Homeschool Enrichment Program (6-12 Years)

programs for 2026-2027 are now open for enrollment

Forest School

Weekly Program

September–May | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Forest School is our long-term, nature-immersive homeschool enrichment program for ages 6–12.

Each week, children step into wild spaces to build real-world skills, deepen their connection to nature, and grow confidence that carries into every part of their lives.

This is a yearlong journey of rhythm, mentoring, connection, and discovery. Guided by skilled nature mentors and inspired by the 8 Shields model, kids grow through hands-on projects, playful challenges, and deep experiences in nature.

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tuition and schedule guide

Schedule & Holidays

2025 Program Dates:
- Start Week: September 8, 2025
- End Week: May 18, 2026

2026 Program Dates:

- Start Week: September 8, 2026

- End Week: May 27, 2026

Holiday Breaks:
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Break
- Winter Break
- MLK Jr. Day
- Spring Break
- Good Friday

Learning Outcomes

Through hands-on experiences outdoors, children will:

Build practical outdoor skills like fire building, shelter making, knot tying, navigation, and basic survival techniques.
Grow confidence and independence by solving real problems, facing new challenges, and learning how to lead and follow.
Develop emotional resilience through time in nature, quiet reflection, and mentorship-based support.
Strengthen communication and collaboration by working in small groups to complete tasks, solve puzzles, and support each other in the field.
Reconnect with the natural world through deep observation, stewardship, and time away from screens.
Explore their identity and values in a safe, grounded environment that encourages curiosity, self-awareness, and personal growth.
Learn to take healthy risks and push their edges in a supportive setting that emphasizes safety, choice, and self-trust.

Whether they’re tracking animals, cooking over an open fire, carving tools, or navigating with a compass, children are learning to trust themselves, work with others, and stay connected to nature, and to who they are becoming.

Why Families Choose Forest School

At The Wild School, we believe children learn best through long-term connection — to people, place, and purpose.

Forest School gives your child:
- Weekly nature immersion grounded in rhythm, ritual, and reflection
- A multi-age homeschool community to grow alongside
- Real mentoring relationships with teachers who know them deeply
- Competence outdoors: fire-building, tracking, foraging, carving
- Space to take healthy risks, fail safely, and build true resilience
- A meaningful connection to local ecology and their role in caring for it

How We Teach

At Forest School, learning begins outside... guided by children’s natural curiosity, the changing seasons, and our local ecology.

We build our curriculum around four core approaches:

Emergent Curriculum — We observe what sparks children’s interest and build on those wonders.
Coyote Mentoring — We guide by asking, telling stories, and prompting kids to develop their own ideas.
Flow Learning — We follow the natural energy arc of children: curiosity, exploration, focus, then calm reflection.
Place-Based & Seasonal Education — We learn directly from the local land, trees, animals, and cycles.

Monthly Focus

Each month, we anchor our curriculum in a specific nature skill or concept, weaving it into every part of the class — from storytelling to projects to games and reflections.

September: Forest School Foundations, Nature Navigation, Map Skills
October: Shelter Building & Nature Art
November: First Aid, Water Safety & Purification
December: Fire Building & Fire Safety
January: Campfire Cooking & Primitive Living
February: Knife Safety & Whittling
March: Tracking, Bird Language & Survival Games
April: Foraging & Plant Identification
May: Cordage, Knots, Primitive living & Survival challenge

Each theme includes hands-on challenges, individual and group projects, nature journaling, and outdoor free exploration.

OUR DAILY RHYTHM

A Typical Class Day Includes:

Opening Circle: connection, storytelling, group agreements
Activation Game: playful challenges to build awareness and bond the group
Focus Project: hands-on skills tied to the monthly theme
Snack & Reflection: journaling, stories, or quiet sit spots
Free Exploration: wildlife surveys, tracking, following curiosity
Closing Circle: gratitude, sharing, and goals

How to Enroll

Click your preferred location below. This will take you to that site’s specific registration page, where you can see exactly which days are offered each week and the tuition for your chosen schedule.

Steps to register:

Choose Your Preferred Site from Above

2. Click Enroll Here

3. Choose Your Payment Option

You can choose to pay in full and receive a 10% Automatic Discount, or you can do a 9-month payment plan. Supply & Registration fee required.

4. Complete Your Registration in Sawyer

After you submit your registration and payment, you’ll receive onboarding materials.

If you have any questions at any point, please reach out to us at info@thewildschool.org. We’re happy to help!

For the most up-to-date pricing and to secure your child’s spot, please visit the booking page by clicking your preferred site.

Forest School faqs

What makes Forest School different?

Forest School is a yearlong journey blending foundational academics with wilderness learning. Children learn survival skills, ecological literacy, and build strong community bonds.

Is Forest School a full academic program?

Forest School is designed to complement your homeschool curriculum, not replace it. We cover foundational subjects like science, art, language, and math... but through real-world, hands-on experience in the field.

Think of it as your nature-based extension of learning, where your child builds practical knowledge, executive functioning, emotional growth, and life skills beyond the books.

My child hasn’t done learned any wilderness skills before — will they be behind?

Not at all. Forest School is designed for all levels, and we start each year by laying foundational knowledge like trail safety, nature awareness, and forest rules.

Whether your child is new to nature learning or already loves to build forts and start fires, they’ll be supported exactly where they are.

Is this a good fit for neurodiverse children?

Yes. Our program structure is flexible, multi-sensory, and supportive of different learning styles. Children who thrive with movement, hands-on learning, and space to regulate often find deep success in Forest School.

We offer clear boundaries, consistent rhythms, and predictable expectations while making space for autonomy and creative expression. If you have specific concerns or questions, we’re happy to talk through your child’s unique needs.

What should my child bring each week?

Weather-appropriate clothing (layers, boots, rain gear, etc.)
Backpack with:
- Water bottle
- Snack/lunch
- Journal & pencil (provided at first class)
- Extra set of clothes (especially during wet or muddy seasons)
- Seasonal Appropriate Layers

We’ll send a full gear list once you enroll, including seasonal recommendations.

Is it safe for kids to use knives and start fires?

Yes — because they’re taught with great care and supervision.

Our mentors are highly trained in outdoor risk assessment and follow strict safety protocols. Children are only introduced to fire or knife work when they are developmentally ready and have shown consistent responsibility.

We teach respect for tools and fire — not fear — and that makes all the difference.

What happens if there’s bad weather?

Forest School runs in almost all weather — including rain, cold, and mud. These are valuable parts of the learning experience! However, we will cancel or reschedule for:

Lightning
Flooding
High winds
Severe temperature extremes

If a class needs to be canceled due to weather, families will be notified with as much notice as possible and offered a seasonal make-up day.

Can we try Forest School before committing to the full year?

We offer occasional trial sessions (if space allows) to get a feel for the program. That said, Forest School works best as a long-term journey — relationships, rhythm, and growth happen over time.

Please reach out to us at info@thewildschool.org to book your trial today.