Wonderforest Guide for Families 2025-2026

A guide for families whose children are enrolled in Wonderforest Nature Preschool, including information regarding health and safety, what to wear, what to bring, and more…

*Important update for all families regarding release forms and health forms:

To ensure a smooth start and continued access to your child’s records, we are now collecting required forms directly through Brightwheel. This streamlines our process for collecting required information before your child's first day with us. Brightwheel also makes it easier for families to stay up to date and communicate with us on time sensitive matters.

• Release Form: Check your inbox in the coming days for an email notification inviting you to complete this form. Check your spam folder and reach out to us at enrollment@wonderforestpreschool.com if you have not received this invite by 5pm on Friday, 8/15/2025

• Health Form: You can now upload a .pdf or .jpg of your child’s most recent health form directly through Brightwheel. Check your inbox in the coming days for an email notification inviting you to upload this form. Check your spam folder and reach out to us at enrollment@wonderforestpreschool.com if you have not received this invite by 5pm on Friday, 8/15/2025

• Each family can sign up for a short classroom visit for their kiddo to meet their teachers and see their new classroom. Visits typically last about 20 minutes, and this year we will be offering small group visits with 1-3 families at a time. A link to sign up for visits will be emailed to each family. Classroom visits will take place on Thursday, September 4th and Friday, September 5th. 

• Our school year will begin on Monday, September 8, 2025 with a phase-in schedule, and will run until Tuesday June 16, 2025. Please see our SCHOOL CALENDAR to see dates of closures, early dismissals, family events, and parent-teacher conference dates!

• A phase-in schedule for each class will be sent out to each family. A phase-in schedule consists of shorter classes and smaller groups, with an adult/caregiver welcome to support separation and building comfort in our new environment. Our full schedule, including early drop off and extended day care, for those enrolled, will begin the following week, Monday, September 15th. 

Communication

An application called Brightwheel is our primary method of communication. Families are sent an invite by Wonderforest to join Brightwheel. 

• Each family member and approved pickup/dropoff adult is required to have this application during arrival and dismissal, as well as have it on hand for any important communication regarding your child. 

• Once the application is downloaded, families are asked to use a 4-digit code to check their child in and out, fill out their child’s profile (including allergies, medications, approved pickup adults, etc.), and turn notifications on for important messages from Wonderforest staff. Each adult must use their own unique 4-digit code. 

• Families must include all approved pickup adults in their child’s Brightwheel profile. Teachers at Wonderforest will not accept children from or dismiss children to any adult not listed under the approved pickup list. This article from Brightwheel is a great reference for learning how to add approved pickups to your child’s profile. 

• Employing any Wonderforest teacher or staff member to babysit any child who is currently attending our program is prohibited. 

• A short video on finding your child and their class on Brightwheel can be found here. 

• While families do have access to teachers’ phone numbers in case of emergency, we ask that they send all communication through Brightwheel. Important messaging from our teachers to families will include: weather updates for outdoor activities, park scheduling, gear recommendations, and anything related to their child’s physical and emotional well-being at school. 

• Our teachers at Wonderforest will also update families throughout the week with candid photos of their child in an effort to document their school experience. A weekly newsletter will be sent out to update families on what their child’s class is up to! 

Schedule

Drop off & pickup locations at school, procedures, and tips for a smooth arrival will be sent by your child’s teacher as we get closer to the start of school. Our Wonderforest school year runs from Monday, September 8, 2025 through Tuesday, June 16, 2026. Please see our calendar, linked here with all important dates to note, including community gatherings, holidays and other scheduled school closures. 

• Our typical school day begins at 9:00am, with a window of drop off for all students, between 8:45am-9am, and ends at 3:00pm. If a child is unable to attend class, will arrive late, or will need to leave early, families must communicate this with their child’s teachers via Brightwheel. In the rare event that a child must arrive late to class, dropoff can occur no later than 11 am. Makeup days are not permitted for families whose child cannot attend class.

• Families who run more than 10 minutes late may need to meet their child’s class in a location other than Wonderforest. Please note that teachers will be unable to take items like strollers or scooters in the event that families are dropping off their child anywhere other than Wonderforest. For the children’s safety, teachers will not be able to coordinate dropoffs while walking to and from destinations. 

