Our Founding Story
In 2023, Foxtail Förskola was purchased by Lark Skola and the 2 became 1.
The Skola was born.
Foxtail Förskola’s Founding Story:
Kayla Nickells started her first forest school program in Texas in 2013. She began Foxtail with Forest Fridays sessions in the summer of 2018 and we’ve been enjoying the forest with our foxes ever since! We are a Scandinavian-inspired Forest Preschool situated in the fir-and-pine foothills of Whitefish, Montana. Although the förskola model has been practiced in Scandinavia since the 1950s, only as recently as 2008 has a similar concept reached growing minds and bodies in the United States. Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland have distinguished themselves as nations setting the pace for a reconstitution of the purposes and values of childhood. And our verdant corner of Montana in many ways resembles the plant communities, climate, and outdoor ethic of the Baltic north.
Surrounded by forests, meadows, swolen streams, and profuse animal, plant, and fungal diversity, we believe children possess unique “ways of knowing”; that they need as much space physically as they do conceptually; that a language-rich environment is best supported by an equally rich sensory one; and developing the skills of the self, led by executive function, is to one’s future prosperity as clean headwaters are to all things downstream.
Lark Skola’s Founding Story:
This is how Lark Skola came to be—the four founders sitting in a coffee shop excitedly sharing ideas and visions of how education could look different for primary-aged children in the Flathead Valley. We found ourselves asking, “What can a school be?”, and we left, fueled by the idea that learning didn’t have to be contained within four walls for children either.
Our amazing staff worked together to build a curriculum that focuses on academic success, social emotional growth, community relationships, and connection to nature for our students. The location of our school felt crucial in order for our overarching views of place-based learning and opportunities for students to discover themselves within the community via visiting local businesses and getting to know their city systems. Our downtown location also lends itself to getting out into our community´s natural spaces daily and conducting as much class time as we can outdoors. The final brick was laid when we secured our forest campus, which solidified our commitment to our Scandinavian roots and the idea that learning happens anywhere.
With the support of the community behind us, Lark Skola kicked off its inaugural year in Fall 2022 with fifteen families. We are so thankful for the trust and support of our community!
With Gratitude,
Brittney Crest
Brooke Ober
Kayla Nickells
Patty Johnson
