Forest Explorers Guide
Pick-up & Drop-off
Our days will begin at 9 am and run until 11 am/. Please drop off your child no later than 9 am as we will begin our hike to base camp shortly after 9 am. Please call or text Alicia at (352) 283-1879 if you are running late and she will advise where is best to meet. Children will only be dismissed to parents and caregivers that have been authorized in writing. Any changes must be communicated before the child is dismissed.
The map below shows the drop-off and pick-up location. We will meet by the entrance of the trail across the street from the parking lot. Parking is on the left and the train entrance is on the right side as you drive on Bear Lane.
Communication and Updates
We use Slack (a simple messaging app) to communicate with families, as well as allow families to communicate with each other. We also highly recommend downloading Slack's desktop and iPhone or Android apps. If you haven't received an invite to our Slack channel, please email us.
Families will receive a weekly update on Sunday night via Slack that details the weather forecast, and any importnat updates/reminders.
After each class. parents will receive a summary on what the group did that day with pictures via Slack.
Please always check the forecast each morning before class to ensure that your child comes properly prepared for our days together.
Our separation guide is posted here.
Our caregiver agreement is posted here. Please fill this out before the first day of class on 9/16.
Our waiver is posted here. Please fill this out before the first day of class on 9/16.
Our drop-off and pick-up policy is posted here.
Families should feel free to reach out to Natalia at any time, with any questions.
Weather and Safety:
At MOS, we prioritize the safety and enjoyment of all explorers. While Forest Explorers is designed to be an all-weather, outdoor program—rain or shine—we recognize that certain conditions may negatively impact the comfort, health, or engagement of the group.
If the forecast predicts extreme weather such as heavy rain, excessive heat, high winds, dangerously cold temperatures, poor air quality, hazardous road conditions, or site closures, we may adjust our plans to ensure student well-being. These adjustments may include relocating to an alternative location, transitioning to indoor activities, adjusting our start time, or dismissing early. In rare cases, class may be canceled.
Families will be notified of any changes via Slack by 7:30 a.m. on the day of class. When time allows, we will also send a text and/or email. If we cannot meet outdoors and no suitable indoor space is available, one make-up session will be offered during the week of December 15. If more than two sessions are canceled due to weather or safety concerns, a partial refund will be provided.
Our goal is to maintain a safe, positive, and engaging learning environment for every child—regardless of the weather.
What to Bring
Each child may bring one bag labeled with his/her name. Please include a full water bottle, additional clothes, even if your child is potty trained, and diapers if needed. Please do not send any toys from home as our goal is to explore nature.
A snack will be provided to each explorer, but if your child is a picky eater or has severe allergies, please pack a small snack for them
Sunscreen & Bug Spray
Children should come to class wearing sunscreen, a hat, and bug spray each morning.
This shampoo and spray have tea tree oil in them, which has been shown to repel ticks.
A helpful article for tick prevention can be found here. Please read and check your child for ticks after every class. A study has found Permethrin to be successful in preventing ticks.
What to Wear
Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Their clothing should be comfortable and allow them to move, get wet, and get dirty. Please note that children will be encouraged to immerse themselves in their work, and clothes could become dirty or stained.
On rainy days, rain pants/bibs, raincoats and rain boots are necessary. Playing in the rain is an amazing experience when properly attired. It is important for your child to have proper footwear with rubber soles that will have a good grip for running and climbing. Please no open-toed sandals, flip flops, or crocs.
For colder days, we recommend arriving in multiple layers for warmth that can be adjusted for the child's comfort. They should come dressed in:
The first layer should be a top and bottom made of wool, fleece, silk, or 'Heat Tech'.
The second layer should be warm pants and a sweater or fleece.
The next layer should be a snowsuit (to keep bodies warm if very cold)
Fleece or wool socks.
Insulated, waterproof footwear with rubber soles for gripping. For cold but not particularly wet days, these are great.
Winter hat or balaclava, and neck gaiter or scarf.
Waterproof gloves/mittens are recommended for cold days. For added warmth, consider wearing two pairs: a thin knit pair and a waterproof, heavier pair on top.
On rainy days, rain boots like these are great.
For everyday shoes, you want something comfortable with a strap closure, that has grip and extra rubber over the toe box (for climbing), and ideally waterproof. Something like this or this.
Muddy Buddies will be provided and should be brought to class and used as a waterproof layer when it is raining or the ground is damp. On especially wet winter days, these can be worn over your child’s snowsuit.
Snacktime
A small nutritious snack will be provided, such as veggie straws with oranges or pretzels with bananas to help keep our explorers energized. If your child is a picky eater or has severe allergies, please pack a small snack for them to have on hand. We will use a hand washing station before we sit down for snack time.
Things We Need to Know
Please remember that South Mountain Reservation is an outdoor environment and contains such hazards as bees and poison ivy and other irritants. While we will do our best to avoid these hazards, please let us know if your child is particularly susceptible to them.
If your child has any medical conditions or is taking medication, please let us know in writing if it was not specified in the Information and Release Form.
Please have your healthcare provider fill out this form and return it to us before the beginning of class.
Policies
Allergy Policy (Fall Session):
At Maplewood Outside School, we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students. This policy is designed to enhance the safety and well-being of children with food allergies by minimizing exposure risks in our school.
At the beginning of each term, we will identify and communicate any life-threatening allergies present in our classrooms to ensure awareness among staff and families.
To support a safe environment, we ask families to follow these food guidelines if sending in additional food:
For the fall session, please refrain from sending foods that contain tree nuts. Please note, this may change in the future.
Please be mindful of classroom allergy notifications that may arise during the year.
To ensure the safety of all students, food sharing is not permitted in session.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us create a safe and inclusive environment for all children. If your childs allergies are not updated in Sawyer please do so ASAP. As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Attendance Policy:
Please note that we are unable to offer makeups or refunds for missed classes due to personal scheduling conflicts, illness, or absence. However, if scheduling allows, we may be able to accommodate your child on another day. Requests must be submitted in advance via email and will be considered based on availability.
Child Illness Policy:
The full policy is posted here. If your child has any of the following symptoms: a temperature that is at or above 100 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or a rash. The child can not be at school for 48 hours after the symptom has been resolved without medication.
COVID Policy:
Our operating plan is posted here.
Harmful Actions Policy:
The safety of each child is our first concern. We are in the forest to keep children in our care safe and to have fun, in that order. Our harmful actions policy is posted here.
Payment Policy:
Our payment policy is posted here. Some things to note:
-Payments are due on the 1st of each month.
-A late fee of $50 will be added if payment is not received by the 1st. Repeated late payment (more than two months in arrears) is grounds for dismissal.
Emergency Protocol
In case of emergency:
If the situation is safe, teachers and students will remain at camp and leave for pickup at the regular time.
If the situation requires evacuation the teachers will contact the parents via Slack or phone and request that they pick up their child.
If the situation requires immediate evacuation from base camp then teachers will move the children according to the plan below:
-If phones are working the teacher will provide a location for pick up to the parents
-If the phones are not working and the entrance to the park from South Orange Avenue is not reachable then parents will pick up their children at the entrance to the park at Claremont Ave & Warner Road.