Everything you need to know to prepare for our summer session is right here!
Welcome to summer 2024 with Brooklyn Nature Days! We are an all outdoor program and in the true nature of a forest school, we plan to experience and learn from all types of weather. All year round, we hold class in the sun, snow, and rain, and make sure each child is safe, engaged, and supported during our play and explorations. To prepare families for what to expect, we have created this guide to help you plan ahead for every kind of weather summer may have in store for us this season.
Please read the information and guidelines on this page carefully to help your child be as prepared as possible to enjoy our program. Take careful note of the essential gear and supplies with which your child needs to arrive. Teachers will do a cursory gear check upon each child's arrival. Please understand that due to safety concerns it is BND policy that we cannot sign in a child that is not properly prepared for the weather and outdoor environment. We will ask you to return home for any missing gear. We take child safety seriously and enforce this policy strictly.
Communication & Updates
All daily parent/teacher communication is via our student management app, Brightwheel. Photos, messages from teachers, inclement weather updates, and all other pertinent information will be sent via Brightwheel. Families should feel free to reach out to teachers directly via brightwheel with pertinent information or questions at any time.
📰 Each week, all families will receive a link to a password-protected newsletter via Brightwheel. Our weekly newsletter will include the upcoming weather forecast, the names and phone numbers for teachers at each drop-off and pickup location, and other pertinent weekly announcements from our administrative team. Please check the forecast regularly to make sure children come dressed and prepared for our days together. Teacher phone numbers are to be used ONLY in an emergency or if Brightwheel is not working.
📲 Each Friday, you will receive a brief recap via brightwheel of what your child’s group did during the week, along with photos. This recap will focus on what the group as a whole was interested in throughout the week. If you have specific questions about your child’s week or how they’re doing, please reach out to your child’s teachers on Brightwheel and we’ll be happy to share any additional information.
💌 In addition to our private class newsletter, be sure to check out our photo log to see what's been happening across the park during our outside adventures. Please be sure to follow us on instagram @brooklynnaturedays for more videos, photos, and updates from Prospect Park!
Pick up and Drop off
All summer session classes start at 9am, pick up times vary based on your child’s enrollment. See below for details.
Sparrows: 9am-1pm
Children age 2 years - 3 years
Robins: 9am-1pm
Children entering Pre-K or K in September 2024
Hawks: 9am-3pm ***NEW HOURS STARTING SUMMER 2024***
Children entering 1st grade - 4th grade in September 2024
Please be prompt for both drop off and pick up. If you are later than 9:15am, you will need to message your child’s teacher’s via Brightwheel and locate the group in the park. We will not check in a child who arrives past 10:30am, as arrival past that time is disruptive to the group.
Details for drop off and pick up locations below. If you have forgotten what drop off you signed up for please check your invoice which will detail your child’s drop off/pick up and weeks enrolled.
Class locations:
Vanderbilt Avenue and Prospect Park South West: Sparrows, Robins, Hawks classes
Just outside of the Vanderbilt playground in Windsor Terrace.
Lincoln Road & Ocean Avenue: Sparrow-Robins combo class
Enter at the Lincoln road entrance to the park, pass the playground and cross the bike lane & you’ll find us just before the tunnel begins towards the boathouse.
Grand Army Plaza: Sparrows & Robins classes
Just inside the park at the tip of the longmeadow by the Endale Arch
9th Street & Prospect Park West: Sparrows & Robins classes
Pass the monument at the 9th street entrance. You will see our groups set up on the grass between Harmony Playground & The Bandshell.
3rd St & Prospect Park West: Hawks classes
Enter the park at the 3rd street entrance (as if you are headed to the 3rd street playground). When the path forks around the playground keep to the path on the left. Cross the bike loop and walk down the short stone path & you’ll find us at the edge of the longmeadow.
Teachers will be identifiable by the Brooklyn Nature Days logo on their apparel. You can find photos and bios for your child's teachers posted on our teachers page.
