Kew Kids Forest School

About this program

Kew Kids Forest School is Queens' only forest school and the only year-round, all-weather forest program in New York City offering both half-day and full-day options for young children. Located in Kew Gardens, the program operates primarily in Forest Park, the third-largest park in Queens, with 538 acres including 165 acres of native hardwood forest. The school follows a Waldorf-inspired, nature-immersion approach where children spend nearly all their time outdoors exploring trails, native oak-hickory forests, and natural landscapes. As a proud member of the Association for Nature-Based Education and Natural Start Alliance, Kew Kids maintains a nurturing community that values kindness, cooperation, curiosity, imagination, and respect for all living things. The program has been featured in Warner Bros' documentary series "Becoming You" (2020) and participated in an international climate change documentary series in 2023. With an exceptional 4:1 child-to-teacher ratio, the school provides personalized attention that allows educators to dive deeply into each child's learning journey while exploring the forest classroom together.