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education
January 2009 
Forest Kindergarten!
Posted on Apr 17th, 2008
by 
L'el
L'el
This makes me so happy. Some of my best early childhood memories are from wandering the endless forest behind my house.
Waldkindergärten
Germany has about 700 Waldkindergärten, or "forest kindergartens," in which children spend their days outdoors year-round... Only a fraction of German children attend Waldkindergärten, but their numbers have been rising since local parent groups began setting up these programs in the mid-1990s, following the lead of a Danish community. Similar schools exist in smaller numbers in Scandinavia, Switzerland and Austria. The concept is sparking interest far afield -- even in the U.S., whose first Waldkindergarten opened in Portland, Ore., last fall.
Ms. Kluge says no child has ever asked for a toy. The children improvise instead with what the woods have to offer.
Waldkindergärten
Germany has about 700 Waldkindergärten, or "forest kindergartens," in which children spend their days outdoors year-round... Only a fraction of German children attend Waldkindergärten, but their numbers have been rising since local parent groups began setting up these programs in the mid-1990s, following the lead of a Danish community. Similar schools exist in smaller numbers in Scandinavia, Switzerland and Austria. The concept is sparking interest far afield -- even in the U.S., whose first Waldkindergarten opened in Portland, Ore., last fall.
Ms. Kluge says no child has ever asked for a toy. The children improvise instead with what the woods have to offer.
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