Frequently Asked Questions

Do you cancel learning for bad weather?

“There’s no such things as bad weather, just bad clothing.” -Nature School Mantra
Here at Fireflies we do believe that as long as your child is dressed appropriately for the day, they will enjoy themselves. We celebrate all weather Minnesota has to offer, especially rain and snow; no puddle goes untouched or unexplored. With that in mind, the health and safety of our students is our first priority. As long as temperatures do not pose a safety risk such as wind chill factor at or below -15 degrees or heat index at or above 90 degrees.



Will my child be a good fit?

Everyone can benefit from more outside time year round. With that said, we encourage one and all to get outside more. However, a full day nature immersion program may not be a good fit for every child. There are many variables to consider...from parents being willing to smartly-dress their child year round, to a child having the ability to follow directions in a potentially hazardous setting. If you are unsure if this might be a good fit for your child, please contact us with your questions and concerns and we will give you our most educated judgement. We also offer a month trial before making a term commitment to assess if this is an experience your child is ready for.



What if my child gets cold?

We require all parents to dress their child in weather-appropriate clothing. This may include thermals, quality mid-layers, wool mittens, waterproof snow boots, etc. We also require all students to bring an extra pair of clothes, socks and shoes to be placed in a gallon-sized ziplock bag in their backpacks. When dressed appropriately, children's bodies generate more than enough body heat..


What about safety/accidents?

The health and safety of all students is our number one priority. We spend time learning about our environment, what is safe and what isn’t. Our teachers are trained in Pediatric First Aid, Wilderness First Aid and Infant/toddler CPR.  Every teacher, teacher's aide, and substitute will have a cell phone and first aid kit on hand at all times in case of an emergency or injury. Our teachers are vigilant and always closely watch each child and maintain a safe distance. If there is an accident of any kind, a full report will be taken with caregivers notified at the end of the day, or sooner if necessary. Due to the nature of our school, the children are given the instruction, space and time to practice real-life risk assessments, gain gross motor skills, body awareness and more understanding of their own physical limits. These factors alone decreases the risk of injury in our environment and sets a foundation for proprioception, long-term self-awareness and overall safety in the outdoors.