ADMISSIONS

Welcome to Fern Gully,

Thank you for your interest in joining our adventurous forest school family! We're currently accepting applications for enrollment in preschool (limited availability). We are also opening the Community Nature Center to offer more outdoor education programs (click here).

We follow the Olympia School District schedule for holidays, closures & start/end dates.

All students must be able to communicate their needs and be comfortable using a toilet with minimal assistance prior to the start of class.

What to bring: a water bottle, sack lunch, snacks & appropriate all-weather gear, including a waterproof rain suit, rubber boots, and warm layers.

We are a full nature-immersion program so we will be outside, rain or shine, although we do have covered areas to warm up, eat, read books, do yoga, dance, music, art, and other activities.

CLASS SIZE: We keep a 6:1 child-to-teacher ratio. Children are in small “clans” of two teachers and up to 12 children. Our mixed ages approach benefits children in many ways, including building leadership skills and a community that models the kind of diversity and mutual care that is more naturally in sync with how children learn and grow together.

HOURS: 9 am - 1 pm Mon-Fri

Sample Daily Rhythm:

Drop-off - Free Play
Circle Time: Agreements & Mindfulness Game
Snack Time: read aloud
Nature/Forest/Garden Adventures
Lunch Time: read aloud
Art, Music or Activity
Team Clean-up: Game/Song
Pick-up - Free Play

PROGRAM REGISTRATION

An in-person tour or phone interview is required before registering. Please contact us to schedule and see if we currently have availability or a waiting list.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

There is a sliding scale $50/$75/$100 registration/supplies fee per child that is non-refundable. This is also an annual fee for supplies and administrative costs that is due on your anniversary.

Enrollment Deposit: There is a $200 deposit required upon enrollment. Enrollment Deposits are refundable only with a 30 day cancellation notice.

The registration fee and deposit can be submitted online to save your spot at this link.

Please include a note with your child/children's name(s) and the day(s) you are registering for.

To complete registration, the application can be filled out electronically (see download button) then emailed to ferngullyschool@gmail.com.

TUITION

We believe that life is abundant and there are enough resources to go around for everyone in our community to THRIVE. Because of this, we use a sliding scale three-tiered pricing model that helps those with a little extra to support those with a financial need.

Thank you for your honesty and for supporting all those in our community to have access to high-quality outdoor education.

THREE TIERED PRICING MODEL:

Supported (Families who are Financially in Need)

Sustained (Families who are Financially Stable)

Supporting (Families who are Financially Abundant and able to pay more to support others in need)

DAILY DROP-IN RATE (Call or Email for Availability)

$50/$60/$70

Monthly Tuition

1 Day per week: $200 / $225 / $250

2 Days per week: $400 / $450 / $500

3 Days per week: $550 / $600 / $650

4 Days per week: $650 / $700 / $750

5 Days per week: $750/ $800 / $850

There is a 10% sibling discount on sibling tuition and 5% OFF IF YOU PAY IN FULL FOR THE YEAR.

We prefer cash or check in person or snail mail to:

Fern Gully School

1443 Brown St SE

Olympia, WA 98501

You can also pay online at this link if you opt to pay the fee. If you want to set up recurring payments for your convenience choose monthly at check out.

A portion of tuition is donated to Forest Conservation through the Community Nature Foundation.

Thank you for choosing outdoor education that gives back to the environment!

Payment Arrangements

Tuition is due on the first of each month. If needed, we can set up payment arrangements to pay bi-monthly or on a different schedule than the first of each month.

We know that providing the best quality education for your child represents a financial commitment. We also believe that every child and family should have equal access to our programs and services.

We were founded by a collective of mothers with a mission to nurture the whole child and cultivate a community that respects and cares for each other and nature. Families who enroll in our school are encouraged to share their talents and contribute throughout the year through volunteering for community events and work parties.