Clothing Guide
How to dress for play
Outerwear: This is what will protect from rain and wind in all weather conditions.
Mid-Layer: This is an insulation layer that creates ‘dead-air space’ between your child’s skin and the elements. This airspace helps in keeping your child warm.
Base Layer: This layer is next to your child’s skin, it must be soft, breathable, and not trap moisture. Please no cotton.
Our recommended clothing is extremely important for keeping your child warm and safe, so that they can enjoy outdoor play no matter the weather. Please help your child dress for the weather conditions at the time of drop off- not the predicted forecast.
It’s always better to bring too many clothes than not enough for Forest School.
Upper Body
Outerwear: Waterproof shell jacket with hood with large bill that keeps rain off of your child’s face. The jacket needs to be seam taped or sealed to be 100% waterproof.
Mid-layer: Light coat, fleece or warm vest, this layer will need to fit under the waterproof jacket.
Base Layer: Loose fitting non-cotton long underwear top.
Even on fair weather days the forest can still be wet from rain and children should always come with all layers to play and keep dry.
Lower Body
Outerwear: Waterproof rain pants that are seam taped or sealed.
Mid-Layer: Non cotton pants or fleece pants depending on temperature.
Base layer: Loose fitting non-cotton long underwear leggings.
On most days a thin base layer is enough to keep children warm and dry while we explore and play.
Please send your child to school in rain pants, even if it is not raining at drop off they will still encounter plenty of water in the forest.
Hands and Feet
Footwear: Waterproof insulated rain boots.
Bogs/Muck boots are insulated with neoprene (wetsuit material). With this construction they are able to insulate even if wet.
Socks: Wool or synthetic tall warm socks.
These are key to having an enjoyable day outside, no one likes cold feet. Wool or synthetic is key since they can insulate even when wet.
Mittens: Mittens or gloves + waterproof mitten shell.
With this combination children can choose to have the warm mittens on or off under the shell depending on temperatures through out the season (We recommend keeping an extra pair of mittens or gloves in your child’s belongings at all times during the winter incase they get wet).
Backpack and Extras:
Your child will need to bring a backpack everyday, this is where we will keep a change of clothes, water bottle and snack during class.
Backpack: A child size pack that works for your student everyday in all weather.
Mask: If you choose to have your child wear a mask, please pack extras just incase it is misplaced during the day.
Head wear: Warm non-cotton hat or neck gator/buff to keep head and ears warm.
Water bottle: Having a reusable bottle is a must, your child will bring it out into the forest every class.
Change of clothes: Having an extra change of warm dry clothes is required each class.