Kindergarten Outdoor Program · Ages 5–6 · Year-round

This is what
kindergarten feels like.

Four and a half hours a day, five days a week, entirely outside at MacArthur Island Park. No desks. No worksheets. Real learning in a real place.

Get on the list Learn about the program

Ages

Kindergarten

Typically 5–6 years old

Location

MacArthur Island Park

Kamloops, BC

Program hours

8:30am – 1:00pm

Monday to Friday

Program runs

Three terms

Fall, Winter and Spring

About the program

The forest is a better
classroom.

The AIK Kindergarten program is a full-morning outdoor program for kindergarten-age children, running five days a week at MacArthur Island Park. Children arrive at 8:30 and spend four and a half hours outside before being picked up at 1:00.

This is not a nature walk bolted onto a regular school day. It is a full outdoor learning environment where children build, investigate, create, and practice real skills every single morning. The forest provides everything a kindergarten classroom needs and more.

Learning here is child-led and emergent. Facilitators follow the children's curiosity and connect it to language, math, science, and physical development in ways that feel like play, because at this age they are the same thing.

Children bring a snack and a lunch. Drop off and pick up are at the Kamloops Sports Council parking lot at MacArthur Island Park. Stat holidays are observed.

What this program gives children

More than any classroom has room for.

Time outside every single day, in every kind of weather
Child-led learning connected to real curriculum outcomes
Physical confidence from navigating real terrain
A full peer community that builds over three terms
The kind of independence that comes from doing hard things
A deep, specific relationship with one place in the natural world

A day in the program

What the morning looks like.

The structure is consistent enough that children know what to expect. Loose enough that what they find actually gets to lead.

8:30 – 8:45

Arrival

Children arrive at the Kamloops Sports Council parking lot. Gear check, greetings, and settling into the group before heading out.

8:45 – 9:00

Morning Circle

The group gathers. Songs, a look at the day, and time to notice what the season is doing. This is where the community starts.

9:00 – 10:00

Snack and Connection

Children eat, talk, and slow down together before the longest block of the day. A nut-aware snack from home.

10:00 – 11:30

Exploration and Learning

The longest and most important block. Children lead. Facilitators follow, extend, and connect what children are doing to real learning outcomes.

11:30 – 12:00

Lunch

Children eat lunch together outside. A moment to refuel, talk about the morning, and connect before the afternoon winds down.

12:00 – 1:00

Closing and Pickup

A final exploration block or group activity, then clean up, closing circle, and pickup at 1:00pm in the parking lot.

What children learn

Real curriculum.
Real places.

The forest covers every area of early childhood learning. Here is how that plays out in practice.

Science and Nature

Children observe, ask questions, and test what they find. The natural world provides more science content than any textbook.

Tracking animal footprints and identifying local wildlife
Observing seasonal change across three terms
Investigating pond life, insects, plants and habitats
Learning to read weather, wind and the natural environment

Math and Engineering

Counting, measuring, sorting, building and problem-solving happen naturally when children are given real materials and real space.

Counting and sorting natural loose parts like stones and acorns
Measuring sticks and comparing sizes
Building dens, structures and simple machines
Spatial reasoning through navigation and construction

Language and Literacy

Stories, songs, descriptive language and communication are woven into every morning. Children develop vocabulary through direct experience rather than abstraction.

Seasonal and nature-based stories in circle time
Descriptive language practice through sensory observation
Storytelling, mapping and mark-making with natural materials
Songs and rhymes that build phonemic awareness

Physical Development

Uneven terrain, logs, rocks and inclines give children real physical challenges every single day. This is gross motor development you can not replicate indoors.

Balancing on logs and navigating natural obstacles
Carrying, lifting and moving natural materials
Fine motor practice through nature craft and loose parts play
Building physical confidence through supported risk-taking

Program schedule

Three terms.
One year.

The kindergarten program runs across three terms. Families can register for one term or all three. The program builds on itself across the year.