• Each class at Wonderforest will aim to visit Prospect Park at least once a week. A second trip may be possible depending on weather, staffing, and the needs of the class as a whole. A schedule for each individual class will be shared ahead of time. Safety is our primary concern, and severe weather advisories/alerts and staffing limitations may result in postponement or cancellation of park trips. Please note that trips to Prospect Park may not begin until children have been acclimated to their new school environment and going on local outings. Teachers will inform parents when Prospect Park trips will begin. 

• Teachers will notify families of any neighborhood outings to Pacific Park, Dean Street Field, or the St. Mark’s Community Garden your child's class will be taking each day with details on how to prepare your child’s gear for the day. 
  

Arrival & Dismissal

Arrival

• The regular school day begins at 9am, with a window of drop off for all students, between 8:45am-9am. All families should use the front entrance nearest Dean St. for drop off.  Those families enrolled in Early Drop can arrive starting at 8:00a.

• Before entering the building parent/guardian or caregivers must fold strollers and scooters. Please label your stroller, scooter, helmet and/or bicycle.

• Print-outs of the Brightwheel QR code will be posted by the entrance and by each classroom door for families to complete the daily health check and sign your child into school.

• Early drop families (8-8:45a) will need to message via brightwheel to notify teachers of their estimated arrival. A teacher will meet you at the door where you can say goodbye to your child(ren). If you arrive at 8:45a please follow the regular drop off routine below.

• During the regular drop off window 8:45a-9:00a Children and adults will be greeted by Sara Stokes, Hillary Goldman or their designee each morning. After stowing strollers and scooters, the parent/guardian or caregiver will walk their child to their respective classroom. Please use the printed QR codes to sign your child into school and complete the daily health check through Brightwheel.

• We encourage adults to say goodbye at the door of their child’s classroom. If you require some additional time to say goodbye there are “goodbye benches” located by the grassy hill. Please review the separation guide or reach out to teachers, Hillary Goldman or Sara Stokes if you would like additional support with separation.

• We ask that your child be in the classroom by 9am. After saying goodbye to your child(ren) adults will exit through the front door closest to Dean St. by 9:05 am

• Late drop off between 9:05-11am If your child(ren) is arriving late to school please message your estimated time of arrival through Brightwheel. A teacher will meet you at the front door where you can say goodbye to your child(ren). Importantly, we ask that children stay home if families are not able to drop off before 11am. 

• Arriving on time is an important way to start the day and build success for your child. Consistent arrivals create important routines that build familiarity, confidence and excitement as children walk into school with their peers and are greeted by their teachers. Late arrivals can be disruptive for your child and our daily operations. Please be on time!

• If your child is Absent: Write to your child’s teacher through Brightwheel as soon as possible, with an accompanying reason for their absence. If we have not heard from you by 10a Hillary Goldman or Sara Stokes will call you to check-in.

Dismissal

• Regular dismissal time is at 3:00pm. Children who are enrolled in Extended Day may be picked up between 3:00-6:00pm. 

• All approved pick-up adults will walk in through the front door nearest to Dean St. They will scan the QR code just outside their child(ren)’s classroom to sign out and pick up their child(ren).

• Once you have collected  your child(ren) please pick up your stroller, scooter or bike in the front and carry it out of the building before opening or using it.

For 2’s classes: 

• Once you have entered school please line up outside your child’s classroom door in the order that you have arrived. 

• Due to space limitations, teachers will welcome a maximum of 4 adults into the classroom at a time to help their children pack up their belongings. Continue to wait outside of the classroom until space allows.

• Once you have picked-up your child(ren) exit the building through the same door (front door nearest Dean St.) to pick up your stroller/scooter/bicycle.

• Special Note: If your child has a lot of layers and you require more space or extra time to get dressed, please utilize the “goodbye benches” in the hallway to allow other adults to pick-up their children expeditiously.

For 3’s, 4’s and 5’s Classes:

• Approved pick-up adults will line up outside your child’s classroom door in the order that you have arrived. 

• Teachers will dismiss each student, one at a time, based on which adult is in this first position. Please wait outside of the classroom to receive your child and their belongings.

• Exit the building out the same door you entered (Door closest to Dean St.) Pick-up any strollers/scooters or bicycles you may have brought. 

