Rock Hoppers
Rock Hoppers registration for the fall ‘26 will open on Saturday, Feb 28th, 2026 at 9:00am.
Overview
Children who attend a Rock Hoppers program at Bedrock Play will be doing everything from building homes and dressing up in costumes to running through the trees or enjoying some quality time in our forest kitchen! Let your children experience authentic child-led play in a supportive environment. Each day we will have a different theme that gives the children inspiration and ideas to bring into their play. This program is designed to give ample time to explore the natural world, develop new friendships and delve deeply into the creative world of play.
Details
Tuesdays for ages 4-7 yrs
Fridays for ages 4-10 yrs
Sept through May 9:00-1:00
Group size 18-24 kids, 3-4 staff
Sign up is for the full school year for one or both days
One day - $1600
Both days - $2880
The Experience
Kids arrive between 8:50-9:00
Stone circle time - songs, name games, movement,– breaking the ice, getting kids warmed up and getting to know each other.
Go over the rules of Bedrock Play:
stay in the boundaries,
kindness/respect rule (to the plants and animals that live in the woods; to ourselves making sure we’re eating and drinking and using the bathroom; towards other kids – sharing, taking turns, sharing materials, using words, not pushing hitting kicking, make sure they know have adults if need help; respect for our supplies and materials.
Story and snack - kids eat a morning snack while a book is read, introducing the theme for the day. Themes vary from week to week.
Hours of child-led play - building forts, inventing games, imaginary play, creative/artistic play, cooking in the mud kitchen
An adult’s presence can influence play. Our staff attempts to minimize adult influence as much as possible. If not interrupted by an adult presence, children will delve deeply into their play experience and are more likely to work things out on their own, which supports their skill development. Staff are there to step in if needed to offer conflict resolution tools and to act as mediators, working towards a time when kids can independently resolve issues.
Healthy play often involves risk-taking, as it is on this edge that children can make the biggest leaps in their development. Our site offers opportunities for taking reasonable risks, such as tree climbing, campfires, using real tools, and rough and tumble play. Our staff has years of experience in creating a space where kids feel physically and emotionally safe to find their own “just right” challenges and can practice taking the proper steps to create safe boundaries.
Children are called down to the stone circle for lunch. Once they are done eating, all belongings are packed and organized and kids have another hour to play.
Gather belongings
Reflection on day
Pick up at 1:00
Follow up email - every day participants receive a follow up email that has a brief description of the theme of the day and what opportunities were offered. Beautiful action photos of your children are included!
The Outcome
Write up what kids are getting and how it helps them outside of the program also.
Kids have a chance to move their bodies for hours at a time - strengthening muscles, increasing range of motion in joints, improving balance and reinforcing spatial awareness. This all contributes to greater resilience and immune health.
Kids will be outside for hours at a time, in all weather. This positively affects their sensory systems - touch, vestibular, proprioceptive, hearing, smell, vision, taste are all nourished and strengthened by time outdoors. They become more tolerant of “not perfect” weather and learn to appreciate all the seasons.
Outdoor play with other children is highly stimulating to the brain! Kids are exposed to tons of new ideas, enhancing creativity and the imagination. They get a chance to pull on their own problem solving skills, increasing their self-confidence and realizing their own potential. Executive functioning skills are challenged and enhanced during real-life situations.
Playing with a mixed-age group gives children a rich source of opportunities to build their social skills. They learn how to make friends and keep friends, see other’s perspectives, practice negotiation and cooperation, regulate their emotions and communicate more effectively.
I rommend a Bedrock Play experience for any family. Research undeniably shows that we as people need to be outside regularly to remain healthy and happy, and kids benefit from lots of space to wiggle and jump, crush and create, wonder, imagine, and play. From my perspective, Bedrock Play offers a magical space where these activities are encouraged, while also organically providing opportunities for learning and practicing many valuable life skills that everyone needs.” - Anonymous Parent