Langley Forest School — Daycare & Preschool in Township of Langley, British Columbia

What parents say

• Carol LaJeunesse

  The teachers are amazing! I have had two children attend this preschool and the Outdoor Experience days programme and the skills, knowledge and values they have acquired with their time in the forest are beyond expectation. Children get to be children, laughing and playing, building and learning ... truly an invaluable experience for them. And if you are worried about your children learning numeracy and literacy school (not that this is the job of a preschooler), yes they do learn this too!

• Stephany Garber Black

  I would like to take a moment to thank the Langley Forest School for the time my son spent at preschool through the 2019/2020 school year. My son was just barely 3 when he started at the outdoor preschool and suffering from separation anxiety at drop-off, something I had never experienced with my older child. Since then he has grown to love our nature hikes and developed the confidence to walk into class without the tears and anxiety that had plagued us in the beginning of the year. Langley forest school does not just benefit the outgoing and confident children, it is also for kids like my son who are sensitive and shy. It is a joy to see how much he has grown as his own little person through his experiences outdoors. What I love about this school is that it teaches our children about their relationship with the outside world through environmental conservation, an appreciation of the beauty of nature and the diversity of our ecosystems. The Forest Pedagogy also nurtures a child’s inward development of independence, endurance, and communication skills. It is also worth mentioning that I was impressed with their increased hygiene and health screening during the global pandemic. With the school’s principal having a background as an infectious disease nurse, I feel fortunate to have a safe place to send my son to school in the Fall.

• Emily Kats

  Incredible program! My Son attended for a few years and took part in the before and after school care and was full time in the summer. He learned so much about personal responsibility, respecting everyone and everything around him including the environment and animals. He developed vital survival skills and a heightened appreciation for nature and why it’s so important. I would recommend Langley Forest School to anyone who would like to enrich their child’s life and explore the outdoors.

• Laura H

  Langley Forest School has exceeded all my expectations I had when I signed my son up (and I already loved the idea). My son was quite shy and we wanted to get him back into being social after a year and a half of pandemic. His teachers are so sweet and caring to each one of their students. Our son has made friends and is really opening up. He is loving having school outdoors, exploring and having the freedom to choose how he plays. We have had nothing but good things to rave about to our other parent friends. Thank you Langley Forest School!

• Jessica B

  Several of my children have attended this program. In fact, my first child, who is now a teenager, was a part of the pilot program. I recall being a nervous first time mom dropping my first baby off at preschool. The educators and staff eased all of my worries and away my first baby went! The staff and educators have always been supportive and inclusive, ensuring my children were always welcome and accommodated in their learning and playing. In fact, one of my children was part of this program when we were in the thick of learning how to navigate the challenges of parenting a neurodivergent child. It was an incredibly difficult season, but LFS supported us through this. Even when there were behavioural challenges, the educators always provided my child a safe and inclusive space to play, learn and grow. They always made an effort to make sure my child felt welcome and accepted, accommodating in whatever way needed. I believe that this was a pivotal time for this particular child and my child is now thriving today. I believe the foundation that LFS had built for my children has shaped them into the children they are now: curious, empathetic, eager to learn, and growth oriented. To this day, my children love to be outdoors and they have a beautiful respect and love for nature. The educators at LFS are truly dedicated to quality outdoor education. Not only do they regularly do continuing education to advance their teaching, they are involved in our community. I see the hard work they put in daily, setting up, taking down everyday, planning family hikes, facilitating celebrations and participating in our gala. They truly go above and beyond. The staff and educators truly care about the children and their families - this community is welcome and supportive, and they back this up with their actions too. Over the last nearly 10 years that my kids have been there, the community (including the staff and educators,) has held space for me, made meals when I was recovering from a c-section, literally wiped my tears, celebrated with me and are genuine when they ask, “How are you?” And yes, my kids still love being outdoors. They still love the mud and the dirt, even though they’re not preschoolers anymore. I’ve learned to accept the mud and the dirt too. 😂