Term 1

Fall

September 14 – December 8, 2026

The forest in fall is one of the best classrooms there is. Colours, textures, smells and the first cold mornings give children more to investigate than they can get through in twelve weeks.

Term 2

Winter

January 5 – March 19, 2027

Winter is where confidence gets built. Children who are outside through cold and dark weather develop a relationship with the natural world that fair-weather programs never reach.

Term 3

Spring

April 5 – May 28, 2027

The forest coming back to life gives children who have been there all year a front-row seat to something most adults never slow down enough to notice.

Stat holidays: The kindergarten program observes all BC statutory holidays. Fees are pro-rated accordingly. · Pricing for each term will be confirmed alongside Winter and Spring registration. · Spots are limited and confirmed once payment is received.

What to bring

Dressed for four and a half hours.

This is a long outdoor morning. The right gear makes all the difference. Wool and synthetic layers only — no cotton.

Every day, rain or shine

Waterproof rain jacket and rain pants
Warm base and mid layers (wool or synthetic only)
Rubber boots or waterproof hiking boots
Warm hat and gloves as temperatures drop
Extra socks in the bag
A nut-aware snack from home
A packed lunch
A full water bottle
A small backpack the child can carry themselves
Any required medications — speak with us beforehand

Good to know

Label everything. Things disappear in the forest.
Children are expected to manage their own gear. That is part of the program.
We do not cancel for rain or cold. We cancel for lightning, extreme wind, and wildfire smoke air quality advisories only. You will be notified directly.
Clothes come home dirty. Plan for it.
The playground at MacArthur Island is not part of our program space. We use it only on special occasions.

A full gear list and brand recommendations that won't break the budget are included in the Parent Handbook, sent once registration is confirmed.

Common questions

Before you register.

This is a recreational outdoor program, not a licensed school or registered BC independent school. It does not replace the BC public kindergarten year, and we do not issue school records or report cards. Many families run this program alongside or instead of public kindergarten and find that children are very well prepared for Grade 1. If you have questions about how this fits with your child's schooling, we are happy to talk it through.

Yes. Registration is by term, so you can join for one, two or all three depending on what works for your family. That said, the program builds across the year, and children who attend all three terms get the most from it. The community, the relationship with the site, and the progression of learning are all richer when children are there from the start.

We go outside. Rain, snow, mud and cold are part of the program, not reasons to cancel. Children in proper gear handle all of it comfortably. We cancel only for lightning, extreme wind events, or air quality advisories due to wildfire smoke. Families are notified as early as possible when a cancellation happens.

Yes. Children adapt to outdoor programs faster than most parents expect. The first week or two can feel like a big transition, particularly around getting used to the structure and the weather. By week three most children are coming home asking to go back. Our facilitators are experienced at supporting children through that adjustment period.

We maintain a maximum of 12 children per class with 2 facilitators. That is a 1:6 ratio, which gives facilitators the ability to follow individual children's interests while keeping the group safe and connected.

Written notice of withdrawal is required a minimum of 14 days before the intended last day. Fees paid beyond the notice period are non-refundable. Registration fees are non-refundable. Please read the full Parent Consent and Waiver before registering.

Winter & Spring 2027

Dates coming soon.

Winter and Spring term dates and pricing are being confirmed. Spaces are limited to 12 per class. Get on the list now and you will hear from us before enrollment opens.

Join the list

We'll reach out first when enrollment opens.

Read the waiver

Download and review before your first session.

Complete registration

Child and family details when enrollment opens.

See you outside

Parent Handbook arrives by email. Show up at 8:30.

Get on the list ↓ Download waiver (PDF)

Your Site Title

Location

Contact

This is whatkindergarten feels like.

The forest is a betterclassroom.

What the morning looks like.

Real curriculum.Real places.

Three terms.One year.

Dressed for four and a half hours.

Before you register.

Dates coming soon.

Your Site Title

Location

Contact

This is what
kindergarten feels like.

The forest is a better
classroom.

Real curriculum.
Real places.

Three terms.
One year.