If you are running late or your child will be absent from class please reach out to the teachers designated to your drop-off spot via our brightwheel app. If you are running behind they will advise where’s best to meet. The Brightwheel app is the most efficient way to communicate with teachers during class, as we can read the message and respond quickly.
Parents and caregivers must sign their child in and out each day electronically with our teachers via our brightwheel app. Children will be given a BND tag to pin on clothing each day to class to identify them as part of our group. It is the parent/caregiver's responsibility to make sure each child arrives wearing this tag each morning. We recommend pinning the tag to your child’s backpack at pick up at the end of each day so that it does not get lost & is readily accessible for their next class.
Each morning, once you have said goodbye to your child please leave promptly as it helps the children settle in and begin their day with us. Our teachers are experienced in supporting children through separation and are available to help facilitate the morning transition. At the beginning of the semester, as new children are going through separation, parents/caregivers are welcome to stay if their child needs them. Please never “sneak away” in lieu of saying goodbye to your child. They need to know you are leaving and that they will see you later - even if it causes tears. We are here to help them through it.
For pickup: Children will only be released to adults who are listed on the brightwheel app. If you need to make a last-minute change about who is picking up your child, and are unable to update the profile info on brightwheel, please send a Brightwheel message to let us know in writing of the change, along with the pickup person’s full name, relation to child, and phone number. All changes must be in writing. Verbal changes will not be honored. We take this very seriously in order to keep the children safe.
If your child will not be attending class any particular day they are scheduled, please message us via brightwheel as early as possible so that our teachers know not to expect them at drop off.
Sick Policy
If your child has had a fever or any other symptoms linked to illness in the past 24 hours (vomiting, diarrhea, rash, excessive mucus, cough, etc.) or if you feel your child is contagious and/or will not be able to safely explore and play with us in the park, for their well-being and the well-being of the other children, please keep them home. Teachers will not check in children who have a fever or are visibly unwell.
If our teachers notice any behaviors or symptoms that we suspect may be due to illness we will reach out to you immediately to arrange early pick up.
Make-up Policy: Brooklyn Nature Days does not offer make up classes or refunds when a child is absent and class is in session.
Inclement Weather Days
for summer session only
In the event of an inclement weather cancellation, families will be notified as early as possible (no later than 6am) on the day of class. We are outdoors rain or shine; inclement weather for us means dangerous conditions only, such as wind advisories and thunderstorms. In the event weather shifts and becomes unsafe during class, children will be moved to covered park locations for safety, and all families will be notified to pickup their child early.
***UPDATE*** With severe heat advisories and unsafe Air Quality Indexes becoming more common in the summer months, we have updated our inclement weather policy for Summer 2024. ***UPDATE***
In the event that we determine, through consistent monitoring of several weather apps and radars each day, that it is unsafe to hold class outdoors on a given day, we have arranged to hold full or partial classes at John Hus Moravian Church located at 153 Ocean Avenue near the Lincoln Road entrance to the park. On indoor days, our focus will still be on outdoor education. Nature-based art activities and games will be provided for our classes.
Please note: we are still an all-outdoor program and this arrangement is not for regular use or for rainy days/passing thunderstorms/heat that is not dangerous or severe. This part of our inclement weather policy will only be enacted if we determine that it is safe to hold class, but that it may be unsafe to be outside for long periods of time. Please ensure you have read and understand this policy, as it means you may be required to drop off or pick up your child from 153 Ocean Avenue on the rare occasion we need to use our emergency indoor location. Families who choose not to have their child join us at our indoor location should note there are no make-up days or refunds outside of this policy.
In the event of an inclement weather location change, families will be notified as early as possible (no later than 6am) on the day of class.
For unsafe heat indexes, we may also move the start of class an hour earlier so we can avoid the more intense heat of late afternoon. In these cases, we may start classes an hour earlier at 8am instead of 9am and end class an hour earlier. This means Sparrows and Robins will attend from 8am-12pm and our Hawks classes will run from 8am-2pm. As always, you will be notified as soon as possible (no later than 6am) via Brightwheel if we determine this shift is necessary on a given day. Classes missed due to illness, Covid, travel, or change of plans will not be refunded.
