Part-time Programs

Currently Enrolling
Classes Begin
Week of
September 8, 2025

Mousewood's Licensed
Part-time Programs

Part-time: programs under 4.5 hours are
Outdoor Forest & Nature School Programs.

Part-time: Full-days 2 days per week are available to preschoolers. Includes morning outdoor program.

Preschoolers

Homeschoolers

PART-TIME ONLY

Name of Program:

(Different Name Per Cohort)

Type of License:
Multi-Age Child Care (MACC)

Number of Children:

Ages of Children:

Preschoolers: 3-5 years

Homeschoolers: 5-8 years

Regulated Number of Staff:

1 Early Childhood Educator (ECE)

per 8 children.

Mousewood's Goal:

1-2 ECEs

per 5 children.

Hours of Operation:

See each program

Indoor Licensed Space:

Yes

Location:

8868 Haldi Road

(5 quick minutes from Walmart)

Tuition Fee:

See Hours & Fees Page

Security Deposit:

$200. Applied to final month's tuition fee if one month's notice is given.

CCFRI Subsidy

Mousewood has applied for CCFRI. We will announce when approved.

ACCB Subsidy

Mousewood will accept ACCB

Other Subsidies, Eg. Metis

Mousewood will accept other subsidies

* Tuition fee does not include meals and snacks.

Approach & Curriculum

Part-time for cellphone

About The Part-time Programs

Preschoolers:

GRADUAL ENTRY BEGINS SEPTEMBER 8, 2025

Preschoolers will be emailed their schedule.

Homeschoolers:

GRADUAL ENTRY BEGINS SEPTEMBER 10, 2025

1 hour with the parent for the first class

2 hours for the second class

3 hours for the third class

Just a side note:

In Canada, all programs based on the forest and nature school principles described by the Child and Nature Aliance of Canada are collectively called "Forest and Nature Schools" (FNS.)
Forest and Nature Schools began in Sweden and Denmark decades ago. Around the world they are called by different names, such as Forest Schools, Forest Kindergartens, Nature Kindergartens, Nature Preschools, Outdoor Nursery, Waldkindergarten (Germany), Naturbørnehaver (Denmark), I Ur Och Skur (Swedish- "Rain or Shine".)

Though these programs are called Forest and Nature Schools, they are not technically schools by the legal definition. They are more like schools of fish!

At Mousewood, to simplify our licenses, these part-time program forest and nature school classes all fall under the same Multi-Age Child Care licence and must abide by the restrictions of this licence type. One of these restrictions is naming the part-time classes that occur within this Multi Age Child Care's hours of operation. The part-time classes for preschoolers are technically not allowed to be called preschool. And the part-time school-age classes are technically not recreational extracurriculars. Moreover, these are cohorts, rather than separate classes.

Part-time Cohort: Homeschoolers
Outdoor Forest & Nature Program

Begins September 17, 2025

"Homeschooler"

What we mean

The term "homeschoolers" in the context being used here refers to any child not being educated in a brick and mortar school.You do not have to be registered as any particular type of "homeschooler", "unschooler", or anything else. This program is simply for school age children who do not go to a brick and mortar school. Parents have the option of dropping-off their children or to sign-up as a volunteer.

Wednesdays

9:00 - 12:00

1:00 - 4:00

There are 2 homeschooler cohorts.

Families may only choose one cohort per child.

3-hours
Wednesdayas

Morning: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Afternoon: 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Please choose your preferred time and also list your **second preference** when responding in email.
These classes take place outside. If the weather is too dangerous, the class will be cancelled.

Class Size

and

Composition

The Program

Clarify

Describe

Daily Rhythm

Times

Approximate

Parent Involvement

and

Orientation

Fee

and

Subsidies

Calendar

and

Closures

Next Step

Form

Below

Class Size & Composition

Maximum *5 children* per class.
Our classes are geared toward *K–2* only
Due to licensing regulations, children who are not enrolled in the class cannot stay for classes.
Homeschooler Care classes will be primarily chosen based on complementary ages and personalities so that the children can have friends and really feel belonging.

