Fern Valley Forest School
All About
Fern Valley Forest School
Find out about Our Teachers, Our Day, & Our Curriculum below
Sadie Merritt
Sadie is a mother of two, an educator and someone who has always wanted to teach and work with kids ever since she was a child herself. She has a degree in Childhood Education. Before having her own children she worked with special education students in public schools.
Sadie first became interested in forest school after reading “There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather” by Linda Åkeson McGurk. From there she knew forest school was exactly what she wanted her own kids to be involved with.
After both having experience working as forest school teachers and feeling passionate about the program itself, Sadie and Sarah decided they wanted to offer their own unique program to the greater Syracuse area that aligns with core forest school values. That is where Fern Valley Forest School has come to life- as a result of their love for working with kids, wanting to share the gift of learning with them and being outdoors in nature.
Sarah Spataro
In 2018, Sarah left a decade-long career in makeup artistry to pursue her love of science. She has an Associates of Science of Biology and Mathematics and is currently completing a degree in Human Development focusing in Early Childhood at Empire State University.
Her passion for science and nature was something she had to share with others, but she wasn't sure what that looked like. After having her first child she felt inspired to work with children and other parents. Sarah loves the natural wonder of children and their eagerness to learn.
Sarah and Sadie share this passion for nature and fostering a love for learning, kindness, and creativity in children alike. Not only are they invested in the wellbeing of children at Fern Valley Forest School, but as parents themselves, they feel an obligation to let each child explore their interests in a warm and caring environment.
Madison Gray
Hello! My name is Madison, I’m a mother of two, I worked in childcare for almost six years and in 2017 became a trained doula and in 2019 started my own photography business.
My entire life I have found solace and inspiration from nature, whether it was playing in the woods behind my childhood home every chance I could or endless hikes and quiet moments meditating in the forest. I love to study local, native plant species and am passionate about using plants as medicine. After learning about forest schools and their values I knew that this was all I wanted for my children and became fervent in learning all I could.
I have experience working in a forest school setting and have personally witnessed the magic that happens when children are allowed to be children without walls, in the most beautiful classroom there is, the forest. I am so excited to be apart of Fern Valley Forest School and support my community through fostering a lifelong love of nature and learning in children.
Emily Scott
I grew up playing in the woods in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas in Northern California. In 2020, after experiencing the devastating effects of climate change first hand, I moved to the Syracuse area. I knew I didn't want to keep my daughter inside every summer due to smoke in California and I knew it was important that I didn't allow the cold months to keep us locked inside in New York. After reading "There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather" my interest in forest schools was sparked and I connected with Fern Valley.
My parenting and teaching style are heavily influenced by Montessori and Indigenous practices, I believe that it is important to respect the uniqueness of each child and to trust their natural ability to learn through exploration and play. I feel so lucky to be a part of this community with the shared passion for alternative learning styles and the desire to guide children to have a positive relationship with our Earth.
In my free time I love to read, crochet, and I dabble in foraging and gardening.
Our Day
What a typical
Fern Valley Forest School day looks like…
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About a 10 minute hike to our classroom spot
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“Good Morning” song
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Free Play
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Daily meditation
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Snack/Story
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Themed activity
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Free Play
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Pack Up
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“Goodbye” song
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Walk back
Our Curriculum
Some themes & topics we'll be covering while in class...
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Change of the seasons
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Letters / Counting
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Weather
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Forest animals
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Mushrooms
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Life cycles
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Tree study
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Migration
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Hibernation
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Phases of the moon
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Animal tracking
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Water cycle
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Forest plant study
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Bees / Insects
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Seeds / Gardening