There’s no such thing as bad weather — just inappropriate clothing.

That’s what Karen Stillwell will tell parents signing up for the newly established Sammamish Learning Adventures, an outdoor school for ages 3-5, including kindergarteners, set to open this fall.

Five teachers, including Stillwell, created the offshoot program that in many ways resembles its predecessor, Sammamish Learning Center, a preschool that closed its doors in June after opening in 1995.

“We were kind of determined to make something happen,” teacher Katie Innes said. Innes taught at the learning center for 8 years.

Innes, like the others, said she loves children and that teaching “is not a job.”

As of this week, there are 11 children registered for school, which begins Sept. 14. It costs $25 per day to attend. Children must be potty trained and 3 years old by Aug. 31 to enroll. They are also required to bring a snack and water bottle, both clearly labeled with the child’s name on them, to each lesson.

The program, taught in Beaver Lake Park and Ebright Creek Park, will follow the Issaquah School District’s academic schedule, including weather closures.

The school offers morning and afternoon sessions that are 2 ½ hours long. Students will learn about the parks, and the environment will supplement math, reading, writing and science lessons.

“We’ll still cover all the basics, but it will be in a different way,” Stillwell said. “Just taking a walk in the woods, you are learning — don’t think we’re just out there playing.”

For example, if they see a deer wander through the wooded trails of Beaver Lake Park, the teachers could use that opportunity to teach students how to write the letter “d,” to spell the word “deer,” and to draw the animal.

The goal is to get the children involved with the world around them. Stillwell said research shows children who play outside are more connected to the natural world and are healthier and happier.

Stillwell taught at the Sammamish Learning Center for 16 years. When she first got the news it was closing, she racked her brain to find an alternative.

At first she tried to rent the Beaver Lake Lodge for the year, but the city of Sammamish won’t rent in advance like that.

“If we can’t rent the lodge, why can’t we just use the park?” Stillwell asked.

The more the group researched outdoor schools — there are about 12 in the Seattle area — the more appealing the idea became.

“We’re putting adventure back into learning,” Stillwell said.

The group has a couple tents they can set up if needed, and they will have a little space heater for when it’s cold. Also, as a nonprofit, Sammamish Learning Adventures can rent the lodge occasionally.

Drawing on their past experience, the teachers don’t think adverse weather will pose much of a problem. The idea is to keep the youngsters moving. They suspect coats will pile up in the collapsible wagon they’ll bring along to carry supplies.

Stillwell will encourage parents to outfit their children with water boots and “Tuffo Muddy Buddy Coveralls” for the super wet days.

The one-piece coverall is sealed and completely waterproof with dual zippers on the front for quick changes. It’s a loose-fitting suit that goes over other layers of clothing and still allows easy movement. They are available on Amazon.com for about $20-$40.

All the teachers will have fulfilled current first aid and CPR requirements by the end of August. On their persons during the day, the teachers will have a little first aid kit and whistles.

Eventually, Stillwell hopes to partner with the city to establish the school’s base of operations in the house that sits unoccupied in Big Rock Park. But that is still several years off.

For more information about the program and the curriculum, people are welcome to attend the free parent orientation at the Beaver Lake Lodge Sept. 8 from 4-6 p.m. The lodge is located at 2526 244th Ave. S.E., Sammamish.

To register for the program, visit www.SLAkids.com. For questions email SLAkids@yahoo.com or call 425-691-0242.