The Hundred Acre Wood Forest School in The Blue Mountains is ready for a concert event that will help launch a new capital campaign for a new location and potential expansion.
The childcare centre and day camp provides what it refers to as nature-based childcare, which nurtures children’s relationship with nature and interacting with the great outdoors.
“It’s such a beautiful offering,” said Edwards. “And also a critical offering. The amount of parents that can return to the workforce because childcare exists is critical. And we live in the economy where both parents need to work.”
Executive Director Kim Edwards says that this year’s fundraising concert will help launch their capital campaign to raise $1.4 million.
The Small Feet, BIG Change campaign kicks off with a Concert Under the Stars on Saturday, August 29th.
They’re hoping that the fundraiser will not only help them secure a new location, but help them expand in the future to keep up with growth and demand.
The school has two locations: its flagship location in Heathcote, and another in Feversham.
The Heathcote location was sold in 2024, and when the property changed hands, the school figured that it wouldn’t be able to continue at that location once the lease expires on September 30, 2027. The school has been on the hunt for a new location since.
The Heathcote location currently offers 42 licensed childcare spaces and 20 spaces for primary years programming, as well as 25 spaces for summer camp programs available to Grey County.
The school serves 250 families in Grey Highlands, Meaford, The Blue Mountains, and Collingwood throughout the year.
An anonymous donor has stepped forward to match up to $50,000 raised at Concert Under the Stars on Saturday.
The evening features Canadian singer-songwriter Danny Michel, who is a Juno-nominee. He’ll be supported by the Ruthven Sisters, who are a not only a local act, but have helped to teach music at the Hundred Acre Wood Forest School over the years.
The family-friendly event includes food, local cider and spirits, and an online auction, as well as a kids’ zone.
“We’re excited to have Danny Michel as our headliner, so we think it’s a pretty big deal,” she said. “It’s going to be the biggest concert we’ve ever had, for sure, and the biggest fundraiser.”
A new facility must meet building code and Ministry of Education standards before children can move in. But the school has not been waiting. Over the past year, Hundred Acre Wood has been quietly working toward a permanent future.
Hundred Acre Wood is a registered Canadian charity and a licensed, non-profit forest school and childcare centre serving children from 18 months to 13 years. More than 250 families a year are connected to the school, and 478 children have come through its programs since 2019.
“Continuity for these families who are enrolled right now… if you’ve ever had your child in childcare, you know that you need continuity, and you don’t want to change your childcare. It is challenging.”
Tickets are available at haw.ca for $50 each. Children over the age of 10 are $15, and kids under 10 are free.