Additional Play Day Dates Added! Join Us for a FREE Forest Play Day!

Additional Play Day Dates Added! Join Us for a FREE Forest Play Day!

Upcoming Dates:

Friday December 8th, 2023
Wednesday, March 13th, 2024
Wednesday, April 10th, 2024

Parents and children are invited to join Ithaca Forest Preschool for a Saturday morning of exploring, stories and fire at our beloved Trillium Camp located at 4-H Acres (418 Lower Creek Road, Ithaca, NY). You will learn more about Ithaca Forest Preschool’s teaching practices and get to meet our staff!

We believe the seeds of a deep connection to nature are in each of us from the time we are born, and we look forward to learning and playing together with your children!

Forest Play Days are a great way to learn if a Forest School program might be right for your family!

Come get a feel for our preschool program!

 

When:

9am – Noon

Where:

Trillium Camp at 4-H Acres, 418 Lower Creek Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850

Join us for a FREE Forest Play Day

Join us for a FREE Forest Play Day

Friday, October 20th 9am – Noon

Parents and children are invited to join Ithaca Forest Preschool for a Saturday morning of exploring, stories and fire at our beloved Trillium Camp located at 4-H Acres (418 Lower Creek Road, Ithaca, NY). You will learn more about Ithaca Forest Preschool’s teaching practices and get to meet our staff!

We believe the seeds of a deep connection to nature are in each of us from the time we are born, and we look forward to learning and playing together with your children!

Forest Play Days are a great way to learn if a Forest School program might be right for your family!

Come get a feel for our preschool program!

When: Friday, October 20th, 2023 – 9am – Noon

Where: Trillium Camp at 4-H Acres, 418 Lower Creek Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850

OPEN HOUSE & TOUR  March 19th 10AM-Noon

OPEN HOUSE & TOUR March 19th 10AM-Noon

Parents and Children are Invited to Join Ithaca Preschool instructor, Lyla White for an Open House and tour of Our Very Special All-Outdoor Preschool Program.

This is a great opportunity to ask questions and tour our outdoor preschool grounds. If bringing a child, please bring water and snacks and clothing appropriate for the weather. Questions? Please call our office at 607-272-2292.

When: Sunday, March 19th, 10am – noon
Where: Trillium Camp at 4-H Acres, 418 Lower Creek Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850

Preschool Spaces Now Available!

Preschool Spaces Now Available!

We have had an incredible outpouring of requests and in response we have expanded our preschool to offer two groups this Fall.

At the moment we have several spaces available all four days for 4-and 5-year-olds and two spots on Monday and Wednesday for three-year-olds. Interested parents can call our office for more information or fill out our registration form and we will be in touch.

We are available for in-person tours this week and orientation is Sunday, September 13th. This summer we confirmed that our added COVID-related safety precautions didn’t deter our campers from sinking deeply into the experience and having a great time, we expect preschool will be the same and can’t wait to get started.

The Fall semester begins September 16, 2020 

About Ithaca forest preschool

Welcome to Our Wooded World!

With some curiosity, exploration and guidance the seeds of connection can grow, rooting us to our natural surroundings and forming kinship with the Earth. The social-emotional skills that children learn here are among the most important skills they need for school and for life. Our curriculum prepares children for kindergarten and beyond!

Program Hours

Monday through Friday, 9am-12pm.
NEW! Friday single or add-on day, 9am-12pm.

Ithaca Forest Preschool is a community of learners. The group bonds through shared challenges and experiences, and from getting to know each other for a whole school year or more. At this age, consistency is important. For these reasons, five days for a full year is our standard and most discounted, option. If you are hesitant to enroll for this option, please feel free to contact us to discuss it.

If five days a week for the full school year isn’t right for your family, we offer two day (M/W/F or Tu/Th) enrollment. Enrollment on a trimester-basis is available if space allows.

Program Location

4-H Acres 418 Lower Creek Road, Ithaca, 14850 

    Enrollment Requirements

    • Children are eligible to enroll if they will be 3 by September 1st and will not reach the age of 6 before January 1st.
    • Children must be out of diapers and needing only minimal assistance with toileting.
    • Because we learn in an outdoor classroom without walls, children must be able to stay with the group and follow instructions most of the time.

    Free Forest Play Day May 8th!

    Free Forest Play Day May 8th!

    Parents and children are invited to join Ithaca Forest Preschool for a Saturday morning of exploring, stories and fire at our beloved Trillium Camp located at 4-H Acres (418 Lower Creek Road, Ithaca, NY). You will learn more about Ithaca Forest Preschool’s teaching practices and get to meet our staff!

