PRESENT IN THE WILDERNESS
Why Forest School?
FOSTER A LOVE OF LEARNING
AWAKEN WONDER
FIND COMMUNITY
Repairing the world together through experiential education
CBI Forest School provides children an opportunity to experience the rhythms of Jewish life by connecting with the wonder and joy of our natural world.
We foster curiosity to develop a love of learning rooted in questions, listening, observation, synthesis, and connection.
By participating in outdoor, experiential learning, students become active participants in their educational journey, learning with agency, interconnectedness, and responsibility to their greater community.
In dynamic partnership with families, we create inquisitive stewards of the world who understand that knowledge is a gift.
How did the Forest School come to be?
In March 2020, CBI Preschool and Kindergarten closed its doors along with the rest of the world and embarked on virtual learning.
By the summer, we knew this could only be a temporary fix. We dreamed of what we could create to support our children and our community: and a forest school plan was born.
By inviting the older siblings to attend, we ensured our school would remain a tight-knit community and stay in-person during the pandemic.
Within weeks we had 106 students enrolled, podded in classes by family, and a new forest location just outside of the city limits.
The Jewish Forest School began its journey.
We learned that when communities are clear in vision and hope, the terrain can be managed no matter how difficult.
The success is beyond our imaginations. We not only survived through the pandemic, we thrived!
Like all great Jewish stories, the idea for the Forest School was formulated for our safety, but turned out to be something more.
We learned that the outdoors provides the perfect tapestry for innovative Jewish learning experiences. We are excited about the future and will continue on our journey through the wilderness.
“OUR KIDS WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT CBI FOREST SCHOOL.
“They laughed, they played, they read, they sang, they weaved, they ate strange green things…Not behind a screen but in person, with their best friends IN THE FOREST!”
—Samantha Freed, Parent
A Reggio Emilia framework that fosters collaboration & growth.
CBI Forest School supports children through a developmental, constructivist approach which recognizes and addresses individual growth and needs of students and creates opportunities for children to grow at their own pace.
Since 2010, we have adopted a Reggio Emilia framework, based on the belief that children are active learners and born with unique abilities and modalities of expression. We have come to realize the similarities between the values of Reggio Emilia and Judaism. The Jewish image of the child tells us that children begin to experience the world from birth.
Our program builds on the interests of the children. This emergent curriculum evolves from observation of the children’s conversations, interests, and play. Teachers and students collaborate to research these ideas.
Children are encouraged to ask questions, seek answers, find experts, and draw conclusions. Through our explorations through the forest, children develop curiosity, creativity, both written and verbal communication, listening, negotiation, observation, and critical thinking skills.
Teachers document children’s progress, validating the children’s work and enabling on-going assessment. The children’s thoughts and ideas are documented through photography, video, displays and writing, as the teachers strive to support each child’s development to the fullest extent. We both nurture and challenge the whole child as they develop academically, emotionally, socially, cognitively, physically, and spiritually.
Our Elementary Program continues to support students as they develop life skills and have ample opportunities for collaboration, exploration, and independent play. The natural world is their springboard for building a strong foundation of academic, social, and problem-solving skills. Students learn how to set goals, research, and collaborate. All of these endeavors help to foster a love of learning.
B’TZELEM ELOHIM — Appreciating individuality
We teach respect and appreciation of each other’s differences while enabling a sense of pride in each child’s uniqueness. We are growing together and we are working towards personal betterment, but we each have different starting points, rates of growth, and ways we grow. We recognize that changing circumstances and needs require flexibility. Likewise, CBI Forest School changes its pedagogy as we as individuals grow and change, always striving for improvement.
HITORERUT —
awakening to our world/wonder
We encourage an awareness of self, others, and our environment, both in the classroom and the greater world. We recognize Shehekeyanu moments as they arise. We present opportunities to discover and imagine. We encourage exploration and guide discussion, reaching beyond the apparent.
KehillaH — community
We promote growth of relationships through teaching and modeling compassion, empathy, open-mindedness, and respect. We believe that collaboration between teachers, parents and children are an essential part of our environment. We support each other not just as a school, but as part of a larger community.
ahavah limud —
love of learning
We take a holistic approach to each child, to Judaism and to the curriculum as a whole. Children are encouraged to ask questions and seek answers. Together, parents and teachers work as partners to guide the child’s interactions with the world. Jewish values, customs and traditions guide all aspects of our teaching.
During our 2020-2021 school year, we embarked on a new educational adventure at Forest School. We learned the lesson of renewal, Hitchadsut, and grew emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually. Earth-based Judaism incorporates values already part of our approach, and introduced others.
nisim v’nifla-ot — miricales and wonders
Children are enriched when they view the world with intense curiosity. They discover miracles in the regular course of nature and in their everyday lives, and appreciate what is unfolding around them
hatmadah — perseverance
Learning outside in nature offers constant opportunities for children to practice perseverance, sticking to something because it is important, even when it is difficult to do.
shema — listening
Shema means listen. When we listen to the sounds of nature, we are amazed by what we hear. The better we become at listening to nature, the better we become at listening to each other.
shmirat ha-adama — Caring for the earth
Jewish tradition teaches that we have a right to everything created in this world. However, we are also responsible to protect these resources so future generations will be able to enjoy their benefits.
Support Our Mission
Our school provides for the Charlottesville Jewish community and upholds its values. We depend on the community for support. Help our community and our school today: