Starting Outside

Please find below helpful information on how to ensure your child is prepared for the outdoors. Especially this time of year, it is very important that children are dressed properly. This ensures they can fully participate in our program and that we can extend our time in nature.

Thank you all for your support!

When Your Child Arrives at School

We ask that they have (to hang in their cubby and be easily accessible) outdoor clothing appropriate for the current weather. We will be starting our day inside and transitioning outdoors following snack time. This time of year can still be colder in the morning and warmer by the afternoon, we ask that they are fully dressed including splash pants, hat, gloves, a waterproof jacket, and waterproof boots.

EVERYDAY your child needs to arrive wearing:

• Waterproof Jacket (appropriate for the weather)
• Waterproof splash pants/ splash suit (appropriate for the weather)
• Sunscreen and bug spray (if you would like your child to use these products)
• Sun, baseball, or colder weather hat (depending on the weather)
• Long sleeve shirt/ sweater (short sleeve can be worn on warmer days)
• Long pants (we do not recommend wearing shorts this time of year, but this is at your own discretion)
• Waterproof boots/hikers (ensure they are waterproof, not just water resistant)

Again, please bring these items with your child each day no matter what the weather.

In Your Child’s Backpack

Your child will keep their first set of EXTRA items in their backpack. Their backpack needs to be brought to school and taken home each day.

In their backpack they need:

• A pair of extra gloves (for outdoor activities on colder days)
• Long sleeve or warmer shirt/ sweater
• Full set of extra clothing
• Bug spray/ Sunscreen (to re-apply- will stay at school)
• Waterproof bag to hold wet items. Purchase a GBA Wetbag here.
• Full water bottle- this will be brought into the program with your child

If wet clothing is sent home, please make sure to replenish their backpack for the next day.

In Your Child’s Cubby

Your child will keep a second set of clothing (the first set is in their backpack) and a full set of outerwear items in their cubby. These items will not be used unless their first set gets wet. Greenbelt Academy will provide you with a cubby bag. Please fill it according to the items list below. This bag will be sent home each week to allow families to replenish items and ensure they are appropriate for the weather.

In their cubby bag they need:

• Waterproof Jacket (appropriate for the weather)
• Waterproof splash pants/ splash suit (ensure they are waterproof, not just water resistant)
• Waterproof boots/hikers
• A pair of gloves (for activities on colder days)
• Long sleeve or warmer shirt
• Full set of extra clothing
• Waterproof bag for wet clothing

If wet clothing is sent home from their cubby bag, we will send home the complete bag to be replenished. Please make sure to send more items back the next day to replenish their cubby items and ensure that their backpack items are replenished as well.

Please note that all children need indoor shoes. We run fire drills each month and they DO NOT have time to put on outdoor shoes/boots before exiting the building safely.

The Breakdown

Your child will need:

• 2 jackets (one to wear, one for their cubby)
• 2 waterproof splash pants/ splash suits (one to wear, one for their cubby)
• 3 full sets of clothing (one to wear, one in their backpack, one in the cubby bag)
• 2 pairs of waterproof boots/ hikers (one to wear, one in their cubby bag)
• 2 pairs of light gloves (one in their backpack, one in the cubby bag)
• 2 hats (one to wear, one in their cubby bag)