What To Wear
Please send children in comfortable clothing that can get wet and dirty and allows them to move and play. It is imperative children arrive dressed appropriately for class in order for them to fully enjoy our outdoor learning environment. We ask families to be mindful of the temperatures, as our goal is to spend multiple hours outside.
Rain gear - We recommend that rain gear is worn over your child’s regular gear on rainy, muddy, and damp days. Regardless of the weather, rain gear (2-piece jacket and bib set or 1-piece rain suit) should always be included in your child's bag. Rain boots must be worn on rainy, muddy, and damp days.
Footwear - We will be engaging with the natural terrain of Prospect Park. For your child’s safety we request that NO open-toed sandals, flip flops, Natives or Crocs are worn for our classes at any time. These shoes do not have adequate traction and are not suitable for park adventures. For overall safety and comfort, it is important for all children in our program to have proper footwear with rubber soles that protect toes and have good grip for running and climbing. Examples include: Keen Newport H2 hiking boots, Keen closed toed-sandal or athletic sneakers.
Rain boots are absolutely necessary on rainy days as is a spare change of shoes. Please also include a dry pair of boots on wet days, as we often have to change socks and boots.
NO open-toed sandals, flip flops, or Crocs at any time. (Crocs rainboots are great and are the exception to this rule)
Children are encouraged to immerse themselves in our natural surroundings and activities. Please be advised that children’s clothing will become dirty and possibly stained during class.
Children need to arrive wearing sunscreen, sun hats, and bug spray each day.
For re-application later in the day, please send both sunscreen and bug spray, each individually labeled with your child's name, in a small, waterproof bag/pouch, also clearly labeled with your child's name.
Due to NY state law, we are not able to apply sunscreen to children, as it is considered topical medication. We will have children reapply sunscreen at snack time and will talk them through the process, specifically for our younger kiddos.
UV-protective clothing and hats are strongly encouraged!
Please ensure your children come prepared to enjoy their days with us. We are diligent in making sure the children are safe and as comfortable as possible at all times. We build shelters to shield us from the rain and wind, have their water bottles accessible all day to stay hydrated, and provide water for refills.
What to Bring
Be Sure to Pack the Following Items in Your Child’s Dry Bag Each Day:
1 Snack: Snacks MUST be peanut/tree nut free & packed separately from lunch clearly labeled ‘snack’ on the container. For food safety purposes, all food must be packed in insulated containers (i.e - thermoses or lunch box with ice packs) to ensure food remains at appropriate temperatures for safe consumption as we travel throughout the park.
2 filled water bottles: A filled water bottle with a covered spout, as well as an extra water bottle for refills, as we will not be using park fountains and refilling stations. Be sure to label your child’s waterbottle clearly with their name.
1 Lunch: Lunch MUST be peanut/tree nut free & packed separately from snack & clearly labeled ‘lunch’ on the container. For food safety purposes, all food must be packed in insulated containers (i.e - thermoses or lunch box with ice packs) to ensure food remains at appropriate temperatures for safe consumption as we travel throughout the park.
A small mat or towel to sit on during class, to help socially distance children during our meeting, snack, and lunch circles
Extra clothing & raingear: Be sure to pack a seasonally appropriate set of clothes (pants/shorts, shirt, socks, undies, and a spare set of footwear) in the event of an accident or if your child gets wet/uncomfortable while playing in the mud/wet grass. Regardless of the weather conditions at drop off, each day all families should also include raingear in their child’s backpack. If your child is actively potty training, be sure to pack several pairs of pants, socks, and underwear and give teachers a heads up on brightwheel. All items should be labeled with your child’s name.
Diapers and a changing mat (if applicable)
Sunscreen and bugspray CLEARLY and redundantly labeled in a (labeled) Ziploc bag. Children must arrive wearing sunscreen and bug spray. Teachers will be sure your child reapplys during snack. If you do not wish for your child to wear or reapply sunscreen or bugspray please let us know in writing on brightwheel.
