The Durango Herald
Preschool in the woods
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Many Durango parents already work together to provide their young children with outdoor learning experiences through the Free Forest School of Durango, said Katherine Dudley, director and facilitator.
The group, a local chapter of Free Forest School, a nonprofit started in Austin, started almost two years ago in Durango. More than 100 parents have participated in the school’s free gatherings for parents and children from infancy to 6 years old, she said.
Dudley was pleased to see 9-R adopting a similar outdoor education model for young children.
“It gives me just so much faith in our public schools in terms of their values,” she said.
Dudley has seen outdoor lessons develop concentration and focus that she hasn’t observed among young children playing with plastic toys indoors.
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