Broods in the woods


Nature-based preschools are gaining traction in Montana and are increasing in demand due to the pandemic. Fledglings, in Billings, and Foxtail Förskola, in Whitefish, are two preschools offering kids the opportunity to learn and play in an environment meant to foster "risky play," which means letting kids participate in activities where there is a physical risk, like climbing trees, in order to help strengthen their confidence and resiliency. Natural Start Alliance, an organization which supports outdoor education, reports that the number of these schools has rapidly increased to 585 over the last decade.

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