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 Gear Guide

We embrace all types of weather and play outside daily throughout the seasons of the year. Weather appropriate clothing is critical to the success of our program. Educators model enthusiasm and preparedness to fully immerse ourselves in play outside, rain, snow or shine!

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Forest & Nature Play Essentials

Dress for mess! Please bring children in play clothes, as they will get dirty, stained and worn. Children should come prepared each day with an extra set of season appropriate clothes:​

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Socks

Comfortable Pants

Underwear

T-Shirt or Long Sleeved Shirt

Sweater, Hoodie, Fleece Jacket

WINTER

BASE LAYER

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*Synthetic or wool. Not cotton*

Cotton is not a good choice for cold days. It retains moisture and draws heat away. When children sweat, they will get cold.

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  • Thick Socks:  Two pairs of wool or synthetic ski socks

  • No ankle socks. They slide down in boots frequently, are difficult to pull up in the cold snow & not warm enough

  • Thermal Shirt 

  • Thermal pants

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Brand recommendations and tips:

  • Base layers; Costco, MEC makes some with reinforced knees

  • The children can wear their base layer to dayhome, they wear their baselayer most of the winter season inside and out. We don't mind if they wear it everyday!

MID LAYER

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  • Fleece/wool pants and long sleeve fleece/wool top

 

Brand recommendations and tips:

  • Burton, Mountain Warehouse

  • Fleece pajamas can be less expensive and work really well. Ex. Carters 

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OUTER LAYER​

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Jacket

  • Hooded

  • Insulated, windproof and water resistant (puffer jackets with no shell get damp & cold)

  • Well fitting with room for snow pant bibs and layering underneath

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Brand recommendations and tips: 

  • Heavy and bulky limits children's range of movement. Walking through snow with boots on is hard work!

  • Some of the big box store brands are not warm enough for our colder winter days and prolonged outdoor play, but can work if layered. Another consideration is they are not as waterproof, so take longer to dry out for next play session

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Snow pants

  • Insulated and water resistant

  • Fit over winter boots with ease

  • Well fitting – not too tight around the tummy, roomy enough to comfortably fit over winter clothing or layers

​

​

OUTER LAYER​

​

Jacket

  • Hooded

  • Insulated, windproof and water resistant (puffer jackets with no shell get damp & cold)

  • Well fitting with room for snow pant bibs and layering underneath

​

Brand recommendations and tips: 

  • Heavy and bulky limits children's range of movement. Walking through snow with boots on is hard work!

  • Some of the big box store brands are not warm enough for our colder winter days and prolonged outdoor play, but can work if layered. Another consideration is they are not as waterproof, so take longer to dry out for next play session

​

Snow pants

  • Insulated and water resistant

  • Fit over winter boots with ease

  • Well fitting – not too tight around the tummy, roomy enough to comfortably fit over winter clothing or layers

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Spring/Fall

BASE LAYER

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  • Pants &/or shorts

  • T-shirt &/or longsleeve

  • Socks

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OUTER LAYER​

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Light jacket or hoody

  • Windproof & water resistant

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Rainsuit or rain jacket & splash pants

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 SUNHAT

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  • Sunhat with coverage for child's face, neck and ears​

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Brand recommendations & tips

  • Jan & Jul Water Repellant Adventure Hats

 SWIMWEAR

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  • Rash guards with more coverage are required. More protection from sun, scrapes and and easier to apply sunscreen​

  • Water shoes or sport sandals are required for creek play

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SHOES

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*Close-toed shoes or close-toed sport sandals only please* 

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  • We are walking, hiking and bike riding throughout the day, safe and appropriate footwear is important

  • NO Flip Flops or Croc clogs

  • Running shoes/ Hiking Shoes 

  • And/or closed toed sandals

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Brand recommendations & tips

  • KEEN closed toed sandals have worked well for all summer activities including creek play

EQUIPMENT

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  • Bike & bike helmet

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INSECT REPELLANT & SUNSCREEN

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Gear Lending & Shopping Used

We are building up a gear lending library and have some items available for borrowing. Don't hesitate to ask for what you need and we will do our best to help out if we can.
Shopping thrift stores (eg. locally, Great Things in Store & Trail Blazers, or Facebook market place, Varagesale, and getting second-hand clothes) is a great way to get good quality outdoor clothing for less. 

WINTER

BASE LAYER

​

*Synthetic or wool. Not cotton*

Cotton is not a good choice for cold days. It retains moisture and draws heat away. When children sweat, they will get cold.

​

  • Thick Socks:  Two pairs of wool or synthetic ski socks

  • No ankle socks. They slide down in boots frequently, are difficult to pull up in the cold snow & not warm enough

  • Thermal Shirt 

  • Thermal pants

​

Brand recommendations and tips:

  • Base layers; Costco, MEC makes some with reinforced knees

  • The children can wear their base layer to dayhome, they wear their baselayer most of the winter season inside and out. We don't mind if they wear it everyday!

MID LAYER

​

  • Fleece/wool pants and long sleeve fleece/wool top

 

Brand recommendations and tips:

  • Burton, MEC

  • Fleece pajamas can be less expensive and work really well. Ex. Carters 

​

​

​

OUTER LAYER​

​

Jacket

  • Hooded

  • Insulated, windproof and water resistant (puffer jackets with no shell get damp & cold)

  • Well fitting with room for snow pant bibs and layering underneath

​

Brand recommendations and tips: 

  • Heavy and bulky limits children's range of movement. Walking through snow with boots on is hard work!

