Full-time Forest Learners
Spend next school year outdoors
About the Program
The Forest Learners Program is an immersive three or four-day-per-week nature-based program that allows children to learn life, naturalist, and survival skills alongside math, reading, writing, and science. The program sets learners up for a life of deep nature connection, resiliency, positive learning, and total comfort in the natural world.
As the current cohort of 7 to 9-year-olds continues on in 2021-22, a new cohort will begin with younger kids between 6 and 7. Each year, the kids will continue with their same cohort, and the curriculum adapts to the ages of the kids as they grow older.
days of nature school
BC Certified Teacher
child class size
- Two full days of Soaring Eagle Nature School programming in the forest, providing deep learning of naturalist and survival skills, but also math, reading, writing, science, and more
- One indoor/outdoor day at a nature house with movable walls, large windows, plenty of natural light, and nature trails at our doorstep
- An optional fourth day with a mix of academic study, field trips, and outdoor learning (Please note that kids need to be registered with Island Discovery (IDLC) to participate in this day)
- Small class size (10-12 kids) and high adult to child ratio (1:6)
- Project and passion-based learning approaches to the BC core curriculum
- Field trips to explore different ecosystems and habitats
- A focus on crafting such as weaving, sewing, making cordage, and more
- Survival skills such as carving, shelter building, navigation, wildlife tracking, mammal ID, bird language, and edible and medicinal plants
- Song, theatre, music, and art
- A non-coercive, gentle, and feelings-based approach to communication and play
- Emphasis on emotional awareness, compassion, and gratitude
2021-22 Program Details
Ages: 6 to 7
Location: North Vancouver
Time: 9:30 am to 3:00 pm
Cost: $6,250 + tax
Frequently Asked Questions
How is academic material deployed to different grades/ages within the same cohort?
The BC-certified teacher designs the program with each parent based on their child’s needs. From there, we create a plan with the kids that falls within the parent’s plan. We have started to do breakout groups to play math games and have groups that cover the different levels.
What happens when the child ages out of the program and has to go back to regular school? Isn't that transition going to be tough?
We haven’t set a graduation date for when they officially leave the program. Currently, the kids move up and continue to grow together as a cohort. Some committed parents want this to continue through high school.
Is the BC Certified teacher present one day per week or all four days?
Of the four days, the BC Certified teacher is with us twice per week on the Nature House days only. On the forest days on Monday and Thursday, we have two nature mentors. On one indoor day on Tuesday, there is overlap with one nature mentor and the BC Certified teacher to incorporate the nature lessons indoors and the academic learning outdoors. And on the optional day on Wednesday, the BC Certified teacher is on her own.
Is this considered a private school, or are the children considered homeschoolers?
For this program, we are partnered with a homeschooling organization, Island Discovery Learning Centre (IDLC). Together we hire the BC Certified teacher who has experience with outdoor education. You don’t have to go through IDLC, but it gives access to the optional fourth day. Most parents take the homeschooling route because it is difficult to find a school that would allow children to attend just two days per week. When parents opt to homeschool, they can do the unschooling route with no ministry check-ins, funding, or curriculum, or distributed learning with funding, resources, teacher support, and required reporting.
For More Information
Our son loves the Forest Learners program! Not only does he get to spend his days outdoors with a small group of kids and caring instructors, he is learning about the natural world while developing age appropriate skills in literacy and numeracy. This is what school should look like for all students – outdoors, integrated and full of joy!”
“This year, the Forest Learners program has been a gift to our child and to our family. This program is deeply rooted in a holistic approach to child development. From physical and emotional development to embodied and cerebral learning, we feel like THIS is the way to learn. We are so grateful for this program and the incredible teachers who are guiding our child into new levels of knowledge, problem-solving skills, and very importantly, confidence.”
– Carla, Forest Learners Parent
“Our 6-year-old son looks forward to forest school each and every day – in all weather. He has learned so much about the rhythms of the seasons, about flora and fauna, and how to co-exist with (and in) nature. More than that, he has learned how to sit and listen, how to tell stories, and how to notice what’s around him. Our son shows us daily that this is the right ‘schooling’ experience for his body, mind, and spirit.”
– Geordie, Forest Learners Parent
Steps to Register
Follow the link below to register your interest. We will contact you based on your preferences to have a conversation about what you are looking for in your child’s education program, and determine together if we are the right fit. Then, your child can join an in-person meeting or trial day, and if everything is seamless, we will take a deposit upon acceptance.