Forest preschool for ages 3 to 5
Larch is a forest preschool in a county park outside Traverse City. Children spend the morning on the trail, at the log circle and in the mud kitchen, and warm up in the yurt when the weather asks.
A morning at Larch
Mornings run 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. This is how one goes.
An adult greets each child at the door, signs them in and helps with layers.
We walk together to the trail, the meadow or the log circle, with an adult at the front and the back.
Mud kitchen, stick dens, a log to balance on. Teachers follow what the children are drawn to.
Hands washed, snack from the pack, then a story or a song on the stumps.
We warm up, change into dry socks and settle in for quiet play.
Mornings end at 12:30 pm. Long days stay for lunch from home and a rest, to 2:30 pm.
Summer weeks
Mornings only, for ages 3 to 5. Each week has a theme, and you can book as many as you like.
Mud kitchens, boots and a long puddle line.
A first week for new and returning children: mud pies, puddle stomping and a look for tracks along the creek bank, with an adult at every stop.
Hand lenses, bark rubbings and a fungus hunt.
Children crouch low to find moss, mushrooms and the small creatures under logs. We look, draw and name what we find, and we never taste it.
Basins, bark boats and a bucket line.
Water play stays in shallow basins and tubs with an adult at each one. Children build boats from bark and leaves and test them.
Cardboard-tube binoculars and a bug hotel.
We sit still at the meadow edge to watch and listen, then build a bug hotel from sticks and bark for the corner of the yard.
Stick dens, tarps and a story inside.
A few children at a time build a den big enough to sit in. When it is done, we read in it.
Tall tales, shadow puppets and a goodbye circle.
A slow last week of stories in the shade, shadow puppets on a sheet and a circle to close out the summer.
Sample sessions.
Weeks and hours can change; our tour page has the latest.
Programs
Mornings run 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Long days run to 2:30 pm and include lunch from home and a rest in the yurt.
3-year-olds
A first year on the trail, with the yurt close by
4-year-olds
Longer walks and bigger projects in the final year before kindergarten
Summer weeks run for six weeks from late June and have their own page.
Sample programs.
What to wear
A checklist for each time of year. Children carry their own water bottle and pack.
Layers that can get wet and muddy.
Rain jacket and rain pants
Waterproof boots and wool socks
A warm hat
A spare set of clothes, labeled
Warm layers from the inside out.
Snow pants and a warm coat
Insulated waterproof boots
Two pairs of wool socks
Hat, neck warmer and waterproof mittens
Mud season, and plenty of it.
Rain gear and rubber boots
Layers that go on and come off
A sun hat for bright days
Clothes that can get muddy
Shade, water and long sleeves.
Long sleeves and long pants
A sun hat; sunscreen put on at home
Closed-toe shoes or light boots
A refillable water bottle
Dates
Tours run most of the year, applications open in January and families hear from us in March.
September to May
A tour is a walk with the group on a school morning, about an hour. Dress for the weather and bring your child if you like.
Book a tourLate April
A Saturday morning to meet the teachers, see the yurt and walk the trail.
January
The form is on our enrollment page and takes a few minutes.
March
By email and a phone call, with a place or a spot on the waitlist.
Late June to mid August
Six weeks of mornings in the park, each with its own theme.
See the weeksEarly September
New children begin with a short first morning and a parent close by.
Sample dates.
Safety and license
The license, the ratios for each age and our trail routines, in one place.
Licensed by LARA / MiLEAP
Child care center license · MI License # 000000Verify
1 adult to 10 children
3-year-olds
Group size: 12
1 adult to 12 children
4-year-olds
Group size: 12
Group size
Up to 12 children
with 2 adults
Capacity
24
Ages 3 years to 5 years
We go out in rain, snow and cold in the right layers. We stay in the yurt for thunder, lightning and strong wind, and when it is very cold we shorten our time outside. The Outdoors page lists each rule.
An adult counts the group when we leave the yurt, at every stop and when we come back. One adult walks at the front and one at the back, and children learn the spot where we stop and wait.
An adult trained in first aid and CPR is with every group and carries the kit and a phone. We tell you the same day about anything more than a bump or a scrape.
An adult signs each child in at the yurt door and signs them out at pickup. A child goes only with the people on your list, and we ask for ID until we know you.
Children learn the edges of our play area from the first week and stay where an adult can see them. Before each morning we walk the area to check the ground, the branches and the sky.
We keep to the trail and the cleared play areas, ask families to do a tick check at home, and look at hats and boots at the door. On hot mornings we find shade and keep water close.
Ask us about child care assistance
Sample details.
Our people
Six adults share the school week, and these three are at the yurt most mornings.
Director and lead teacher
Silke leads Larch and teaches the older group. She taught indoors for years before she moved her teaching outside, and she is the first adult at the yurt each morning, warming it up and walking the site.
Teacher, younger group
Cade teaches the younger group and leads the den builders. He grew up in northern Michigan and can tell you whose tracks are in the snow.
Assistant teacher
Colette is the steady second adult on every morning walk, runs the snack circle and knows where the spare mittens are.
Questions
Larch is for children from age 3 until they start kindergarten, in two groups by age. Mornings run 8:30 am to 12:30 pm on three or five days, and long days run to 2:30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday.
We go out in rain and snow in the right layers. For thunder, lightning and strong wind we stay in the yurt, and on a very cold morning we shorten our time outside. Send layers for the season, waterproof boots, a hat and a spare set of clothes; the Outdoors page has a list for each season.
Yes. Larch is a licensed child care center, with the heated yurt as its indoor base. The license, the adult-to-child ratio for each age and our trail routines are on the Safety page.
An adult trained in first aid and CPR is with every group on the trail and carries the kit and a phone. The Safety page lists our routines for headcounts, sign-in and pickup.
A tour is a walk with the group on a school morning, about an hour, at the yurt and on the trail. Dress for the weather. Children are welcome to come along, and you can book a time on our tour page.
The group your child is in, the schedule you pick and whether you include summer weeks. Our figures are on our enrollment page and we go through them with you at the tour. How tuition works has the rest.
A tour is a walk with the group on a school morning. Bring your boots, and your questions.