Getting Your Bird Back to Nature Since 2013
12 - 36 months and
30 months to school age
Sitka And Sparrow
Early Education
Gillybird Nature Schools Ltd.
Our Philosophy
Sitka And Sparrow believes that children thrive in natural settings where they can move their bodies, breath fresh air, and touch the dirt on the ground. Each location utilizes the natural environment surrounding our physical spaces, which are designed to be calming and to promote creativity.
Every child is a capable communicator who expresses themselves in many ways. Our programs foster communication and expression in all forms. Our goal is for every child to develop a sense of self, health and well-being. Our programs nurture children’s healthy development and support their growing sense of self.
Our goal is to cultivate authentic relationships and connections and to create a sense of belonging among and between children, adults, and the world around them. Relationships are at the core of everything we do.
Every child is an active and engaged learner who explores the world with body, mind, and senses. We provide environments and experiences to engage children in active, creative, and meaningful exploration, play, and inquiry
Sitka And Sparrow Objectives
For each child to develop their potential emotionally, physically, socially, creatively, and intellectually through child led learning.
To provide a flexible and varied program to meet the needs of each individual child and to gratify the natural curiosity inherent in all children.
To provide an atmosphere that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion by promoting healthy social interaction, by encouraging expression of feelings, and teaching a sense of responsibility toward the well being of others.
To provide freedom for each child: freedom to be oneself, to explore, to investigate, and to learn through play.
To guide and support all children in our care to develop a positive self-concept and to enhance their inherent love for nature everywhere we can find it.
To teach empathy. By educating children to treat their friends, the adults in their lives, their spaces and belongings, animals and nature with respect, we set them up for success in the future.
To strive to decolonize early education through our unique pedagogy that focuses on moving and learning vs sitting and doing.
Our Activities
Outdoors
Not all of us are lucky enough to live in an area which includes a piece of wilderness, but there are other ways to experience a natural setting within the city.
At Sitka and Sparrow, we will take full advantage of our surroundings! Whether it be finding a park, nature trail, beach or forest near us, we will be out of doors as much as possible! It doesn’t have to be a large spot, it just needs to be a safe place for the children to explore.
Indoors
Countless studies have shown that child led learning is paramount to their growth of self concept.
While not outdoors, children are offered many activities throughout the day. We do science experiments, sensory activities, dance, play games, build, design and create.
Children are encouraged to listen to thier bodies and make choices that are healthy and safe. They are not limited to creating products with their art, instead we focus on the process and the enoyment of doing, rather than the outcome.
