Mentorship in a Mixed-Age Community
We are a mixed-age community with children ranging from 2 years 9 months old to 6 years old, supported by a high adult-to-child ratio of 1:5.
Our educators focus on nurturing our children’s social, emotional and physical development while teaching them essential life skills. Our safe and loving environment instills a sense of belonging that facilitates peer learning and encourages care and collaboration, giving each child the space to grow at their own pace, and in relation to the community and the land.
Nature-Based Learning
Children have an innate sense of wonder for the world around them. We cultivate this curiosity by providing a sensorial and meaningful exploration of their environment. We wander, explore, and forage together, following the rhythm of the seasons, getting to know the trees, plants, and creatures of our land.
The children develop a lived empathy to their natural environment, and a deep and magical sense of interconnectedness to the land.
Free Play
Free play is at the heart of our day, where children develop their social and emotional skills, enrich their imagination, and experience pure joy. They create worlds, negotiate roles, and resolve conflicts.
The forest encourages them to take safe risks, build resilience, and become independent, all while having endless fun.
Child-Led Constructivist Approach
Instead of seeing children as empty vessels to be filled with knowledge, a constructivist approach understands that learning is an active process that happens naturally as children engage with their environment and are curious about it.
Inspired by Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and Forest School practices, we embrace this child-led, constructivist approach where adults and children construct knowledge together. Children build their own understandings and representations through free play, exploration, arts and crafts, as well as projects sparked by the children’s interest and curiosity.
Emergent Curriculum
We build an emergent curriculum that follows our children’s curiosities and social dynamics, and acknowledges that children are partners in the learning process.
An engaging daily rhythm of song, movement, stories, plays, and journaling strengthens their memory, early literacy, and imagination.
Bilingual Program
Horshna is a bilingual Arabic and English program, with a strong emphasis on the Arabic language and culture.
Educational spaces often make Arabic feel like an outdated, boring language and children are rarely excited about it. We challenge that by bringing the fun and wonder back into Arabic learning.