About the Homeschooler Care Cohorts:

These sessions may technically be licensed childcare but they have a unique twist and nature-based setting. Although similar to after-school care (ASC), ASC is run by "responsible adults" with minimum training (20 hours) and is certainly nothing like forest and nature school.

Mousewood's Homeschooler programs are conducted in the way of a high quality program and can be considered an extracurricular activity.

They are *not school classes* and do NOT follow the BC curriculum.

Led by an experienced ECE, the program is semi-structured:

Most sessions will take place outside except when it is unsafe to do so.
Every class follows the same predictable rhythm, with time flexibility for the children’s needs that day.
There is a mix of free play, group projects, and individual exploration.
Children may bring in topics they’re studying at home related to ecosystems or other nature themes, or join projects inspired by what’s happening at Mousewood.
Balance between *teacher-suggested* and *emergent child-led* *inquiry-based project approach.*
Teacher-suggested topics include beginners bushcraft skills, our local wildlife tracks and scat, riparian ecosystems and pond dipping.

Daily Rhythm: Times are Approximate

9:00/ 1:00 Arrival; Children put on their gear and get ready for outside (depending on sunlight); Settle in; Free play in front yard; Activities have been set out.

9:15/ 1:15 First Group Meeting; Chat about what's new; Consider Plan, Do, Review. Go back to free play.

9:45/ 1:45 Snack outside (brought from home)

10:00/ 2:00 Enjoying our forest classroom, going for walks, engaging in group or personal projects. Many opportunities for connections to place, land, self and others.

11:45/ 3:45 Closing Group Meeting. Talk about the day. Consider plan, do, review.

12:00/ 4:00 Home Time

Parent Involvement

Parents are welcome to participate on a self-determined duty day schedule (similar to parent-participation preschools).

Those staying for duty days will receive an orientation before sessions begin, covering:

Criminal record checks
Parent duties and expectations
Mousewood child guidance philosophy
Fire, emergency, and disaster policies & drills

Fees

$120/month (4 classes)

As licensed childcare, fees qualify for ACCB and CCFRI.
We can probably take other funding such as autism funding as well. However, we will need to be walked through the process.
Fees need to be paid by parents until funding comes through.
Fees are paid in advance at the beginning of each month regardless of attendance.
A $200 security deposit is required at registration and will be applied to the last month's fees if proper notice is given, as per the Care Contract.

Calendar and Closures

Runs year-round
Does NOT follow School District 57 closures or NID days
We invite parents to join a Homeschooler Committee to help decide on the program’s overall calendar — semester-based care (e.g., September–December) or continuous care (September - June), with optional summer day-camp weeks.
Closed for statutory holidays.
Complete list of closures are in the Care Contract.

Next Step

Please book a Meet and Greet Tour to enrol now.

Or for future dates, please fill out the waitlist form below.

Homeschoolers

Ages 3 - 5 Years

Part-time: Mousewood Mornings
Part-time: Full Days

Begins September 8, 2025

Days per Week

2 days

Mousewood Mornings: Outdoor Forest & Nature Program

Day Choices:

2 Days per week:
- Mondays and Thursdays
- Tuesdays and Fridays

Hours:

4.25 Hours Mousewood Mornings: 8:45 - 1:00

Please indicate your Day Choice when responding.

Part-time Full-day Childcare

Day Choices:

2 Days per week:
- Mondays and Thursdays
- Thursdays and Fridays

Hours:

Over 4.25 Hours
Available 8:00 - 5:00
Includes Mousewood Mornings: 8:45 - 1:00

Please indicate your Day Choice when responding.

Class Size

and

Composition

The Program

Clarify

Describe

Daily Rhythm

Times

Approximate

Parent Involvement

and

Orientation

Fee

and

Subsidies

Calendar

and

Closures

Next Steps

Fill out

Form

Class Size & Composition

Maximum *5 children* per class.
Due to licensing regulations, children who are not enrolled in the class cannot stay for classes.
Part-time Care classes will be primarily chosen based on complementary ages and personalities so that the children can have friends and really feel belonging.

