About Me
Hi my name is Morgan, or as some of my favorite people call me, Mrs. Preston! I am a teacher, quad-certified to inclusively teach ages Birth-Grade 6 in New York State. I taught at Canandaigua City School District for 4 years.
After having my son in 2022, I knew I wanted to find a way to spend meaningful time together. While expecting my second son in 2024, I decided it was the best time to start! I have a passion for education, children, and the great outdoors… Here is the result of that!
Introducing Finger Lakes Outdoor Explorers! Enough about me, read below about FLOE and FAQs!
Our mission is to foster a love of learning, curiosity and the outdoors in your little ones, through meaningful and creative outdoor play opportunities.
“A creative education has the power to catapult children into a lifetime of curiosity.”
About FLOE
For families with young kids, spending purposeful time outside is more important than ever. To thrive in this dynamic world, children need outdoor play experiences that deliver the hands-on lessons, valuable social interactions, and restorative activity that can’t be gained from the tap of a screen. As parents, it’s our job to ensure they engage in these experiences early and often. But how?
While finding ways to create enriching outdoor moments is essential, it isn’t always easy. Getting outside might be a simple first step, but for a lot of us, knowing what to do next—and how to make it count— just doesn’t come naturally.
FLOE helps families get outside to make the most of their kids’ early learning years. The play-based outdoor program guides parents in raising healthy, confident, and capable kids. Through live, weekly sessions, and a rich learning community, FLOE makes purposeful outdoor play doable for every family.
Start the adventure today.
Policies/FAQs
-
Our program welcomes those aged 1.5 to 6 years old.
Siblings under 12 months of age may join at no cost. Siblings over one year should enroll in the class, and a sibling discount is applied at registration.
If a sibling needs to attend due to scheduling change (eg. day off at school), they can attend up to two sessions without enrolling. Families are asked to notify the teacher if an extra child needs to attend for a session so they can prepare any necessary materials.
-
Weather appropriate clothing (we meet rain or shine)
Drinking water and a light snack
Curiosity & Imagination
-
Yes! When siblings sign up for classes together we offer a sibling discount. When registering for your 2nd or 3rd explorer simply use the discount code SIBLING.
Siblings under 12 months of age may join at no cost. Siblings over one year should enroll in the class, and a sibling discount is applied at registration.
If a sibling needs to attend due to scheduling change (eg. day off at school), they can attend up to two sessions without enrolling. Families are asked to notify the teacher if an extra child needs to attend for a session so they can prepare any necessary materials.
-
Classes are held rain or shine. Conditions that would require postponement/cancellation or ending class early are lightning, high winds, hail, icing, flooding of the class site, and extreme temperatures.
Decisions to hold class are determined by the teacher using local weather guidance. Weather related delays or cancellation will be communicated to families by email and text message at least 90 minutes before class time.
If a class cannot be held as scheduled due to unsafe weather conditions or unavailability of the teacher, class will normally be rescheduled to the following week, effectively extending the end date of the season.
-
It is required that an adult (as we call them guides) accompany their child(ren) for each class. Our Guides perform a vital role in helping kids learn and have fun. Adults sing, move and play right along with their Explorers while also allowing their child to lead where the play takes them. We can act as 'stage managers' for materials, or co-playing, while allowing Explorers as much independence as possible to allow for the play to evolve naturally.
-
Explorers can explore on their own as long as they can still see or hear their guide or the Leader.
Leaders encourage children to engage in risky play, but give clear redirection if or when safety and the safety of friends in the class could be compromised. For example, we celebrate using natural elements like sticks, stones and soil in our play. We can remind explorers to give our sticks plenty of space so they do not touch our friends' bodies.
We know our youngest learners naturally explore their environment with their mouths. We make every effort to ensure that provided materials are safe and to monitor their play along with Guides.
Explorers and Guides will have access to a sanitizing station, first aid kit, child-friendly insect repellent, sunscreen and wipes whenever needed. Guides are asked to please not attend if they or their Explorer are experiencing fever or other flu-like symptoms.
The teacher will do her best to police the play area before class for any environmental hazards left by humans. Please understand that evidence of wild animals is always a factor in playing outdoors but we do our best to minimize those.
-
Photos will usually be taken during classes for FLOE to use for promotional purposes. If you do not want your child included in FLOE social media posts or on our website, please check the box indicating so during the registration process.
-
For individual classes:
If a refund is requested 48 hours before class begins, families can receive a full refund or credit toward a future class.
No refunds shall be granted within 48 hours prior to class because of materials and preparations taken.
All other refunds and credits are at the teacher's discretion.
For a season of classes:
If a refund is requested 48 hours before the classes begin, families can receive a full refund or credit towards a future class.
If a refund is requested AFTER the season of classes begins, families can receive a refund of half of the value of the remaining sessions in the season.