Starting Inside

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

Your child should arrive at school with all items required for outdoor play (for the current weather) accessible and hanging in their cubby. Please do not put these items in their backpack or cubby bags – all items NEED to be hanging in their cubbies. We go outside following morning snack. 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 – all weather appropriate.

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
• 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 Bag

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 bag. These items will not be used unless their first set gets wet. We will provide you with a bag for these items. This bag will be sent home each week to allow families to replenish items and ensure they are appropriate for the weather. Please remember to bring this bag (replenished) every Monday.

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 bag 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 bag)
• 2 waterproof splash pants/ splash suits (one to wear, one for their cubby bag)
• 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)