About Mousewood Mornings and Part-time Childcare Cohorts:

These sessions are technically *licensed childcare* but with a unique twist and nature-based setting. They are conducted in the way of a high quality childcare program.

We have chosen to provide part-time childcare and our morning programs together because there have been many people telling us that those are the programs they need or want. This is our way of providing both.

Led by experienced ECEs, the program is semi-structured:

Most morning sessions will take place entirely outside except when it is unsafe to do so.
Every class follows the same predictable rhythm, with time flexibility for the children’s needs that day. (eg. having snack earlier.)
There is a mix of free play, group projects, and curious explorations.
Balance between *emergent child-led,* *inquiry-based project approach,* and *teacher-suggested* topics.
Teacher-suggested topics include our local wildlife, trees and plants, habitats, tracks and scat, seasonal changes, growth cycles, and beginners bushcraft skills.

Daily Rhythm: Times are Approximate

8:00 Arrival for full-day children.

8:45 Arrival for morning-program children; Children put on their gear and get ready for outside (depending on sunlight); Settle in; Free play in front yard; Activities have been set out.

9:15 First Group Meeting; Chat about what's new; Consider Plan, Do, Review. Go back to free play.

9:45 Snack outside (brought from home)

10:00 Enjoy our forest classroom, go for walks, engage in group or follow own curiosity. Many opportunities for connections to place, land, self and others.

12:00 Lunch (outside or inside) (Brought from home)

12:45 Closing Group Meeting. Talk about the day. Consider plan, do, review.

1:00 Home Time for Children here for Morning Program, 4.25 Hours

1:30 Nap and Rest Time (Usually indoors)

3:00 Snack and get ready for outside play.

4:00 - 5:00 Home Time

Parent Involvement: Mousewood Mornings

Parents are welcome to participate on a self-determined duty day schedule (similar to parent-participation preschools).

Those staying for duty days will receive an orientation before sessions begin, covering:

Criminal record checks
Parent duties and expectations
Mousewood child guidance philosophy
Fire, emergency, and disaster policies & drills

FEES

Mousewood Mornings Full Fee: (2 days per week)

$320 ($40/day)
- Estimated Parent Total after CCRFI: $102/month ($12.75/day)

Part-time Childcare Full Fee: (2 days per week)

4-5 Hours Total: $400 ($50/day)
- Estimated Parent Total after CCRFI: $182/month ($22.75/day)
5-7 Hours Total: $640 ($50/day + $30/day Add-on)
- Estimated Parent Total after CCRFI: $422/month ($52.75/day)
7-9 Hours Total: $720 ($50/day + $40/day Add-on)
- Estimated Parent Total after CCRFI: $502/month ($62.75/day)

Subsidy: Mousewood accepts:

CCFRI (Child Care Fee Reduction Initiative)
- CCFRI Pays Approximately $27.25/day
- The CCFRI considers a “full day” to be over 4 hours/day.
- CCFRI pays $27.25/day whether the day is 4 or 13 hours long.
ACCB (Affordable Child Care Benefit, income-tested up to $111,000)
- The ACCB (Affordable Child Care Benefit) is income tested up to $111,000 and is on a sliding scale.
- If you are not sure if you qualify for this, it is worth looking up. CCRR can also help parents apply for the ACCB.
- ACCB
Other subsidies (e.g., Métis)

About Fees

Fees need to be paid by parents until funding comes through.
Fees are paid in advance at the beginning of each month regardless of attendance.
Mousewood Mornings: A $200 security deposit for morning only programs is required at registration and will be applied to the last month's fees if proper notice is given, as per the Care Contract.
Paret-time Childcare: For children enrolled more than 4.25 hours per day, the security deposit equals half a month's fee.