Through the Woods Forest & Nature School

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Drayton Valley, AB
Through the Woods Forest & Nature School

Discover. Connect. Grow.

03/13/2026

If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow. — Anonymous

The last few weeks at Forest Friends have been snow much fun! From finding clues and following tracks to baking cakes and exploring the park, there has been so much to discover and enjoy in the snow.

02/10/2026

Spring is just around the corner, and so is the next season of Forest Friends!

Forest Friends is an outdoor, child led, play based program for children ages 3 to 8 who are independent in the bathroom. Sessions take place at Lions West Valley Park in Drayton Valley, AB, across from the Ricochet Aquatic Centre.

Forest and Nature School fosters the holistic development of each participant through low ratios, uninterrupted play time, supported risky play, and a focus on process over outcome.

✨ What families are saying
“My daughter absolutely loved this group! She enjoyed having the freedom and choice to play when and where she liked. She always came home with wonderful stories and information she had learned while at Forest Friends. She always came home with a positive outlook and looked forward to going back.”

Spring 2026 Schedule

Tuesdays | 9am to 12pm
Session 1 April 7 to May 12 FULL
Session 2 May 19 to June 23 FULL
$180 per 6 week session
$150 Early Bird*

Wednesdays | 9am to 2pm
Session 1 April 8 to May 13
Session 2 May 20 to June 24
$300 per 6 week session
$250 Early Bird*

*Early Bird pricing in effect until March 1

Registration link in comments

02/09/2026

With spring registration opening tomorrow, it feels like a good time to reintroduce myself.

Hi! I’m Sarah, the founder and facilitator of Through the Woods Forest & Nature School.

Nature has always been my happy place. As a kid, I spent my days climbing trees, jumping in mud puddles, and building forts in the river valley. As an adult, I still find peace and freedom in the outdoors whether I’m camping, hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, or jumping in mud puddles. Yes, it still brings me joy.

A few fun facts about me:
💜 My favorite color is purple.
☕ Tea > Coffee. Peppermint is my go to.
🌳 I grew up in Edmonton but have called the Drayton Valley area home since 2018.
🎓 I’m a certified Forest & Nature School Practitioner through the Child Nature Alliance of Canada, a Level 2 Early Childhood Educator, and I hold a diploma in Disability Supports and Services.

Now it’s your turn. What do we have in common?
Share a fun fact about yourself in the comments. I’d love to get to know you!

02/06/2026

Self education through play and exploration requires enormous amounts of unscheduled time-time to do whatever one wants to do without pressure, judgement, or intrusion from authority figures. Time that is needed to make friends, play with ideas and materials, experience and overcome boredom, learn from one's own mistakes, and develop passions.
~Peter Gray

Scroll through for a glimpse of our adventures the last couple weeks!

02/03/2026

Mark your calendar! Forest Friends Spring registration opens February 9.

Forest Friends is an entirely outdoor, child-led, play-based program for children ages 3–8 who are independent in the bathroom.

Why Forest & Nature School?
🌿 Builds confidence and independence
🌿 Sparks curiosity and creativity
🌿 Fosters resilience and a love for nature

Spring Forest Friends Schedule
*Early Bird pricing in effect until March 1

Tuesdays | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
Session 1: April 7–May 12
Session 2: May 19–June 23
$180 per 6 week session
$150 early bird*

Wednesdays | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
Session 1: April 8–May 13
Session 2: May 20–June 24
$300 per 6 week session
$250 early bird*

Sessions take place at Lions West Valley Park (across from Ricochet Aquatic Centre) in Drayton Valley.

More information
www.throughthewoodsfns.ca

01/14/2026

Winter Forest Friends started this week with a sunny, warm day and plenty of snow to play in!⛄️

12/16/2025

Forest Friends is an outdoor, child led, play based program that offers children time and space to explore, imagine, and create in nature. Designed for children ages 3 to 8, sessions take place at Lions West Valley Park in Drayton Valley on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

What families are saying:
“My daughter absolutely loves attending Forest Friends! She is excited to attend, and cannot wait to go back. The facilitator is amazing; our daughter has found such an appreciation for nature. The child-led play and gentle nature of the program has helped her come out of her shell, learn to help others, and find beauty in the small things.”

Spaces are limited.

12/15/2025

That’s a wrap on the fall season at Through the Woods Forest & Nature School!

From days spent fishing and exploring through fall colours to watching ice form on the pond and welcoming the first winter snow, it has been an incredible season of outdoor play and discovery.

📷 Scroll through for a peek at some highlights from the season

11/29/2025

The first icy day on the pond brought so much excitement!

These Forest Friends enjoyed skating, slipping and especially falling. They worked together trying to dig the rocks out of the ice, wandered through the cattails where they found a nest woven into the stalks, and had plenty of uninterrupted time to play and explore.

“Children grow into their best selves when they are given space to explore the natural world with curiosity and joy.”
– Penny Whitehouse

11/03/2025

There is something truly magical that happens when you give a group of children the time and freedom to “just play.”

Time to come up with their own ideas, questions, and stories and the freedom to explore, wonder, and create.

When play isn’t rushed or directed by adults, ideas unfold naturally. Children find their own rhythm and follow their imaginations as they explore, experiment, and discover the world around them.

“Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”
– Kay Redfield Jamison

10/24/2025

Early Fall Forest Friends wrapped up this week. We’ve spent the last several weeks playing, exploring, creating, learning, making new friends, and embracing the changing season.

Late Fall sessions kick off this coming week, and there are still a few spots open to join the adventures:

Tuesdays 9am–12pm (1 spot available)
Oct 28–Dec 9 (no session Nov 11)
$180

Wednesdays 9am–2pm (3 spots available)
Oct 29–Dec 10
$350

Come see what this next season has in store.
Register online — link in comments.

Address

Drayton Valley, AB

Telephone

+17805421910

Website

http://throughthewoodsfns.ca/

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