For extended day dismissal: 

• Please be sure to message teachers 10 minutes before arriving. When you arrive at the front door nearest to Dean St. Promptly scan the Brightwheel QR code to check your child out. A teacher will walk you in to collect your child and their belongings. You may exit out through the front door. 
  

Important considerations

• We have limited daily indoor storage space for compact, collapsible strollers (example: yoyo Bonpoint stroller), scooters, and small kid bikes. These items must be labeled with your child’s full name. Please collapse your child’s stroller before entering school and fold scooters if possible. Strollers may not be left open inside the school building for any reason as it poses a fire safety risk. Any stored items must be picked up at the end of each day, and may not be left overnight. Wonderforest is not able to store strollers that are not collapsible or other oversized items that cannot be stored. Any strollers, bikes left outside of the building unattended are your responsibility, Wonderforest cannot guarantee the safety of these items. 

• Siblings are welcome to accompany a parent/guardian or caregiver for a drop-off or pick-up of our students; however, these siblings must remain in your care and may not be left in the care of Wonderforest staff as per Department of Health OH permit.  

• Informal exchanges at arrival and dismissal are valuable moments for families and teachers to connect. If you are looking to have a conversation longer than about 1 minute or 2,  we ask that you send teachers a brightwheel message to schedule a time to speak between 3:30-4:30p. This ensures that teachers can fully attend to your conversation as well as maintain positive classroom arrival and dismissal routines for all.

Separation Guide

We are excited to begin this journey with your family! As we dive into this new experience, we’d like to share some reminders to best support this important milestone. We understand that this transition can be both exciting and challenging, and know that we are in this together.

Separation and attachment are concepts that impact all people throughout their entire lives. Our goal is to make your child’s first school experience a positive one, which supports their social-emotional development. We are partnering with you to form trusting relationships with both you and your child. 

Our Approach

Teamwork and communication are key! Preparing your child for their new experience at school can make a big difference. Remind them of school by talking about who they might see there and what toys they might play with. We encourage you to share photos of children's teachers. It can be particularly helpful to print out a photo and invite your child to pick a place in your home to place the photo. The photo can be a helpful tool to bring up and talk to your child about school and their teachers. You can share how your child’s teachers will help them while they’re in school. You can also read books about school. We have some suggestions below.

Tips for Parents

To help your child adjust, consider these strategies:

• Establish a Goodbye Ritual: Create a brief, consistent goodbye routine, such as a special hug or a wave at the window. This consistency helps your child feel more secure.

• Keep Goodbyes Short and Sweet: Prolonged goodbyes can increase anxiety. Keep your departure brief and positive.

• Give your child a photo or something to remember you while in school: This could be a photo or scarf that smells like you.

• Provide Reassurance: Use simple, reassuring statements like “I’ll be back to pick you up” or “Dad will pick you up today”

• Stay Positive: Your calm and positive attitude during drop-off times will help your child feel more at ease.

• Communicate with Us: Share any concerns or specific information about your child with us. We’re here to support both you and your child.

• Encourage Independence: Support your child’s growing independence by encouraging them to walk into school, carry some of their belongings into school, explore new activities and interact with their peers.

Reminders

Be confident in your goodbye- Say goodbye and leave swiftly and confidently. This shows your children that you trust us, it is imperative that trust is established. We also respect that this can take time. 

Always phrase goodbyes as statements rather than questions. Say “I’ll be back after snack” or “I’ll see you after the goodbye song”. Avoid questions, or anything that elicits uncertainty, for example saying goodbye and coming back, or saying something like “I'll be back, okay?” Questions or sounding uncertain does not offer the kind of reassurance and trust that a clear, firm statement like “I’ll be back to pick you up” affirms that you will return and that you trust the teachers who are caring for your child. 

If your child has never participated in a drop-off school setting, or if your child is under 2yrs old, we welcome you to accompany your child during the phase-in period. We will create personalized plans for separation based on your child’s signs of readiness. We invite you to follow their lead in the classroom as well as following the guidance from our teachers. What this might look like, is having you follow your child’s lead at first and eventually sitting in a chair placed around the perimeter of the room. When teachers request that adults sit in a chair it is best to act as “boring” as possible (i.e. read a book or do work on your phone).  We want your children to notice things that appeal to them in the classroom and find your presence as reassuring, not distracting. Please stay in the chair and don’t move around the room, it will allow children to have a consistent point of reference when they need you. Remember, to never sneak out of the classroom, teachers will initiate a separation when they feel your child is ready to say goodbye. They will coach you on exactly what to say. Always say goodbye to your child before leaving the room.

