Sprouts Forest Program · For preschool-age children · Winter 2026/27

Where capable
kids are made.

Three hours in the forest at MacArthur Island Park. Real mud, real trees, real learning. Not a drop-in. Not a daycare. Three hours of genuine outdoor time, every session.

Register now Learn about the program
🌿  Returning Sprouting Knowledge families: You are always welcome here. Your child's spot is waiting.
Ages
3 – 5
Must be potty trained
Location
MacArthur Island Park
Kamloops, BC
Program hours
9am – 12pm
Mon, Tue, Wed, or Thu
Class size
Max 12
2 facilitators per class
About the program

The forest does the teaching.

Sprouts is our outdoor forest program for preschool-age children, ages 3 to 5. Every session takes place entirely outdoors at MacArthur Island Park, in all seasons and most weather. Drop off and pick up is at the Kamloops Sports Council parking lot. This is not a backup plan when the gym is booked. The forest is the plan.

Children spend their mornings climbing, digging, building, exploring, and learning to read the natural world around them. They develop confidence, independence, resilience, and the kind of problem-solving that comes from real challenges in real environments.

Coming back to the same place matters. Children start to know which puddles stay longest, where the best climbing logs are, what appears after rain, and what changes when one season turns into the next. MacArthur Island stops being somewhere they visit and becomes somewhere they know.

Our facilitators guide the experience without directing every moment. They know when to step in and when to step back. That balance is where capable kids are made.

Sprouts continues the tradition built by Sprouting Knowledge, now under the Adventuring Into Knowledge Nature School umbrella. The faces, the place, and the spirit of that program all carry forward.

What carries forward from Sprouting Knowledge
Everything that made it worth loving.
  • MacArthur Island Park as home base
  • Small class sizes with two ECE or ECEA certified facilitators
  • Child-led exploration with supported risk-taking
  • Time to notice small things, follow curiosity, and stay with an idea longer than adults usually let kids stay with it
  • Year-round programming in all weather
  • A community of families who understand why this matters
Register for Winter
A day in the forest

What your child's morning looks like.

Every session follows a familiar rhythm. Predictability helps children feel safe enough to take risks and go deep into play.

9:00 – 9:15
Arrival
Families arrive and children transition in at their own pace. Gear check, greetings, and settling in.
9:15 – 9:30
Morning Circle
The group gathers. Songs, stories, a look at the day ahead. This is where community gets built.
9:30 – 10:00
Snack Time
A pause before the adventure begins. Children bring their own snacks. A moment to fuel up and connect.
10:00 – 11:30
Free Exploration
The longest and most important block. Children lead. Facilitators observe, support, and extend.
11:30 – 11:45
Clean Up and Head Back
Children help tidy the space, gather their gear, and make their way back together for closing.
11:45 – 12:00
Closing Circle
Stories from the day. A moment of reflection. Goodbyes that give children closure before pickup.
Program fees

Choose your days.

Families choose one, two, three, or four days per week, and pay $390 per day for each day selected. Winter session runs January 5 – March 19, 2027.

01
1 day / week
One day
$390
per session
Mon, Tue, Wed, or Thu
Most popular
02
2 days / week
Two days
$780
per session
Choose any two days
03
3 days / week
Three days
$1,170
per session
Choose any three days
04
4 days / week
Four days
$1,560
per session
Mon through Thu
Register for Winter
Winter 2026/27 session: January 5 – March 19  ·  Spring 2027 session: April 5 – May 28, join the waitlist to hear when registration opens  ·  Stat holidays (Thanksgiving and Remembrance Day) are observed.  ·  Payment is made online at time of registration by credit card via Stripe.  ·  Spots are held on a first-come, first-served basis and are only confirmed once payment is received.
What to bring

Dressed for the forest.

We go out in rain, wind, mud, and cold. The right gear makes the difference between a miserable morning and a magical one.

