Forest Schools In and Around Calgary - UPDATED FOR 2025

If you're looking to register your child in school soon and have a love of spending time outdoors, you may want to consider one of the forest schools in and around Calgary.

There are a number of proven benefits to forest schools including hands-on learning, exercise and real-world examples of learning concepts. Below you’ll find all of the Forest Schools and outdoor schools offering programs in and around Calgary. If there is a school or program missing on here, please send me a message or leave a comment and I’ll add it!

Calgary Nature Kindergarten

The Calgary Nature Kindergarten at Common Digs is operated by the Children’s Commons Ecological Society (CCES). CCES and Common Digs Inc. are separate organizations that have common goals, work collaboratively and share resources.

Operating since 2015, Calgary Nature Kindergarten is the first Nature Kindergarten in Alberta and one of a few across Canada. It is publicly funded and mandated to deliver the Alberta Education Kindergarten curriculum.

Nature Kindergarten at Common Digs:

1. is a full-day program from 9 am – 3 pm, 2 days per week plus *alternating Fridays

2. has children spending the majority of each day learning and playing in a natural, outdoor environment

3. has a class size of 19 children (max.) with an outdoor classroom (Lloyd Park) ratio of 1:9

4. publicly funded with a $50 application fee and $365 total annual program fee; plus $25-$35 per calendar year for community association/park membership fees (depending on your home address).

5. Our indoor classroom is located on the lower level of the Tanbridge Academy building at the corner of HWY 22x and 112 St W (5 minutes west of Spruce Meadows) and an outdoor classroom located in Lloyd Park near the Red Deer Lake Community Centre.

For more information, including a contact list, schedule and clothing list click here. 

Common Digs – Forest School

The Common Digs program models the Forest School approach that has been well established in Europe since the 1950’s. Research shows a multitude of reasons – intellectual, social, emotional and physical to get children outside spending great lengths of time playing, relaxing and just “being” in nature.

Their Forest School program operates in a variety of different settings and contexts, all designed to support children’s rights to leisure time in nature. Children are given the freedom to spend the majority of time in nature whilst supported by specially-trained practitioners.

Currently, they have four permanent locations, one in Old Okotoks and the others at Rosemont Community Hall backing onto Confederation Park in NW Calgary, Lynnwood/Beaver Dam Flats and Highfield Farm. Forest School operates Monday-Friday at these locations. Children, ages 3-5 years old, generally attend 1 day per week but can attend up to 2 days per week. Hours are 9:35 am-1:30 pm. Children must be independent in the bathroom to attend.

More information here. 

Growing Roots

Based in Cochrane this child-directed play-based program provides experiences that foster a growing relationship with the natural world. Through DISCOVERY, HEALTHY RISK-TAKING and MESSY FUN, participants deepen their connection with nature, problem-solve and build on age-appropriate social skills. Their WHOLE-CHILD approach, combined with the Mount Saint Francis Retreat Centre site, provides an ideal learning environment.

To find out more information click here. 

Paramount Academy

Based in Springbank, Paramount students learn about local wildlife, study animal tracks, and discover more about Alberta’s plants. Children work as a team to blaze trails, build shelters, and explore the forest. They enjoy hands-on outdoor experiences growing plants, working with animals like chickens, and participating actively in care for the land. They pride themselves on not just being a forest school but a true outdoor education experience for young nature enthusiasts.

This is a one day a weekend program.

Find out more about Paramount Academy here. 

Rediscover Play

With locations in Water Valley, Olds, Madden, Bearspaw, Votiers Flats, Caroline/Stauffer and Bragg Creek, Rediscover play offers forest school and camp options for kids aged preschool to 13.

Rediscover play teaches kids wilderness skills including, shelters, fire building, flint & steel, knots & tarps, compass use, knife & real tool use. Kids will participate in hikes, plant identification, habitat understanding, seasonal learning, story telling, nature crafting, gratitude circles and loose parts play.

For information on schedules, availability and rates check out the Rediscover website. 

Rosedale Playschool

Located in the Lower Hall of Wild Rose United Church in Northwest Calgary, Rosedale Playschool is inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education. Their preschool is for 3-4-year-olds and is community-based and oriented and they are a not-for-profit preschool. They have been encouraging minds through play for over 30 years in the community.

Find out more information here.  

TimberNook

TimberNook was created by Angela Hanscom who is a pediatric occupational therapist. The TimberNook program is now offered in four countries across the world.

TimberNook of Greater Calgary operates out of Edworthy Park and offers unique, sensory-rich play experiences for children ages 0-10. They provide year-round programs and they have professional staff delivering quality programs.

For more information on their available class times/days, costs and to register click here. 

Upstream Forest School

Operating from McHugh Bluff in Calgary, the Upstream Forest School offers 10-week classes for Preschool, Kindergarten and Grades 1- 6. For days, times and costs you can click here. 

Wee Wild Ones

Operating from six locations in Bridgeland, Fairview, Currie, Ampersand, Buffalo Run and Riverside Bungalow, Wee Wild Ones runs childcare, preschool and a variety of camps. Wee Wild Ones was founded in 2013 and uses a child-guided, inquiry-based approach to learning, inspired by the Reggio Emilia style of learning. Their childcare and early childhood education programs promote exploration and learning through play, nature and movement. They proudly support and uplift their community, champion diversity and inclusivity and actively work towards greater environmental stewardship.