Our story
As many families do, ours has spent a lot of time in nature since our children were first born. Who doesn't love to wander the woods with a sleeping baby snuggled against your chest?
As our first born grew and began to spend time on the forest floor, using logs to stand up, experiencing the crunch of leaves as he crawled around, I wished that he could spend every day learning from and growing in the forest....
Hundred Acre Wood
is born...
So the idea of Hundred Acre Wood was born. As I was pitching the vision of a licensed forest preschool to friends and colleagues, I met Joanna at an early years play group. Jo shared the vision of starting a forest preschool with me and jumped on the project taking on the role of Chair. Lisa, Sam, Erik and Alex also joined the board and for their belief in this project I am forever grateful. After a 2 year search for a location, Elephant Thoughts called us up and told us that their school building was becoming available and they wanted us in it! We were honoured to be able to work with such a reputable educational charity and to be located on the historic land of Kimbercote Farm. I worked on policies and procedures and Jo spearheaded operations and infrastructure requirements. Jo and I swapped roles and she became our founding director while I took on the role of chair. We opened our doors in fall 2019, just as I had my daughter, and Jo took the reins. We were growing slow and steady when the covid pandemic hit. We had to close for a couple of months, but then luckily we re-opened, launched summer camps, a kindergarten program, and have been open at full capacity ever since. Every day at Hundred Acre Wood is awe inspiring. Children breathe life into our spaces and wild places and while nature is our first teacher, children are a close second. We hope you get to join us here and see why we love it so much.
Kim Edwards
Founder Hundred Acre Wood Forest Preschool