CONNECTIONS
NATURE PLAY
Connections Nature Play, Diamond Valley’s Forest School for children age 3 to 6, is designed to cultivate connections with the land, culture, others and self.
We spend most of our time outdoors with the children, and also have a fully-equipped indoor play space with washrooms where we play and learn when conditions are not conducive to being outdoors all day, such as cold spells, heat waves, poor air quality and severe weather. Check out our Parent Handbook to learn how weather affects our program.
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Connections Nature Play is licensed under the Province of Alberta’s Early Learning and Child Care Act and follows the Child Nature Alliance of Canada’s Forest & Nature School approach.
Our program runs out of C. Ian McLaren School and follows the Foothills School Division instructional calendar, closing for all PD Days and school breaks including summer.
Families whose children attend 50 or more hours per month are eligible for financial assistance through the Affordability Grant under the Federal-Provincial Child Care Agreement.
2026/2027 Registration Now Open
Why Forest School?
Current academic research into the benefits of nature play shows that regular, unstructured and self-directed play in nature supports children in developing improved physical health, mental and emotional wellness and self-esteem, as well as lowered stress levels and a reduction of symptoms associated with ADD, ADHD and anxiety.
Spending time in nature, with repeat visits to the same natural areas, allows children opportunities to build self-confidence, emotional regulation skills, motivation and concentration, as well as develop their positive self-image and ecological literacy and connections with the land and the cultures that have been stewarding this land since time immemorial, and continue to do so today, while sharing their knowledge with us.
Check out: Principles of Forest and Nature Schools.
We offer:
- FREE parented trial days for new families to check out our program
- Outdoor play-based and curiosity-driven experiences
- 1:5 ratios to support adventurous outdoor play
- Attentive and supportive guidance from certified Early Childhood Educators and trained Forest & Nature School Practitioners
- Programming that follows
the school year - Small groups – max of 10/day
- Governmental child care subsidies available for
50+ hours/month
Book Your Free Trial Day!
Experiencing a free day of nature play with us is a great way to check out our program and decide whether it’s a good fit for your child and family.
We welcome Free Parented Days each spring for children who would like to attend starting in the following program year.
Book your free, parented trial day by email so we can confirm availability. The whole family is welcome to attend, as long as at least one child in the family is age 2.5-6. No paperwork, and no obligation. Parents or guardians must remain with the group throughout the day. Come and check us out!
Email natureschool@dvslc.ca to book your free day!
2026/2027 Hours & Fees
In order to meet the childcare needs of local families, we are working to obtain approval to extend our hours beyond 9:00am to 3:30pm.
Drop-off prior to 9:00am and pick-up after 3:30pm will involve a monthly fee to help off-set the extra staffing costs. This fee will be paid only by families who require care prior to 9:00am and after 3:30pm. If your family is interested in learning more, please email us at natureschool@dvlsc.ca!
2025/2026 Hours & Fees
Under the Federal-Provincial Child Care Agreement, as of April 1, 2025 families enrolling their child in a licensed child care program for 50 or more hours per month will pay flat and predictable monthly parent fees of $230 for 50-99 hours per month and $326.25 for 100+ hours per month. Regular rates will apply for enrollment under 50 hours per month, as these enrollment options are not eligible for governmental assistance.
Monthly Rates for Core Hours (9:30am to 2:30pm)
1 day/week: $225/month
2 days/week: $450/month
3 days/week: $230/month*
4 days/week: $230/month*
5 days/week: $326.25/month**
Monthly Rates for Regular Hours (9:00am to 3:30pm)
1 day/week: $240/month
2 days/week: $480/month
3 days/week: $230/month*
4 days/week: $230/month*
5 days/week: $326.25/month**
The following fees have been determined by the government:
** Full-time (100+ hours per month): Parent fees of $326.25/month, calculated by subtracting Affordability Grant funding of $1,079.85 from the $1,406.10 full-time monthly rate set by the government. In our program, five-day per week enrolment options qualify for full-time.
* Part-time (50-99 hours per month): Parent fees of $230.00/month, calculated by subtracting Affordability Grant Funding of $683.96 from the $913.96 part-time monthly rate set by the government. In our program, three- and four-day per week enrolment options qualify for part-time.
Enrolment options totaling less than 50 hours per month do not quality for Affordability Grant funding. In our program, one- and two-day per week enrolment options do not reliably meet the 50-hour minimum.
There are no fee adjustments for statutory holidays, missed days due to illness, PD days or closures. Fees are based on registered hours and Affordability Grant funding can be reduced or revoked by the government if attendance does not meet minimum thresholds over a period of time.
An annual registration fee of $60 applies to each family. This fee entitles each family to register any/all of their children for that program year. Registered families are also added to the Diamond Valley Sustainable Living Centre email list so that they receive invitations to all DVSLC events at Valley Makerspace and in the community.
Payment of monthly fees may be sent via e-transfer to:
dvslc.treasurer@gmail.com
Drop-In Child Care
We welcome drop-ins while capacity allows.