Dry bags are recommended to keep all items dry. Please ensure all items are packed and organized in one bag, clearly labeled with your child’s name.
Please do not let your child bring any personal items from home, as we want to travel as lightly as possible through the park. Our vision is to explore and interact with nature during these hours and toys or additional belongings from home are disruptive. Reach out to us on brightwheel if your child has a comfort/safety item they depend on to successfully separate and we will work with your family’s individual situation to make sure your child feels supported during class.
Please make sure all items - bags, water bottles, lunch boxes, hats, and outerwear - are clearly labeled with your child's name. While we strive to keep each child’s belongings organized with their bags at all times, items do sometimes become lost or left behind and it is much easier to return them to you when they are labeled clearly.
Gear Company Recommendations
We have had success with the following children's outdoor gear companies:
🐢 Polarn O. Pyret offers a 20% discount to families that are enrolled in outdoor classes. To register, please fill out the form found here: http://www.polarnopyretusa.com/outdoor_schools_form
Please include Brooklyn Nature Days's address and location on the form:
Address: Brooklyn Nature Days, LLC, 22 Caton Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11218
Class Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY
🐥 Oakiwear offers a 25% discount off your order when you enter the discount code: brooklynnaturedays at checkout.
🍄 To find all the items on our gear checklist and for help choosing the right gear for your kids, we have partnered with Outdoor School Shop. Founded by mothers who support and have children in Outdoor Learning programs, they will be a resource for you, answering any questions you may have regarding what to purchase, how to layer, and the differences between brands and types of gear.
https://outdoorschoolshop.com/schools/brooklyn-nature-days/
Be sure to use the coupon code BROOKLYN to receive 15% off anything in the shop!
Please note: Brooklyn Nature Days does not make any money from this affiliation and there is absolutely no obligation to shop here. If you have any questions about the gear offered on this site, you can reach out to Outdoor School Supply directly and they can answer any questions you have.
Please ensure your children come prepared to enjoy their days with us. We are diligent in making sure the children are safe and as comfortable as possible at all times.
🎂Birthday Treat Policy🎂
Please note you are not obligated to observe your child’s birthday with us during class. However, if you wish to have your child celebrate their birthday with us, here are some guidelines:
Any snacks/treats must be individually wrapped, store-bought items that are peanut, tree-nut free.
Please send the ingredients for the snack or treat 2 days in advance of bringing it in so we have time to approve the ingredients with all families, especially those with children that may have specific dietary needs or restrictions.
Alternatively, you may also send in your child’s favorite book for us to read at snack time on their birthday. Please let us know in advance if you plan to do this.
Things We Need To Know
Remember that Prospect Park is not a manicured environment and contains hazards like bees, poison ivy, and other irritants. We will do our best to avoid these hazards, but if your child is particularly susceptible to them, please let us know.
Please be aware that NYC posts a tick advisory for the public parks. We generally avoid areas where they are most likely to be found, but ticks do live in the park and nature can be unpredictable. Please read the advisory below and check your child after class each day.
If you do find a tick, please let us know as soon as possible.
NYC's tick advisory is posted here:http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/ticks.page
IMPORTANT: If your child has any allergies, any other medical conditions, or is taking any medication, please make sure to let us know in writing via your child’s medical form completed by your health practitioner, the Child Information and Release Form and on the brightwheel app. Once we receive this information, we will send an additional permission form to parents of children who need to carry an allergy action plan, epipen, or other medication at all times in case of emergency.
Regarding bathroom use: Children will have access to the public park restrooms or our portable potette potty.
What We Will Eat
We are a tree nut and peanut-free program.
Children must bring their own snack and lunch daily -- it is imperative that it is peanut/ tree nut free.
If your child has any dietary restrictions, please let us know in writing.
Bathrooms
Children will use our outdoor portable potty with privacy tent, disinfected between each use.