Ways our Classroom Environment support separation

We strive to create a warm, welcoming, and structured environment where your child feels safe and secure. Here’s how we support your child:

• Warm Welcomes: We greet each child with warmth and offer comfort throughout the day.

• Consistent Routine: We follow a predictable schedule to help children feel more secure. Try to aim for the same person dropping off and picking up ( If possible)

• Individual Attention: We provide personalized support to each child to make them feel valued and understood.

• Positive Reinforcement: “You went to school today! You saw Molly and Cindyl at school. Did you sing songs?  Be specific and continue to talk about school with your child at home.

We know that separation is an on-going process and can be highly individualized.  Therefore, we are committed to working closely with you to ensure a positive experience for you and your child. If you have any questions or need additional support, please feel free to reach out. We can come up with a plan together. 

Suggested books

Felix Goes to School by Lovevery Books

The Kissing Hand by Penn Audrey

Peekaboo Morning by Rachel Isadora

I’ll go and Come Back by Ranjani Larocca

Where’s my Mom by Leon Rosselson

Will you Come back For Me? By Ann Tampert

You Go Away by Dorothy Corey

Maybe She Forgot by Ellen Kandoian

Are you my Mother? By P.D Eastman

Coco Can’t Wait by Taro Gomi

Mom, Dad, Come back Soon by Deba Pappas

The Goodbye Book by Judith Viorst

Hitting and Biting

At Wonderforest, we work intentionally to teach prosocial skills and prevent behaviors like hitting and biting, and we also recognize that these behaviors are developmentally typical for toddlers and may come up from time to time.

We see these moments as forms of non-verbal communication and ask ourselves, “What is this child trying to tell us?” We observe closely to identify patterns or triggers and work proactively to support each child’s growth in communication, emotional regulation, and empathy.

When situations of hitting or biting arise, our teachers respond quickly and calmly to ensure safety and support for both children. We quickly and explicitly set a boundary (“I won’t let you hit, hitting hurts”) while staying close to help the child regulate. We also model and guide alternatives, such as using words, gestures, or seeking help from a teacher. In the case of biting, we might say, “Ouch! No biting — biting hurts." while offering them support. We teach children how to check-in with each other  

We also prioritize open communication with families. If hitting or biting occurs, we connect with both families to share what happened. If a behavioral pattern emerges, we’ll reach out to share our observations, the strategies we’re using, and to collaborate on a plan to support the child in developing safer, more effective ways to express themselves.

Ultimately, our goal is to create a safe, respectful space where children can learn through real, supported experiences, including the hard ones, with trusted adults there to guide, protect, and model compassion and repair.

Food

• Wonderforest is a peanut and tree nut free school. We require that all food sent to school be peanut and tree nut free.

• Please clearly label foods like “sunbutter” or other look-a-likes as “NUT FREE.” Teachers may need to confirm with you via BW about your child’s food before serving if they are unable to determine if a food is peanut and tree nut free. 

• If there are other serious allergies in your child’s class, Wonderforest will alert families with as much notice as possible so families can be aware and label any foods. In the case of life threatening allergies, Wonderforest may require that specific foods are not sent to class. 

• We recommend sending in foods that children can easily open and eat independently. If their food requires utensils, families are responsible for sending in the appropriate utensils, labeled with their child's name. 

• Families are responsible for sending children with non-perishable snacks and lunches each day. Wonderforest is unable to provide refrigeration or reheating of food. Families must ensure that all non-perishable food is packed in insulated containers with ice packs to maintain safe food temperatures. If Wonderforest deems a child’s snack or food has not been safely packed, families will be responsible for replacing the food ASAP. 

Birthdays

• Birthdays are a special occasion that we love to celebrate. Families may opt to send in a special book of their child’s choosing to read for their special day, or may opt to send in a special treat.

• If you would like to send a treat in for your child’s birthday, please communicate with your child’s teachers in advance to coordinate. Teachers must receive a list of ingredients to send to families in class for approval, 48 hours before the day your child will celebrate their birthday.

