PoemTree After-School Program for Ages 5-12
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PoemTree After-School Program is a nature-based program inspired by forest schools for children and preteens between the ages of 5 and 12, led by experienced outdoor educators. This creative, play-based (mostly) program offers children the gift of free time to play, explore their own imaginations and build creative outdoor skills in the woods.
PoemTree runs Monday-Friday, 3-5:30 p.m., with a choice of attending two, three, or five days a week. Early-out care is also available on ACSD early-out days. Families may enroll at any point during the year (if space is available), and for just part of the year if desired, rather than for the whole school year. Join for a month, a season, or the whole school year! For the 2024-25 school year, the Ames Community School District will bus kids from Meeker and Fellows, to Prairie Flower. Request busing with the district via your parent portal. What Goes on During PoemTree?
After arrival, we start with a snack, which the kids often help prepare. Then, our main activity is free play in the nearby woods and/or nature playscape. However, on any given day at PoemTree, you may find your child:
During the winter months when days are shorter, we are at times forced indoors, where our main activities are playing board games, cooking, making art and other forms of crafting and handwork (like weaving, knitting, sewing, and painting). As a child-led center, we follow the impulses and interests of the children. Seasonally, we explore different themes or skills. Tuition for 2024-25 school year: 2-day week: $171/month 3-day week: $251/month 5-day week: $411/month Written notification of your intent to withdraw (or to change your schedule to fewer days per week) must be received one month in advance – otherwise, tuition is still due for the 30 days of the notice period. For example, if you email the Director on or before February 1st asking to withdraw starting March 1st, then March tuition will not be due. However, if you email the director on February 15th asking to withdraw starting March 1st, then a prorated payment for tuition from March 1-March 15 is still due. PoemTree families are invited to Prairie Flower's seasonal festivals, meant to help build community within our families. PoemTree families are also invited to contribute to Prairie Flower's co-operative model by joining a co-op committee or doing volunteer tasks that the Director / PoemTree lead will communicate about. While co-op involvement is not required as it is for preschool families, we appreciate the support if families can give it. Many hands make light work! |
Apply Today!
Give your child or pre-teen the gift of free time, space to play a chance to build creative outdoor skills with their friends in the woods!
Note that we use Brightwheel for forms and for communication with families. You will be prompted to create a Brightwheel account if you do not have one already.
Space is limited. Once you apply, a member of Prairie Flower's enrollment team will contact you.
PoemTree Motto
In woods, creeks & ravines We swear to care for bees and trees and all living things between In words, deeds & responses We strive to be kind and mindful to ourselves, our teachers and our fellows In works, dreams & creations We will go forth playfully to build and imagine new things |