    We believe the seeds of a deep connection to nature are in each of us from the time we are born, and we look forward to learning and playing together with your children!

    Come get a feel for our preschool program!

    When: Friday, May 8th, 9am – Noon
    Where: Trillium Camp at 4-H Acres, 418 Lower Creek Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850

    RSVP requested to ithacaforestpreschool@gmail.com or use the form below.

    Please bring water and snacks and clothing that can get wet, dirty or muddy. A change of clothes is always a good idea too!

    For any other questions, please call our office at 607-272-2292.

    The Forest Preschool Team

    Open House Registration
    First
    Last

    Emergency Contact Information

    Please include the contact information of an adult other than yourself who can be an emergency contact during our programs

    Additional Information

    Is this your first time attending one of our programs?
    Do you give permission for the participant’s likeness, in photo or video, to be used for Primitive Pursuits or Cornell Cooperative Extension promotional/educational media? *
    Would you like to be added to our email lists?
    By signing this form I agree to/give permission for my child to participate in Primitive Pursuits programs of Cornell Cooperative Extension & 4-H Youth Development. I give permission for Cornell Cooperative Extension staff and emergency medical personnel to give me/my child medical treatment if necessary. I give permission for Cornell Cooperative Extension staff to transport my child. I give permission for my/my child’s likeness, in photo or video, to be used for Primitive Pursuits or Cornell Cooperative Extension promotional/educational media. I agree to receive information about future Primitive Pursuits programs. I give permission for my child to use sharp tools and tend fires with adult supervision. I understand that there are inherent dangers in these and other outdoor educational activities and furthermore that I/my child will likely be getting wet, muddy, smelly, and bug bitten. I understand that I must alert Primitive Pursuits staff to any medical conditions or allergies that I/my child may have, and I hereby assert that I have done so to the best of my ability. I hereby apply for myself/my child to participate in Primitive Pursuits to be conducted by the designated Cornell Cooperative Extension Association and acknowledge as follows: I fully understand and acknowledge that there are inherent risks and dangers in my/my child’s participation in the Primitive Pursuits program and my/my child’s participation in said activity or activities and use of any equipment related to such activities may result in injury, illness or death and damage to personal property. I understand other participants, accidents, forces of nature or other causes may cause these risk and dangers and I hereby accept these risk and dangers. I am/my child is in good health and is at or above the minimum age required to participate in this activity and is able to participate in any strenuous physical activity associated therewith. I herewith release, forever discharge and waive any right of recovery or subrogation against the Cornell Cooperative Extension Association listed below, Cornell University and their respective officers, directors, trustees, employees, members and volunteers, from any and all liability whatsoever for any illness or injury, including death or damage to or loss of my personal property that I may sustain while I or my child is participating in this program. This shall be binding on my heirs, successors, assigns, administrators and executors. Any claims or disputes arising out of my/my child's participation in the activity shall first be submitted to arbitration and/or be venued in the Supreme Court of the State of New York of the County where the Association is located, the choice of which shall be at the sole discretion of CCE. I have read the above and by signing it I agree it is my intention to participate/have my child participate in the indicated activity and I understand and accept the risks involved. By signing this form I also assert that:I have read the entire form; I understand all of the terms and conditions stated within; and that I agree to all of them. I am at least twenty-one (21) years of age and I am the legal parent/guardian authorized to sign this document on behalf of any child named herein. *
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    OPEN HOUSE & Play Day March 28th

    OPEN HOUSE & Play Day March 28th

    Forest Play Days are a great way to have a look into whether a forest preschool might be right for your family! Get out into the woods and experience total nature immersion.

    Parents and children birth to age five are invited to join the Ithaca Forest Preschool for a day of stories, stalking, wild tea making & sipping and more as we find our place in the woods at our beloved Trillium Camp at 4-H Acres. Bring water and snacks; there may be opportunities to cook on the fire!

    This event is FREE with advance RSVP  

    Saturday, March 28, 2020
    10:00AM – 2:00PM

    Call 607-272-2292 for more information.

    Office Location:
    Cornell Cooperative Extension, 615 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850
    607-272-2292 | email Us

    Preschool Location:
    4-H Acres, 418 Lower Creek Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850


    Ithaca Forest Preschool is a nature immersion program for children ages 3-5. Our program is run in cooperation with Primitive Pursuits, a project of Cornell Cooperative Extension.