• Please ensure that all treats are tree nut and peanut free. 

Rest Time & Bedrolls 

• Each day, students will have at least 1 hour of rest time, as mandated by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Rest time will occur in your child’s classroom, and children will need to bring their own bedroll mat.

• We will send each child’s bedding home on the last day of their school week to be washed, and families must return it back to Wonderforest on the first day of their child’s school week. Bedding should be cleaned once per week to avoid the spread of germs and/or any other contagions (e.g. head lice, viruses, etc.). 

• We ask specifically for a bedroll, which is an ‘all in one’ sheet, blanket, and pillow, which is the most efficient and child-friendly method for kids to help set up and put away their bedding each day. 

• Examples of bedrolls we have had success with are noted below. The approved ages for bedrolls vary by company, based on safety regulations. Please ensure you choose one that is approved for your child’s age. 

• Please note, children who are still 2 years old must bring bedding that is approved for children ages 2 and up. We recommend choosing a bed roll from Moonsea. These bed rolls are 50” long by 21” wide. 

• For ages 3 and up, we recommend choosing a bed roll from Delta Children . These bed rolls are 53” long by 21” wide. 

• Bedrolls must be sent and stored in a bag that fully closes to prevent the spread of germs and/or any other contagions (e.g. head lice, viruses, etc.). See link for example, but any bag that fully closes would be acceptable. Rest mats and bags must be clearly labelled. 

Diapers & Toileting

• For those children wearing diapers, families are responsible for supplying diapers for their child. Wonderforest will supply wipes, but if you have a specific wipe you’d like your child to use you may send them in and make your child’s teachers aware. 

• All diapers, nap diapers, and pull ups must have side flaps for quick changing, especially during cold and/or wet weather days when children may be wearing multiple layers of clothing. “Pull-up” style diapers with no tabs are not appropriate for our programming.

• Wonderforest will work with families to support children through potty training. Potty training can be a big change in a child’s life, as such before beginning potty training, we ask that families check in with their child’s teachers to form a plan that works best for your child, family, and school environment. Certain behaviors can indicate a readiness for potty training and teachers are happy to speak more regarding their child’s individual potty training needs. We never want to rush the process or begin potty training at the same time as other changes in a child’s life or environment (i.e. starting a new school, welcoming a new sibling into the family, moving to a new home, etc). 

• For sanitary reasons, we require all potty-training children to wear a two-layer system (e.g., underwear and pants/shorts,  diaper and pants/shorts, bike shorts and pants/shorts, etc.). Please reach out to your child’s teacher and our education director if you have any questions or concerns, or would like support in coming up with a potty training plan for a group setting. 

• Regarding outdoor bathroom use: While there are public restrooms in Prospect Park, we will be using a potette potty “nature potty” & privacy tent for toileting outdoors. An example of what this looks like can be found here. 

Sick Policy

• It is the responsibility of each family and each member of our school staff to ensure they are diligent in monitoring their own health, as it directly impacts the overall health and wellbeing of our Wonderforest Nature Preschool community. 

• A health check for each student must be completed on Brightwheel each morning by their parent or caregiver that indicates a healthy status before coming inside.

• Teachers will also conduct a wellness check with each child as they arrive to determine whether a child is healthy  enough to attend our program that day. 

• Families must communicate with teachers to ensure that any student who shows any potential signs of illness is able to attend without risking their own health and well being, as well as the health of those around them. 

• If a family decides to keep their child home sick, we ask that they  please share their child’s symptoms so we can determine if any follow-up communications need to be sent to prevent the spread of contagious illness. 

• Teachers and Wonderforest staff reserve the right to require families to pick their child up from school ASAP, but within one hour,  if their child’s health prohibits them from attending a full school day and/or risks the health and well being of those around them.

• If children are home sick for more than 3 days, we require a doctor’s note for them to return.

