Outdoor Education Programs for Children in VA and SC
Behavior Expectations and Safety
At Valley Forest School, we are committed to building a community where children and instructors grow together, develop trust, and learn to respect one another and the natural world.
Our instructors receive extensive training in risk management specific to the Forest School environment. Because children spend their days exploring natural spaces that include uneven terrain, tools, campfires, wildlife, and other inherent risks, the behavior expectations at Valley Forest School are necessarily higher than those of a traditional classroom or daycare.
To ensure a safe and successful experience, students should be able to consistently meet the following expectations:
1. Practice Respect
Children are expected to show respect toward their instructors, classmates, themselves, and all living things.
2. Follow Established Boundaries
Instructors establish and review clear boundaries each day, including physical boundaries on the property as well as expectations for interacting respectfully with others.
3. Choose Kindness
We strive to create a culture of kindness and mutual respect. Behaviors such as pushing, hitting, grabbing, name-calling, intimidation, aggression, excessive attention-seeking that disrupts the group, or other unsafe or disrespectful behaviors are not acceptable.
4. Follow Safety Instructions
Students should be able to follow basic directions on a regular basis. Examples include:
Remaining within sight of an instructor.
Asking an instructor before eating anything found in nature.
Following directions promptly.
Participating in the daily rhythm of the class, even when an activity may not be their first choice.
We recognize that preschool-aged children are still developing these skills, so our expectations are always age-appropriate and instructors provide additional guidance and support as needed.
Some of these expectations may seem simple, but they become critically important in an outdoor setting where safety depends on children responding quickly to instruction.
For example, imagine a class encounters a venomous snake on the trail. An instructor immediately directs the group to leave the snake alone and calmly move to another area. When every child follows those directions, everyone remains safe. If a child is unable to follow those safety instructions, however, the situation can quickly become dangerous for that child, the instructor, and the rest of the group. This is why we place such a strong emphasis on listening, trust, and following directions.
If Safety Concerns Arise
When a child struggles to meet these expectations, our goal is always to teach, support, and partner with families whenever possible.
Step 1: Conversation
The instructor will speak privately with the child about what happened, why it was unsafe or unkind, and what choices can be made differently next time.
Step 2: Parent Communication
If a child repeatedly struggles to follow important safety expectations or their behavior creates an unsafe environment for themselves or others, parents will be contacted and the child may need to be picked up for the remainder of the day.
Step 3: Parent Participation
If unsafe behaviors become a pattern, we may ask a parent or guardian to attend class alongside their child until the behavior improves and the child is able to participate safely and independently.
Step 4: Program Dismissal
If a child continues to demonstrate behaviors that place themselves, other students, or instructors at risk, and attending with a parent is not a feasible long-term solution, the child may be dismissed from the program for the remainder of the school year. In most cases, families are welcome to reapply the following year.
Individual Needs
We understand that every child is unique. Having individual needs does not automatically mean a child cannot attend Valley Forest School. Our responsibility is to determine whether we can safely support your child while also ensuring the safety and learning of the rest of the class. At this time, our instructors are not trained to provide intensive behavioral interventions or ongoing one-to-one support. We encourage families to discuss any significant behavioral, emotional, or developmental needs with us before enrolling so we can determine together whether Valley Forest School is the right fit for your child at this time.