Ithaca forest preschool is a program of primitive pursuits
Our Preschool-age Programs
If you believe that children belong outside, and that the tools of imagination are what build a happy childhood, then welcome to our wooded world. Spontaneous play, exploration, cooperative problem solving, and moments of wonder and delight are what we witness each day in our all-outdoor year-round nature immersion programs for our youngest participants.
Ithaca Forest Preschool
Children nurture the seeds of nature connection every day in our all-outdoor, school-year program at 4-H Acres in Ithaca.
Growing Wild Summer Camp
Our half-day summer camp within the Primitive Pursuits program is a wonderful introduction to outdoor summer exploration.
School Breaks and Play Days
When school is out, we are in the woods. These one to five day programs are are a great way to get a taste of our program.
Ithaca forest Preschool
The Latest News from Our Blog
A Glimpse Into Forest Preschool
This is a reprint of a post from the Primitive Pursuits blog by Kirsten Wise from 2015 In September I had a chance to visit the Ithaca Forest Preschool just as the school year began. Spiders. Fires. And monsters making ice cream. Stranger things have happened at the...
Winter Dressing Dos and Don’ts
The arrival of winter weather has some people wondering... "What can I do to make sure my child can be comfortable playing outside in the wind, cold, snow, and rain?" Primitive Pursuits has been taking youth out in winter for over a decade, and at Ithaca Forest...
Book Review: Balanced and Barefoot
How have children's lives changed in the last 30 years? According to author and Occupational Therapist Angela Hanscom, children's lives today are much more structured and busier than when she--or I--was a kid. Kids now often have an extracurricular activity or sport...