  • Some of the big box store brands are not warm enough for our colder winter days and prolonged outdoor play, but can work if layered. Another consideration is they are not as waterproof, so take longer to dry out for next play session

​

Snow pants

  • Insulated and water resistant

  • Fit over winter boots with ease

  • Well fitting – not too tight around the tummy, roomy enough to comfortably fit over winter clothing or layers

 

One Piece Hooded Snowsuit

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BOOTS

 

Temperature rating of -40 is required

  • Sturdy, waterproof and well fitting, insulated snow boots with room for thick socks

  • No ankle boots, mid or tall keeps snow out

  • Snow pants must fit over the boots. Some boots have a fur embellishment around the top, please make sure your child’s snow pant leg fits over the boot with ease

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Brand recommendations and tips:

  • Stonz, Kamik, Baffin, Muck

  • No booties please

  • You can make or buy insulating insoles inexpensively to add to your boots for added warmth

  • Size up! An air pocket creates dead airspace and additional insulation. Consider fit with room for thick socks and occasional toe warmer inserts

TOQUE

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  • Non-itchy fabrics like fleece or fleece lined wool hats

  • Well fitting – must cover the ears & forehead, ear flaps are cozy

  • Fit under the child’s jacket hood when pulled up (large pom poms don't)

  • Chin strap or ties for younger children so they don’t pull it off as easily

NECK WARMER & BALACLAVA

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  • Fleece neck warmer 

  • A size that is large and roomy enough to be pulled right up around the child’s cheeks and nose as needed in the wind and frigid temperatures

  • Please avoid scarves, they tend to hang down and get in the way of children playing, increase risk of strangulation and need to be tied on by an adult

  • Wool gets wet and stretchy and many children complain it is itchy

  • Brand recommendations and tips: 

  • Dollarama & Walmart carry inexpensive fleece neck gators and balaclavas

MITTENS

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  • Mittens are warmest, no gloves

  • Must have long gauntlets with elastic cuffs and Velcro, cinch or buckle wrist straps to keep snow and cold air out and mitts on hands. No short mitts please.

  • Mitts must fit preferably over, or under your child’s winter jacket sleeve with ease. If the mitt fits over the sleeve it acts as a gator which is great, it is easier to put back on in the cold air and stays on the child's hands

  • Insulated, waterproof and well fitting. We can’t get mitts back on a child’s hands if they don’t fit well and are a little damp. Choose a roomier fit

  • No wool or fleece for cold days or snow, they aren’t warm enough or waterproof

  • 2 pairs of mittens are needed. One pair gets wet during morning play and the other is needed in the pm

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  • Brand recommendations and tips: 

  • Stonz  (roomy fit, warm and durable, long lasting wear) & Kombi (some styles have zipper pocket for hand warmers)

  • Invest in quality, warm, water resistant mitts, they will get a lot of use!

  • Little ones often find mitts get in the way of picking up objects and feeling the snow, so they tend to come on and off a lot! There is greater potential for them to get lost. 

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

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  • Helmet for sledding

SPRING & FALL

Spring/Fall

BASE LAYER

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  • Pants &/or shorts

  • T-shirt & long sleeve shirt

  • Hoody, Sweater, fleece

  • Thick socks for colder days

  • No ankle socks in boots please

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MID LAYER

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  • Fleece jacket

 

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OUTER LAYER​

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Rainsuit or rain jacket & splash pants

  • Durable

  • Waterproof

  • Well fitting with room for layering underneath

  • Elasticized well fitting hood that stays up in the wind and rain

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Brand recommendations & tips

  • Oaki Kids Rain Gear, MEC Newt Rain Suits, Jan & Jul, Helly Hansen.  There are many options

  • Wind pants/jackets are not waterproof enough for rain and wet and muddy play

  • Less expensive suits like Tuffo Muddy Buddy and Splashy work, but are not as water resistant or durable. We are outside in the am & pm

  • Buy oversized and roomy for layering

  • If you are buying one suit, don't purchase fleece lined , it will be too warm some days. Buy unlined and layer. 

RAIN BOOTS

 

  • Waterproof & durable

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Brand recommendations & tips

  •  Bogs, Crocs, Stonz,  Kamik, inexpensive Walmart chore boots are sturdy and long lasting. In our experience the flimsier boots wear out very quickly and won't last a season 

  • Room for thick socks on colder days

TOQUE & SUNHAT

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  • Toque that covers ears to protect from wind

  • Sunhat. Straps and cinching are great for wind

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Brand recommendations & tips

  • Jan & Jul Water Repellant Adventure Hats

NECK WARMER 

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  • Fleece neck warmer 

MITTENS

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  • 2 pairs of fleece mittens and/or light waterproof mittens

​

  • Brand recommendations & tips

  • Dollorama carries inexpensive fleece mittens

  • Reima waterproof mittens can be layered

EQUIPMENT

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  • Bike and bike helmet

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INSECT REPELLANT & SUNSCREEN

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SUMMER

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