Frequently Asked Questions?

What ages do you take?

Pachamama is designed for children from 2 to 5 years of age.

What dates and hours are your sessions?

Our full-time-drop off program runs from 9am to 1pm.

Monday to Friday (except holidays) from August 14, 2023 to June 7, 2024.

(39 weeks - 195 sessions).

What is the ratio of mentors to children?

The ratio of mentors to children is 1:6.

The groups do not exceed a maximum of 12 children per group.

Do you provide lunch?

Parents are responsible for packing a healthy snack and a bottle of water for their children at each session.

What should my child wear?

Your little one will be learning through play in all kinds of weather, so proper clothing is very important. Additionally, a complete spare change of clothes should be included in their daily backpack.

What do you do when it rains?

We are still playing! We have the best adventures on rainy days. Rain intensifies our visual world with new colors, smells, sounds, and creatures to observe. The environment looks different and the landscape can change dramatically when it rains: puddles, mud, and flowing water.

We put on our raincoats and boots. The mentors set up the tent to keep our things dry, and then we head out to explore and play. Parents always pack several changes of clothes and shoes so we can get warm and dry when we get back.

What happens when there is a storm?

Playing outside in the rain is wonderful fun, but during a storm we keep track of weather warnings, check radar frequently, observe our surroundings, and make decisions based on this information. We are a mobile program and therefore we may notify parents that we are changing sites or in the event of sudden and dangerous changes in the weather, we will follow our procedures and evacuate. Very occasionally, we may have to cancel the day's program due to severe weather warnings.

Do you run the program when it rains?

Yes, our program is canceled only if a severe weather event is forecast. Rainy days are so much fun at Pachamama, even in winter! Children should have a good raincoat and spare clothes to change into.

Does my child have to be potty trained?

Children who attend Pachamama are not required to be potty trained. Potty training can be a journey for every family and we are here to help in the process. Let your mentors know when there are changes to this journey for your family so we can support you as best we can.

What do you do about toilets and diaper changes?

Many of our children are still in diapers and we set up a diaper changing area. Parents provide diapers and wipes as needed. For older children, we have a camping potty and basic handwashing facilities available. We teach children how to do this safely and with privacy.

What about snakes?

They're all out there somewhere! We very rarely encounter dangerous creatures in our activities, however all our staff are trained in first aid and our risk management procedures are designed to help children play with awareness of their surroundings. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately and has applied insect repellent before beginning the session.

My child loves to play outside but we haven’t done much wild play yet. How will they go?

Our program is adaptable to all children at any age and level of experience with nature play. We teach children the skills they need to be independent and confident, however having said that, it can be a bit of an adjustment for someone who hasn't had much wild play, because learning new skills can be challenging. We see the greatest development in children's confidence and resilience when they enjoy regular time active outdoors in nature with their families and friends. Children will settle quickly into our fun playful adventures when they enjoy adventures with their families too.

My child has never been in care before. Maybe they aren’t ready yet?

Almost all of the children who started at Pachamama had never been in the care of another person before. We build a beautiful and trusting relationship with children and parents from an early age. We have a wonderful and smooth process for helping children transition into care, but we have found that the most successful transitions occur when parents have 100% confidence that their children will be safe and happy with us. It is very much a partnership that we enter into, and we work closely with families to support children's independence and exposure to play in nature. Children feel secure when they know their parents trust their ability to adapt and grow in new environments. It may be a process, but we will support each other.

My child has difficulty with separation, can I stay with  them?

Pachamama is a program for children to experience adventures and children very quickly find their courage and sense of fun in the spirit of children's play. The presence of adults changes this dramatically. We are very experienced at helping nervous children settle in to our programs. Let us know discreetly when you arrive and we will help them to say goodbye to you. Please help your child by making the drop off a simple and quick process.