Forest School Clothing and Gear Guide: 

Children should arrive at school with appropriate clothing and outdoor gear for the weather each day. The lists below are meant to serve as a guideline as you prepare for the year. When in doubt, overpack. Extra layers can always be added or taken off as long as they are with your child when they arrive for the day.
 
All Seasons:

• Clothing: appropriate outdoor wear that is okay to get dirty. We recommend long pants/leggings until it is extremely warm outside. This helps to prevent injury, scratches from trees, bug bites, etc. No dresses or skirts without shorts/pants underneath (see below for seasonal details)
• Backpack that fits all daily supplies/extra clothes/etc
• Bag for wet/dirty clothes

 
Summer:

• T-shirt/Long sleeve sun shirt
• Pants/Leggings/Shorts
• Shoes: Closed-toed shoes are a must. NO sandals or flip flops.
• Backpack that fits all daily supplies/extra clothes/etc
• Extra set of socks, shoes, pants/shorts, underwear, shirt
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Sunglasses (optional)
• Towel
• Bathing suit + water shoes (on hot days we may have a sprinkler set up)
• Bag for wet/dirty clothes

 
Fall and Early Spring:

• Long sleeve base layer shirt
• Warm Jacket (it is always cooler in the woods!)
• Sweatshirt/Fleece/second warm top layer
• Long pants (preferably no jeans - they can be difficult for children to put on and take off independently, they absorb moisture quickly, and they restrict movement during play.
• Tall and warm wool socks (NO ankle socks)
• Shoes: Closed-toed shoes are a must. NO sandals or flip flops. We highly recommend waterproof hiking shoes or Bogs (boots)
• Extra set of socks, shoes, pants, underwear, shirt, sweatshirt/fleece
• Warm hat and gloves

 
Winter:

• Top and bottom base layers
• Weatherproof winter jacket with secure hood
• Sweatshirt/Fleece/second warm top layer
• Third top layer (optional)
• Bottom outer layer (sweatpants, fleece pants, outdoor pants - preferably no jeans - they can be difficult for children to put on and take off independently, they absorb moisture quickly, and they restrict movement during play.)
• Snow pants
• Tall warm/wool socks (NO ankle socks)
• Shoes: Closed-toed shoes are a must. We highly recommend BOGS (boots)or snow boots. NO tennis shoes in the winter.
• Warm hat that fully covers ears
• Waterproof mittens
• Neck gaiter or hat/neck gaiter combo
• Extra set of socks, shoes, pants, underwear, shirt, sweatshirt/fleece, hat, gloves

If you are having a hard time finding affordable gear, we understand that outdoor clothing can get expensive. Here are some local places we recommend shopping at for finding affordable forest school gear:

• Garage sales/yard sales
• Goodwill stores
• Rescue Mission stores
• Wee Trade Carolinas events
• Facebook marketplace
• Kinder Consignment and Boutique (New Leicester Hwy)
• Lollipops (Hendersonville Rd)
• Tiny Threads (Woodfin)
• The Littlest Birds (Asheville Mall on S Tunnel Rd)
• Once Upon a Child (River Hills Rd East Asheville)
• Annas Kiddie Korner (Clyde)