Every session, rain or shine
  • Rain jacket and rain pants (waterproof, not just water-resistant)
  • Rubber boots or waterproof hiking boots
  • Warm base layer (even in warmer months, forest mornings are cool)
  • Weather-appropriate mid layer
  • Change of clothes in a labelled bag
  • Allergen-aware snack and water bottle, no food sharing
  • Small backpack the child can carry themselves
  • Sunscreen applied before arrival in warmer months
Good to know
  • Label everything. Gloves, hats, and jackets go missing in the forest.
  • Children are expected to manage their own gear as much as possible. This is part of the program.
  • We do not cancel for rain. We do not cancel for cold. We may cancel for lightning, extreme wind, or wildfire smoke. You will be notified directly.
  • We do have an indoor backup location available for extreme weather: temperatures of -18°C or colder, or +38°C or hotter. Families will be notified if we are moving indoors.
  • Muddy clothes come home muddy. This is a feature, not a bug.
  • A full gear list is included in the Parent Handbook sent upon registration.

Not sure what to buy? We have gear recommendations in the parent handbook that won't break the bank.

Common questions

Before you register.

Yes. Children must be fully potty trained before their first session. We spend our mornings deep in the forest and managing diapers or pull-ups is not something our facilitators are equipped to do while maintaining the safety and experience of the group. We understand that accidents happen. Please send a full change of clothes including extra pants and underwear every day.
We go out anyway. Rain is part of the forest, not a reason to stay home. Children in proper rain gear have some of their best sessions in wet weather. We do have an indoor backup location available for extreme conditions: temperatures of -18°C or colder, or +38°C or hotter. For lightning, extreme wind, and wildfire smoke air quality advisories, sessions may be cancelled. Families are notified by email as early as possible.
Day changes are subject to availability and must be requested in writing at least two weeks before the change takes effect. We cannot guarantee availability on alternate days. If you're unsure which days work best for your family, starting with one or two days is always a good way to find your rhythm before committing to more.
We do not offer credits or refunds for individual absences. If your child is unwell, please keep them home. We ask that children be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning. Fees are structured around the session as a whole, not individual attendance, which allows us to plan and staff consistently. If your child misses an extended period due to illness, please reach out and we will do our best to work with you.
No. Sprouts is a recreational outdoor forest program, not a licensed childcare facility or preschool under BC's Child Care Licensing Regulation. We operate entirely outdoors, which places us outside the licensing framework that applies to indoor facilities. Our facilitators are experienced outdoor educators with first aid training. We are not a substitute for licensed childcare and do not provide childcare receipts for tax purposes.
Each day has a maximum of 12 children. Spots are held on a first-come, first-served basis and are only confirmed once registration and payment are complete. Returning Sprouting Knowledge families will be notified first. If a day you want is full, contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Cancellations more than 30 days before your child's session start receive a full refund less the $25 registration fee. Cancellations 14 to 30 days before receive a 50% refund less the $25 fee. Cancellations less than 14 days before receive no refund, and once the program has begun fees are non-refundable. For a medical or compassionate withdrawal, a brief written explanation is all that's required. No doctor's note needed. See the full Cancellation Policy for details.
Winter 2026/27 · Spring 2027

Winter and Spring 2027.

Winter runs January 5 through March 19. Spring runs April 5 through May 28. $390 per day per session, spaces limited to 12 children per day.

01
Read the waiver
Download and review before you register.
02
Complete registration
Fill out your child and family details.
03
Pay online
Secure payment via Stripe. Spot confirmed.
04
Get your handbook
Parent handbook arrives by email within 48 hours.
Register for Winter ↓ Download waiver (PDF)

No Spring 2027 registration yet. Join the waitlist and we'll email you when it opens.

You're on the list. We'll email you the moment Spring 2027 registration opens.
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Adventuring Into Knowledge
Oaks&Acorns (0-3 years)
Sprouts (3 - 5)
Kindergarten
About
Contact
Cancellation Policy
Parent Handbook
FAQ
Adventuring Into Knowledge
Oaks&Acorns (0-3 years)
Sprouts (3 - 5)
Kindergarten
About
Contact
Cancellation Policy
Parent Handbook
FAQ
Folder: Programs
Back
Oaks&Acorns (0-3 years)
Sprouts (3 - 5)
Kindergarten
About
Contact
Folder: Learn More
Back
Cancellation Policy
Parent Handbook
FAQ