Flow of Learning
Our Hello Hills Forest Learning Program provides a space for children ages 5-10 to blossom and grow in natural settings and an emotionally safe space. We are a group with a 6:1 child-to-mentor ratio.
Because of our small group size, each child receives one-on-one mentoring and is allowed the space to explore and work through their emotions and specific gifts/interests in a nourishing and empowering way.
Our group visits nature preserves and parks in the East Bay, and spends some days in garden spaces, where we learn and apply a range of life skills such as:
outdoor cooking, garden nutrition, survival techniques, how to show up as an activist and ally in our communities, map making/orienteering, attuning to the seasons/cycles of nature, engaging with our multi-cultural history, tending fruit/vegetable/herbal gardens, herbal remedies and natural dyes, healing arts, simple carving and carpentry skills, singing, song-writing, painting, sewing, storytelling, poetry
At Hello Hills, exploring the outdoors makes for endless learning possibilities. We find wisdom in the seemingly simplest parts of everyday life. We are in spaces where there are healthy challenges, risks, un-answered questions, fluctuations in temperature, nooks to explore, and friends to get to know. Exploring the outdoors allows for a multitude of imperative developmental learning experiences that build additional life-skills such as sensory-motor learning, self-regulation, hand-eye coordination, conflict-resolution, self-care, restorative justice and allyship of people, plants, animals and place.
“Our son now attends Hello Hills. It is truly a gift to watch him grow as a person; whether it is seeing him problem solve as he maneuvers the branches of a tree, or through witnessing him become a compassionate and empathetic person as he interacts and works through conflicts with other children.”
Flow of the Day
9:00 Am Drop Off
9:00-9:15 Greetings
9:30 Morning Circle, Snack and Check-In
10:00 Movement & Project Invitation for the Day!
10:30 Morning Exploration: plant walks, nature mapping, ecosystem discovery, etc.
11:30 Gather for Lunch and Story time!
12:00 Free Play Movement, Music & Dance
12:45 Afternoon Activity: Crafts & Hand Skills, etc.
1:10 Clean-up
1:15 Sit Spot
1:30 Sharing Circle, Song & Farewell
1:45-2pm End of Program Pick Up
*This is what our days might look like, we are also open to the mystery and magic of what the day and space holds for us!
Flow of the Seasons
4 Days/Week: Monday-Thursday 9am-2pm
Hello Hills Forest Learning Program:
Yearly Schedule & Holidays Observed 2020-2021
Tuesday September 8: Welcome to Hello Hills! First Day of Program
Tuesday September 22: Fall Equinox Celebration
Monday October 12: Indigenous People's Day (no program)
Friday October 23: Staff PD day (no program)
Friday October 30: Ancestor Honoring Potluck and Dia de Los Muertos Celebration
November 3: Election Day
November 23-24: Parent-Mentor conferences (no program)
November 25-27: Break in Honor of Native American Heritage Month (no program)
Wednesday December 16: Winter Celebration and Potluck
December 21-Jan 1: Winter Break (2 weeks no program)
Monday January 4: Staff PD day (no program)
Tuesday January 5: Welcome Back from Break!
Monday January 18: Martin Luther King Jr Holiday (no program)
Monday February 1: Celebrating Black History Month
Friday February 12: Lunar New Year Celebration
Monday February 15-19: Honoring Black History Month (1 week no program)
Monday March 1: Celebrating Women’s history month
Monday March 22: Spring Equinox Celebration
April 1-2: Parent-Mentor conferences (no program)
April 5-9: Spring Break (no program)
Wednesday May 19: Malcom X's Birthday (no program)
Monday May 31: Memorial Day (no program)
Wednesday June 23: Last Day of Program *Join us for an End of the Year Ceremony including: Potluck Celebration and Story of Our Year Together!