First Timer Promotion! Your child’s first drop-in day is only $39!
Regular Daily Drop-In Rate: $65/day (9:00am to 3:30pm)
Discounted Rate for Pre-Booked Drop-In Days: $60/day (9:00am to 3:30pm) Please read the fine print… Families who pre-book 2-3 drop-in days per month are eligible for a discounted drop-in rate of $60 per day. To be eligible for the discounted rate, please complete the online registration (select Only Drop-In for the applicable days of the week), then email request with specific dates to natureschool@dvslc.ca by the last business day of the previous month. Drop-in days will be confirmed and invoice sent out for payment at the start of the month.
Children must be 3-6 years old, able to use the toilet independently, and not yet in grade 1 to attend. Parents are welcome to tag along for part or all of the child’s first day if desired. Please note that governmental financial assistance programs do not apply for drop-ins.
Our Educators
Kirsti Sarrazin
Before co-founding Connections Nature Play, Kirsti ran a successful dayhome in Diamond Valley and prior to that, enjoyed a decade-long career in fisheries. She loves being outside and sharing the wonder of nature with all children including her own. Kirsti is a certified Forest and Nature School Practitioner and Level 2 Early Childhood Educator.
Katie Bakken
Before co-founding Connections Nature Play, Katie worked with children of all ages in schools, provincial parks and summer camps for over 30 years. Parenting has allowed her to discover the joy of following children’s natural curiosity in the great outdoors. In addition to being a Certified Teacher, Katie is also certified as a Forest and Nature School Practitioner and Level 3 Early Childhood Educator.
Sydney Beck
Sydney grew up on a cattle farm close to our community and has always been passionate about working with children! After having recently moved back to the area, Sydney is excited to plant roots in the community and connect to the natural beauty of Diamond Valley. In her free time, Sydney enjoys baking and making homemade tea. Sydney brings to the team a wealth of knowledge and experiences with neurodiversity and has achieved Level 1 Early Childhood Educator certification.
Tanya Allen
Tanya is a passionate educator who has worked with children in a variety of settings, including classrooms and the great outdoors, over the past 8 years. She loves exploring nature in her own backyard in Diamond Valley and instilling a love of nature in her own child. She can be found down by the river, creating art, or reading a book out in the sun. Tanya has achieved her Level 2 Early Childhood Educator certification and brings years of experience working in schools to Connections Nature Play.
Michelle Thurber
Michelle grew up in the small town of Claresholm where she enjoyed babysitting all through high school. Michelle then launched her career in child care by earning an Associate Degree in Professional Preschool Education in Idaho and achieving Level 3 Early Childhood Educator certification in Alberta. She combined her love of children and teeth by working in the fields of dental care and child care for the past 20 years while raising her family in beautiful Diamond Valley. She is married to an outdoorsman, has 3 children, 2 dogs, loves to go on early morning walks and sew quilts. Michelle is thrilled to be joining the Connections Nature Play team!
Laura Steed
As we encourage our staff and participants to stay home when sick, we are super grateful that Laura has joined the team, providing casual coverage in the event of staff absence. Laura’s joy for learning and playing with children bloomed while working in orphanages, child care facilities, summer camps and having three children of her own. She has achieved Level 3 Early Childhood Educator certification and has been working in child care settings since 2013. Laura enjoys writing poetry, decluttering, baking, hiking, caring for her pets and spending time with her family.
Anna Brown
Anna is ecstatic to be working with children within the context of exploration and discovery in nature. She is passionate about building connections with children and their families. She is a Level 1 Early Childhood Educator, and also works as a NICU nurse. When she’s not working she enjoys crocheting, baking, gardening, snowshoeing and skiing, and doing puzzles with her kitty cat.
Anna is currently on maternity leave, but will be back for the 2027/2028 program year!
At Connections Nature Play, children have the freedom to choose activities and follow their curiosities with the attention and support of certified Early Childhood Educators and Forest and Nature School Practitioners.
At Forest School, a stick is never just a stick. With an emphasis on imaginative play, a stick can be a wand, a shovel or a fishing rod!
We are so grateful for the financial support provided by Foothills Energy Co-op to help us get established.
Now, entering our fourth year, we are able to extend our support by sponsoring the Diamond Valley Coffeetime and Playgroup that meets Monday mornings at the Sheep River Library, where we get to pop in occasionally to engage the children with fun loose parts play!
Thank you, Foothills School Division!
We are grateful to Foothills School Division for welcoming us into C. Ian McLaren School! Our program will be based out of a classroom on the south side of the school, right next to the SW entrance.
We’re excited to continue exploring, playing and learning in our established play spots in the Sheep River valley, and look forward to a long partnership with C. Ian McLaren School and Foothills School Division.
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We’d love to hear from you!
Call or text us at 403-498-4939 to inquire! Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
Or email us anytime at: natureschool@dvslc.ca
Or complete the contact form below.