• Students must stay home if any of the following occur: 

  -A fever of 100.4 F or greater

  -A rash of unknown origin

  -A combination of cold symptoms exhibited (excess mucus, frequent coughing, frequent sneezing, lethargy)

  -Vomiting and/or diarrhea 

  -Exhaustion 

  -Red or pink eyes

• Students may return to school when the following occur:

• They are confirmed to be no longer be contagious by a medical professional (if relevant)

• They have been fever free–without the use of medication for 24 hours

• They have not vomited and/or had diarrhea within the last 24 hours

• They are physically and emotionally able to attend a full day of school

*Covid specific policies listed below in the section entitled, “Covid-19 Policies and Protocols”

School Closures and Delays

Wonderforest Nature Preschool follows the NYC Department of Education school closure schedule, as well as our own judgment regarding school closings and delays. These include snow days, flash floods, and any situation where traveling to and from, and attending school is unsafe. Regarding closures and delays, families will be notified prior to 7:00am the day of. On rare occasions, we may dismiss early so as to avoid any unsafe weather conditions that prohibit safe travel to and from school. 

School Safety and Emergency Drills 

• As mandated by the Department of Health, Wonderforest will hold monthly fire drills and two lockdown drills per school year. 

• Our designated evacuation site is in front of 18 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, 11217 on the sidewalk at the metal barriers in front of the building. In the event that the back door of the building is obstructed or unsafe to use AND/OR inclement weather upon arriving at the evacuation site that would prohibit children from safely waiting to return to school, children and staff may be directed to the covered entrance to the Barclays Center side door, located at 467 Dean Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11217. 

• Fire drills will be held monthly and may be conducted with the bell and alarm system. We will practice without the bell in order for students to feel more comfortable with the evacuation procedure. 

• On the day of the drill, teachers will discuss with the children that we will be practicing what happens in the event of an emergency when we all need to leave the school to stay safe. Teachers can let the children know that the alarm will be loud to help everyone know it is time to leave the building “Quickly, Quietly, and Safely.”

• In our experience, some children can be frightened by the loud sound of the bell upon first hearing it and then become more comfortable with the sound after each drill. Children may feel like talking about the drill with their families after it has occurred and talking through the drill can help them process the experience. Our intention with each drill is to ensure that all teachers and students are knowledgeable and confident in evacuation procedures in the event of an actual emergency. After each drill, families will be notified that a drill has taken place. 

• Lockdown drills will be held at minimum two times throughout the school year. We will call them “Waiting Drills,” with the children, as this is a drill where we wait to make sure the school is safe outside of our classroom. During the drill, we will instruct children to “huddle up against the wall,” to stay together in the designated classroom lockdown location. 

• Should an emergency evacuation happen during drop off or pickup time, teachers are unable to return to the school building to retrieve children’s personal belongings. Additionally, children must remain with the class until the class reaches our assembly area, and it is safe to sign children in or out. We ask that families follow this policy and remain with their children and class during these moments so that teachers can focus their attention on caring for children during an evacuation. 

• In the event of an evacuation, if it has been determined the school is not safe to return to, children will be picked up by their families or other caregivers. Families will be notified via Brightwheel of the evacuation by a Director and will be instructed to immediately pick up their child and where to pick up their child if the children have moved from the designated evacuation site.

Clothing and Gear

We encourage autonomy and agency within each child as they develop. Please read the following carefully to ensure safe and prepared outdoor play, and reach out with any questions that arise. Families should be aware that we provide a nature, art, and messy-play experience, and should expect their child’s clothing to become dirty or stained throughout the day. Please send your child to school in clothing that is easy for them to take on and off (no onesies, please). All diapers, nap diapers, and pull ups must have side flaps for quick changing, especially during cold and/or wet weather days.  All items (clothing, shoes, gear, snack/lunch/water bottle, rest mats, bags, and anything else you bring to school) must be clearly labeled with your child’s name. 

Families are asked to bring the following on their child’s first day at Wonderforest, to be stored at school:

• Inside shoes (1 pair): clean, comfortable, closed-toed footwear with good tread (an athletic shoe, tennis sneaker, or similar sturdy soled shoe) 

• 3 spare changes of clothes: weather appropriate, well fitting clothing to be changed into in the event that their clothing that day has been soiled (2 spares for their cubby, 1 spare for outdoor outings)

  -Spare changes of clothing include: tops, bottoms, socks, underwear/diapers

  -As the weather becomes colder, teachers will update families on additional spare clothing and gear to be stored at school

  -Those children who are potty training and/or prone to multiple clothing changes per day will be asked for additional clothing to be stored 

Families are asked to bring the following items each day, and these items will remain with your child when they dismiss: 

