(5)
Nursery/Toddler to Preschool (current) — My daughter started at Saplings attending the toddler program at age 2. It was a great introduc... The team at Saplings has been fantastic since we first started with them. They reply to messages quickly and respond promptly with any changes that need to be made. I have always been able to reach out to them with any concern... The teachers at Saplings are fantastic! They are extremely knowledgeable about nature, local fauna and wildlife, good outdoor practices and survival/outdoor skills. They are well versed in childhood development and seem able t... As my daughter is only in preschool, academics have not been a huge focus thus far compared to older children. They do activities daily that build foundational literacy and math skills, such as counting activities, number reco... The student body is split over numerous campuses, so I am unsure of the total size. The Pemberton Heights location has a preschool and nature school and is the base for the toddler program. Overall, there is a great atmosphere... Overall my daughter’s experience at saplings has been fantastic. She loves going and has been asking to go 7 days a week! The mix of the classroom environment, time spent outside in nature, quality educators and well-though... The school is split between multiple locations, meaning families can choose the best location for them. The location of the main preschool is at (Pemberton Heights) which is in a very family-friendly neighbourhood with good ro... The admissions process for the toddler program and preschool was very straightforward. The team replied promptly when I contacted them, clearly explaining what we needed to do and how the process would work. They explained how... |
all_reviews parent |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, |
(4.8)
Gr. 2 (current) — Saplings has been an incredible experience for our daughter. She joined the school in October, ... The school has a really small community culture. The core of the school ethos is inclusivity, which has transformed our daughter's outlook on school. It was founded by a passionate parent who saw the benefit of nature schools ... The teachers are both diverse, coming from various international backgrounds, including Australia and the UK. They are fun and inspiring! They bring a passion for nature and the outdoors and are creative in their learning tech... My daughter is currently in Grade 1. We were looking for an outdoor environment for our daughter as we knew how much it helps kids to be outside and regulate their emotions. I cannot express how it has far exceeded our expecta... Being in Grade 1, my daughter has less exposure to the whole student body. As described before, the school has such a community feel, and everyone is made to feel welcome and a vital person to the school. It's the most inclusi... My daughter loves going to Saplings. She did not enjoy being part of a large school and felt like she didn't fit or belong. The school is entirely committed to the kids' well-being. They are constantly adapting to the kids' ne... The Saplings school could honestly not be in a better location. Right in Pemberton Heights, it's nestled in a lovely neighbourhood on the doorsteps of various forests and parks. It's right off the highway and Capilano Road, ma... The school offers days to view the school. They are highly responsive to any enquiries and will spend time with you, helping you better understand the school and determine if it's a good fit for your children. We found the exp... |
all_reviews parent |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, |
(5)
Nursery/Toddler to Preschool (current) — Saplings has been an amazing outlook for my son who has boundless amounts of energy and enjoys ... I have been a direct observer of teacher, April dealing with conflict with children appropriately, and in a timely matter. Nothing makes me feel better as a parent to see the children. Learning discipline from someone who is n... What is super special about the school is the passion that they have for the outdoors. This is why I chose the school for my son specifically, there’s nothing more he enjoys than being outside soaking wet and covered in mud.... When choosing saplings I knew I was prioritizing outdoor time over academics. I don’t think this is the program for families who want to force academics, including math and reading at this age. This is a program for parents ... All the children at Saplings have a similar mindset, as to the parents. The main goal for the parents is for their children to experience nature, and get to experience the beautiful West Coast environment that we live in. You ... For any child around 2.5 years of age, it can be a huge transition to go from home to being in a different environment. I think this happens doesn’t incredible job of allowing children to enter in at their own pace. I have b... Being located in Gleneagles is a very unique benefit to the school for most people. It is going to be a drive/commute, but it is well worth it! There is so much nature surrounding the school and so many locations the kids can ... The admissions process was very straightforward. If you have a location preference though, you might have to be okay with being at a different location for a while at first. I wish I had had my son on the waitlist earlier for ... |
all_reviews parent |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, |
(4.1)
Preschool to K (current) — My daughter, who is typically shy and takes time to warm up, was initially hesitant about joini... I truly appreciate how open and accessible the school leadership and administration are in their communication. Whether it’s through the Lillio app, email, or in person, they make it incredibly easy for my partner and me to ... The teachers at Saplings Nature School is outstanding. One thing that really stands out is how the teachers actively engage parents in the learning process. They make it easy for families to provide input, regularly asking for... The academic program at Saplings Nature School goes beyond traditional learning methods, focusing on hands-on experiences, real-life skills, and creative problem-solving. The school provides an environment that encourages chil... The Saplings Nature School has a welcoming feel to it, all of the students know each other. Some of the students even know which parent is associated to which child. The class size is relatively small, this allows for close kn... My daughter absolutely loves attending Saplings Nature School! Every day is a little different, and she thrives in the outdoor environment where learning happens through exploration and hands-on experiences. The children have ... What stands out about the surrounding neighborhood and community is how connected the school is to its environment and things locally. The students at Saplings Nature School regularly venture beyond the school grounds, explori... My experience with the admissions process was a bit challenging due to a change in administration when we first registered. The transition period made things somewhat confusing and stressful at the time. However, I understand ... |
all_reviews parent |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, |
(4.5)
Gr. 3 (current), Gr. 1 (current) — My kids absolutely love Saplings—it was the change we all needed after coming from a public e... 10/10. Early into our time at the school, we experienced an incident with my son—something he had encountered many times before at his previous school. But this time the response was completely different. Instead of jumping ... The teachers, helpers, and administration at the school are absolutely amazing—keep it up! It would be great to know how we, as parents, can better support them so they can continue their incredible work. One of the things w... I love how much outdoor time the kids get! For my energetic boys, in particular, the combination of outdoor play and tactile activities like weaving, art, and building has been invaluable—it helps them regulate before absorb... I love the small class sizes and the student-teacher ratio—it has made a significant difference in the kids’ ability to connect and receive the attention they need from their instructors. However, some questions have come ... My kids asked to come home a month early from Mexico because they missed their school and friends so much—that speaks volumes about the incredible work you’re doing. We are so grateful for everything you provide for our ki... I love it—I love the trees and the natural surroundings. However, the road is a bit scary, and I’d love to see more structures in place to warn drivers to slow down for the safety of the kids. Perhaps having crossing guard... I'd recommend the tour, along with the one-on-one time with the leadership and children to explore the space and connect with the school without anyone else there. The separate parent and kids tours made the experience even be... |
all_reviews parent |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, |
