Roots and Rhythms is an outdoor urban adventure school for small groups of children with Sarah and Sophia, based in Olympia WA. We operate out of local public parks to provide a wide variety of play experiences. During the school year, we welcome ages 2½-6, and during summer camp, up to age 9. We have 35 years of combined experience working with young children and look forward to working with yours.
Register Now for 2024-2025
Mission
Forming an outdoor learning community full of play, adventure and love where all families feel safe to be completely who they are.
WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING
I am here to share my deep appreciation and love for Sarah and Sophia who are both genuinely kind, loving and open people who have invited our family into their community with open arms. Since moving from Chicago they have been one of the biggest supports to our family. They both have experience and value the social and emotional well being of children and how important that piece is for kids in order for them to be ready to be successful learners. They both love my son and understand him and value him and meet him where he’s at, which has helped him grow his confidence in himself as a learner. I am forever grateful and so glad that Griffin gets to spend his time before kindergarten in a safe space outside with Sarah and Sophia.
Roots & Rhythms was a wonderful experience for our 4 year old. It's plain that teachers Sarah and Sophia care deeply for the kids they teach and know a lot about educating tiny learners. They do a fantastic job engaging with each child in a way that comforts and encourages them to explore nature and push their own boundaries. My own kid went through a lot of changes in a very short amount of time, but the environment he had with Roots & Rhythms allowed him to warm up and feel cared for. I left drop off each day knowing my son would be nurtured, educated, and challenged in a beautiful outdoor PNW setting. They even let me bring (and included) my son's baby sister on several adventures. I recommend Roots & Rhythms to anyone looking for a high quality outdoor program.
I can't say enough positive things about Roots and Rhythms Outdoor Learning Community My daughter has been in attendance for two weeks and I'm already seeing positive changes! She's making friends, her vocabulary is expanding, she's learning boundaries, risk management, and recall. Most importantly she trusts and adores her teachers, and is overcoming her separation anxiety. They've also helped with my anxiety. Upon meeting Sophia and Sarah I immediately felt at ease, especially since Layla took to them both right away. There's nothing more assuring than knowing your child is with teachers who genuinely care about them and work with them on an individual basis, and know specifically how each child communicates/ learns/ticks. They are knowledgeable, personable, and overall wonderful humans! They have such amazing energy and so much to offer the community! I know I've said it before, but their approach and methods to teaching are spectacular. I love that it's child led and nature based. Honestly, both Layla and I look forward to school days, not just because she's worn out, but we're meeting like minded people and building community.
I feel very fortunate to have found Roots and Rhythms shortly after moving to Olympia! My 5 year old participated in their summer program and had the most wonderful time exploring, playing, and meeting new friends. I can't say enough good things about Sarah and Sophia. They have just the right approach to making children (and parents!) feel welcome, valued, and free to be themselves. They handle challenges with children with an impressive level of understanding and respect, and enforce safety and maintain kindness by giving thoughtful feedback and setting boundaries and expectations in ways that children can understand and successfully navigate. I appreciate them so much for making my LO's summer so fun, and I can't recommend them enough!
I’ve been delighted with my daughter’s experience at Roots and Rhythms. She started as a cautious toddler, very shy of the other children, and has grown tremendously in her confidence and social skills. Sarah and Sophia are greatly knowledgeable about child development in general, and also really see and understand my little girl in particular. It has been so nice having them on our team. I love hearing about what the kids found on the beach, or what games they made up in the woods that day when I come for pick-up. I love that they grow vegetables in their own plot at a community garden and sometimes take a day to explore different places around town by bus. But what matters most to me is that my child is known and valued for who she is, and that her curiosity and her relationships with her peers and with the natural world are being nurtured and deepened. We feel very, very lucky to have found Roots and Rhythms.
I love seeing the week over week growth and confidence in my son as a result of his experience at Roots and Rhythms. My son and I recently moved to the area and I feel so grateful and lucky to have found Miss Sarah and Miss Sophia and that they had a spot available! He's learning about nature, how to respect it. He’s more willing to try new things, learning healthy social and decision-making skills, and just watching his confidence grow has been amazing. I highly recommend them.
Roots & Rhythms is our first experience with preschool and it has been an invaluable period of growth for my child. My son grew leaps and bounds in a matter of weeks. Sophia and Sarah are wonderfully talented teachers who keep the kids engaged with fun outdoor activities like harvesting from their veggie patch, looking for crabs at the beach, drawing and digging in the sand. Just to name a few of my son’s favorites. Sarah & Sophia are patient and nurturing with the kids while also being clear with instruction, which I absolutely appreciate. They have great communication skills so that I always understand how the day went and what to expect next. I love the different parks/drop off locations through out the week. My child looks forward to each day at Roots & Rhythms. I would highly recommend them to anyone who values outdoor education and play!
My daughter & nephew loved this school! Sarah & Sophia were great. Very communicative and really helped my daughter out through some transitions she was going through. They are incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and helpful. They provided an amazing environment for all the kids to learn and grow in. Our kids grew tremendously in the time they were there. So fortunate we found them!!
If I could give more than five stars, I would. This child-led outdoor school inspires exploration and creativity while providing a safe environment to learn about nature, physics (at an elementary level), and general survivability in the outdoors. Each day of the week has a different drop-off location to prevent the kids from getting bored and doing the same activities day-in and day-out. Furthermore, school continues despite nasty weather, so prepare appropriately! Each location has overhead cover if it becomes unbearable and the teachers are prepared with activities to be conducted if the case arises. It’s expected that each student arrives with a lunch, water supply, and an extra change of clothes as needed. One of my favorite aspects about this is program is the teaching of resiliency. Whether through scraped knees, sharing conflicts, big feelings, or separation anxiety, the teachers have the knowledge and established processes to talk each student through the experience and help them bounce back into play and learning. I was incredibly impressed each time I saw it occur and truthfully, a little envious of their techniques.