive observer of the rain but an active participant in its lifecycle.

Ultimately, our outdoor classroom empowers our children to see themselves as capable, curious, and deeply interconnected with the beautiful forests of British Columbia. 
The unstructured nature of an outdoor atelier supports diverse learning styles and encourages collaborative problem solving that traditional indoor settings may not fully be able to capture. 
How lucky are we?
As always, thank you for reading. I would love to hear your comments or questions.

With gratitude,
Lexie
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