At Sherwood Forest Preschool children are given the time, space and nurturing environment to grow majestically!

Hello and welcome, we are so glad you are here.
We are a play-based preschool program,
located in the charming town of Gladstone in Oregon.
We offer a 2 or 3 day
4 hour program
T(W)Th  9am-1pm

We take very seriously the importance of time, space and a nurturing environment for PLAY.
Our program is rooted in Nature, Seasonal and Daily Rhythms, Handwork and Classic Literature /Storytelling.

Community and families are the very roots of our program.
We honor and welcome families to be involved in ways they are able, and most enjoy.

Respecting children's ability to follow their interests, learning through play. My work is to facilitate each individual childs journey to satisfy their curiosities. Providing materials, time, and space for discovering the answers to their questions. I use observations during the children's play to scaffold their play in future "play invites" and/or supplying further materials.  Repeated Play 'Schemas' are supported with thoughtful presentations to continue and advance their knowledge.

Honoring the children with REAL TOOLS,  beautiful spaces and meaningful experiences are another key element.




What parents are saying.

Wow! There are so many wonderful things I have to say about Sherwood Forest Preschool! It is a magical place made to be a child’s wonderland. Ms. Shell made my son feel welcome and loved from the minute he began. He has thrived with hands on play both indoors and out and truly loves every minute he is there. I am fortunate to get to spend a little time there helping out and what impresses me most each time , is seeing first hand Ms. Shell’s incredible patience with each and every child, allowing them to feel their emotions while helping them work through their frustrations with gentle guidance. The icing on this preschool cake is that Michelle H. joined the Sherwood Forest Team. Together, these ladies have created a one of a kind learning experience with incredible nature based curriculum that truly delights both children and their families. I feel so fortunate to have found Sherwood Forest and am thrilled my boy gets to thrive there another year!
Jenny W.
We moved to the neighborhood and afterwards found out that we are nearby Sherwood Forest Preschool; this didn't make our choice "automatic" to send our preschooler there. However after touring and asking our "100 questions" we were incredibly blown away by the level of thought put into every activity, which promotes creativity more than the average preschool. This isn't just a "recite your ABCs and learn your colors" basic education - this is an incredible introduction to all things nature-based and art/story/music-focused....while discreetly working to develop little ones' character and social awareness. They get some NEAT sensory and art experiences that make my older son jealous: clay dishware, fused glass, jewelry, twig spiderwebs, watercolor, etc. Simply put, we discovered that this truly WAS the best option for our daughter. We know the time will come for her to leave for kindergarten in the fall, but what a foundation(!) she got this year. Once people get wind of this gem of a school, Sherwood Forest Preschool will undoubtedly have a wait list!
-Kate (Google Maps Review)
My family had the extreme pleasure of being a part of the Sherwood Forest community as my son attended pre-school there for three years. This program was instrumental as he navigated his way through peer socialization, relationships and conflict resolution. The play based program inspires creativity and ignites curiosity. Ms. Shell is an amazing mentor to the children and they truly prosper with her guidance.
- Heather (Google Maps Review)
"Ms. Shell is creative, fun, caring, and responsive to the children in her care. It’s nice to have someone else excited about your child as they discover new things and learn. Whether it’s a texted photo during the day or a mention of something she observed, it’s obvious how much she cares and the joy she gets in watching each child grow. The environment is set up so well with many intriguing and exciting areas to explore, a variety of learning experiences, and rotating materials (including books!). The kids are able to spend a good amount of time outside, which has its own incredible environment where everyone can get their energy out and enjoy nature. I love that outside time happens rain or shine and that kids are equipped in rain gear or venture out in bare feet, depending on the type of day it is! From searching for worms to feeding the chickens, kid-designed water features to homemade dinosaur bones… it’s always a day of exploration and learning at Sherwood Forest."

childcareratingz.com​​
"Enrolling your child into daycare can be a scary and overwhelming process however all of our fears and concerns melted away the moment we stepped into Sherwood Forest Preschool and met with Ms. Shell. The environment inspires creativity through play, imagination, discovery and exploration. I so appreciate the emphasis on arts, reading and play over tv time. My child has blossomed since joining Sherwood Forest Preschool and Ms. Shell captures every moment sharing in photos, art projects and slide shows. She also keeps the children (and families) involved in the community through field trips, guest visitors, toy drives and upcoming events. Ms. Shell not only opens her home to our children but to the families too! Most importantly Ms. Shell provides a safe, clean and loving environment for our children to thrive!"

childcareratingz.com​
Sherwood Forest Preschool is a great school for young minds to learn, grow, and experience new things in such fun unique ways. The Owner, Michelle, truly puts her heart and sole into her program and has a true passion for children. We have had a blast attending some of the community events she has put on and my niece had a wonderful preschool experience here. Another thing I love is how Michelle takes her education and training seriously and attends lots of trainings and is always open to learning as much as she can.
- Jessica (Google Maps Review)
We are so fortunate to have had both of our children attend Sherwood Forest. Our son, is in elementary school now but loves to visit when we pick up his younger sister. Ms. Shell is creative, caring, gentle and firm. She is playful, silly and excellent at helping the children resolve their own conflicts.

Sherwood Forest fosters creativity and healthy habits. Play spaces inspire the imagination, explore science, enhance dramatic play and change-up often. Children move their bodies while inside and out. The sandbox and mud kitchen with working water pump are a family favorite. We have been attending Sherwood Forest since January 2012, with a total of 7 years between our two kids. Every day there has brought good memories, important learning and life lessons to our children.