Forest School
100% Outdoors
September - June
Children Ages 6-10
Monday - Thursday
Time Spent Outdoors Presents Unique Opportunities To Learn & Grow
Children learn to solve problems, work collaboratively & explore subjects of their individual interests. Developing these “simple skills” can lead to accelerated academics, critical thinking & responsible risk taking.
Child Led + Play Based Learning
Each class, children share where they would like to visit and what they would like to learn more about. This could be anything from playing games, exploring topics like native plant & animals or learning new skills.
Learning in this way leads to self discovery and new experiences not often found in traditional academic programs. Forest School was created to help build connection for children, to our Northwest landscapes and develop critical thinking, creativity & responsible risk taking.
What About “Bad Weather” Days
Rain, sun, wind, & snow, we are learning outdoors. When children are dressed appropriately, they are able to become deeply engaged in play and are not bothered by the “bad” weather.
Weather creates an opportunity to learn about the ever changing seasons and the impacts they have on our landscapes. Children learn to embrace and find joy in every type of weather the Pacific Northwest brings us.
Teaching Staff
Our instructors act as guides and role models, helping children to develop awareness & confidence, while facing new experiences & challenges.
This is done by helping each child learn a variety of problem solving skills, gained by spending time outdoors during a developmentally crucial time.
Our Classroom
Children are invited to discover the world through play, exploration & observation.
Our large property consists of coniferous & deciduous forests, fields and seasonal streams.
By returning to the same locations week after week, children connect on a deep level with the environment. Each child comes to notice the smallest changes in their surroundings throughout the year as the seasons change our classroom.
Subjects We Share
- Music
- Biology
- Ecology
- Illustration
- Stewardship
- Problem Solving
- Art
- Writing
- Botany
- Geology
- Navigation
- Anthropology
Stay Curious
Keep Exploring
& Play
Classes & Schedule
Mondays - Alder
Tuesdays - Cedar
Wednesdays - Fir
Thursdays - Maple
School Year
We follow a calendar similar to local districts - running from September to June, with breaks throughout the year.
Enrollment in the Forest School program is for the entire 10 month school year.
Class Size
Our classes have a maximum of five students working with a single instructor. That’s a 5:1 student teacher ratio!
By keeping our class sizes small, we get to know the unique interests and needs of each family. This creates a tight knit community of children, staff & families.
Flexible Schedule
By having four class options, families can join the day that best fits their routine. Choose a class that works for your family and get your children outside!
Families who are homeschooling may enroll in multiple days to support their home based learning, while children enrolled in district learning might only attend once a week.
Monthly tuition is $300. For families enrolled in two classes or enrolling two children, the monthly rate is $590.
For your convenience, tuition payments are divided into 10 equal installments.
Tuition
Frequently Asked Questions
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Children ages 6-10. Each class is made up of homeschool + traditional schooling families, all with mixed age groups.
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Forest School classes are offered on: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays.
Our School year is 10 months: September - June.
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Natural Learning Northwest forests - Located in the Lake Francis area of Maple Valley, WA.
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Tuition is $300 x 10 months each school year, children spend 16 hours a month outdoors.
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5:1 Student/Teacher ratio.
You won’t find that in a traditional classroom setting!