• Backpack (large child/adult size, to hold all items daily). Please no tiny child backpacks, which will not hold all necessary belongings. An example is below for size reference: https://www.jansport.com/shop/en/jansport-us/backpacks/superbreak-js0a4qut?variationId=5XP

• 1 full water bottle 

• Morning Snack (tree-nut and peanut free)

• Lunch (tree-nut and peanut free)

• Afternoon Snack, for extended day kids only (tree-nut and peanut free)*

• Rain suit**

• Optional “lovey” for emotional support during rest time and transitions

*For children enrolled in our extended day program, please include a second snack for the afternoon, in a separate container, labeled “PM Snack.”

**Your child’s teacher will message each family in the morning (or night before) to let you know if your child needs to arrive at school wearing their rain suit. Otherwise, the rain suit will stay in their backpack and travel back and forth to school each day. 

• Each child must arrive at school with their rain suit packed (or on their body if it is raining), weather appropriate clothing, and closed-toed, weather appropriate shoes. 

• Crocs and Natives may be used as inside shoes only, but not as outside shoes (including on park days), as they have little tread and can result in hazardous play. 

• Please be sure to label every single article of clothing, shoes, food container, and water bottle with your child’s name. 

If a child arrives at school unprepared for safe indoor and outdoor activities, we reserve the right to deny their admittance until they have appropriate clothing and gear. This is to ensure the utmost safety and comfort of all children. 

Gear Guide For All Weather

We encourage autonomy and agency within each child as they develop. This includes during messy play, toileting, and the occasional outfit change. Please send your child to school in clothing that is easy for them to take on and off (no onesies, please), and know they may come home with scuffs and stains, even on non-park days. All diapers, nap diapers, and pull ups must have side flaps for quick changing, especially during cold and/or wet weather days. 

Warm Weather Months

Rain Suit & Rain Gloves

• Rain suits & rain gloves are one of the most important pieces of gear for your child’s time at Wonderforest.  provided for each family at the beginning of the school year, and include a rain jacket with rain overalls.  Rain suits must travel with your child back and forth to school each day, and must be worn outside on rainy and wet days. Rain suits are worn in both warm weather and slightly colder weather months. 

• We recommend 2-piece rainsuits that come with a jacket and overalls like these from Kuling, Muddy Puddles, or Reima.  To be effective in all weather, rain suits should have 8000mm and above waterproof protection. 

• Rain suits are to be worn over your child’s clothes, with the bottom part of the pants pulled over their rain boots and strapped underneath. 

• Rain Mittens are essential for layering over warm gloves on cold and wet day. They are not a replacement for warm, insulted gloves. Wonderforest will provide a set of rain gloves for each child that will be kept at school. Gloves will be sent home for cleaning as needed. 

Footwear

• During any time outdoors, children must wear closed toed, weather appropriate footwear. We do not permit children to use Natives, Crocs, open toed sandals, or flip flops as outdoor shoes, including on park days. 

• During very hot and rainy weather, children must wear either rain boots or closed toed hiking sandals. As the summer heat cools slightly, we prefer children to wear rain boots. 

• On dry days during the warm weather months, children should arrive at school wearing sneakers, hiking boots, or closed toed hiking sandals. 

• Some examples of outdoor footwear are Keens Newports, Bogs Insulated Rainboots, Keens Puffriders, and Keen Kanibous. We’re always happy to answer gear questions if you have them!

Hats

• Sun hats are necessary for hot and sunny days, as they provide sun protection and help to prevent children from overheating. 

Sunscreen and Bug Spray

• We ask that on park days each child comes to school wearing sunscreen and bug spray. Wonderforest will provide additional sunscreen and DEET free bug spray for application/reapplication during outdoor play. If you prefer to send a specific brand of sunscreen/bug spray for your child to wear, please let us know in writing.  

Cold Weather Months

Base Layers

• Top and bottom base layers are absolutely necessary for cold weather months to circulate body heat and prevent hypothermia. Base layers include any underlayer of clothing made from wool, silk or UNIQLO heat tech. Cotton is not an accepted material for cold weather base layers, as it absorbs moisture and cools the body down.  

Warm Pants

• Warm pants that can fit over base layer bottoms.

Warm Top

• Warm top that fits over the top base layer.

Fleece or Sweater

•  To fit over top the warm top and base layer. 

Snow Suit

• Snow suits should be worn on all very cold days, even when there is no snow on the ground. 

Winter Coat 

• A winter coat that comfortably fits and zips over the previously mentioned layers. 

Wool Socks

• At least one pair of socks is necessary to keep children’s feet warm during cold weather months. 

• The socks layer that goes over the feet should be wool, or a comparable synthetic. No cotton socks during colder months, as cotton absorbs moisture and cools the body down. 

Boots

• Winter boots must be insulated, waterproof, and have rubber soles with good tread. 

Hat/Head & Neck Coverings

• All children must have a warm hat, balaclava, coat hood, or other head covering to help circulate body warmth. A scarf/gaiter is recommended in addition to these items.

Mittens/Gloves

• During cold weather months, children will need at least 2 pairs of smaller gloves to wear during snacks and meals outdoors, which will also be worn underneath their mittens or snow gloves. 

• Mittens or snow gloves must be waterproof and insulated, and are worn atop their smaller gloves to keep hands dry and warm as they play in the snow, ice, rain, and/or cold air. 

Hand/Foot Warmers

• Hand and foot warmers are necessary for each park outing. We recommend hot hands or USB rechargeable hand warmers. Please note, we do not permit rechargeable hand warmers that contain lighter fluid. 

Please watch this video as a useful guide to the gear recommendations above!

We understand that this gear can get expensive. If you have any issues acquiring the necessary gear, please reach out to sarah@wonderforestpreschool.com or sarastokes@wonderforestpreschool.com. We are here to help!

Please make sure all items - bags, water bottles, lunch boxes, hats, all clothing and outerwear - are clearly labeled with your child's name. While we strive to keep each child’s belongings organized with their bags at all times, items do sometimes become lost or left behind and it is much easier to return them to you when they are labeled clearly.

Gear Company Recommendations

We have had success with the following products & children's outdoor gear companies: 

Polarn O. Pyret *

Biddle & Bop  

Oakiwear *

Keen Footwear 

Uniqlo Heat Tech 

Gear Discounts & the BND Outdoor School Shop

🐢 Polarn O. Pyret offers a 20% discount to families that are enrolled in our classes. To register, please fill out the form found here.

Please include the address of our sister school, Brooklyn Nature Days location on the form:

Address: Brooklyn Nature Days, LLC, 22 Caton Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11218

Class Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY

🐥 Oakiwear offers a 25% discount off your order when you enter the discount code: brooklynnaturedays at checkout. 

🍄 To find many of the items on our gear checklist and for help choosing the right gear for your kids, we have partnered with Outdoor School Shop. Founded by mothers who support and have children in Outdoor Learning programs, they will be a resource for you, answering any questions you may have regarding what to purchase, how to layer, and the differences between brands and types of gear. 

https://outdoorschoolshop.com/schools/brooklyn-nature-days/

Be sure to use the coupon code BROOKLYN to receive 15% off anything in the shop!

*Please note: Neither Wonderforest Nature Preschool nor Brooklyn Nature Days make any money from this affiliation and there is absolutely NO obligation to shop here. We just wanted to streamline everything for families in the hopes this can make layering for winter a bit easier. If you have any questions about the gear offered on this site, you can reach out to Outdoor School Supply directly and they can answer any questions you have.

About the Park

• Prospect Park is not a manicured environment and contains hazards like bees, poison ivy, and other irritants. We will do our best to avoid these hazards, but if your child is particularly susceptible to them, please let us know.  

• Please be aware that NYC posts a tick advisory for the public parks. We generally avoid areas where they are most likely to be found, but ticks do live in the park and nature can be unpredictable. Please read the advisory below and check your child after class each day.

• If you do find a tick, please let us know as soon as possible.

• NYC's tick advisory is posted here: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/ticks.page

Important

• If your child has any allergies, any other medical conditions, or is taking any medication, please make sure to let us know in writing via the Child Information and Release Form AND  on the brightwheel app. Once we receive this information, we will send an additional permission form to parents of children who need to carry an allergy action plan, epipen, or other medication at all times in case of emergency.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's early education. We look forward to a fantastic year of learning and growth! Please feel free to reach out with any questions or commentary.