Forest Explorers
A part-time forest school option for homeschool students in grades K-5.
Study hands-on history, science and applied arts outdoors!
Explorers Science and History is offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9am-12pm. Applied Arts is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12pm-3pm
What is Forest Explorers?
Forest Explorers is a part-time, nature-immersion program for students in grades K-5, offering nature-based hands-on learning experiences in history, science, and outdoor applied arts. Rooted in the principles of forest school education, our program has an emphasis on student-directed learning, where children have the opportunity to take the lead in their education. Research shows that child-led learning enhances critical thinking, creativity, and intrinsic motivation, equipping students with essential skills for lifelong success.
Students are grouped by grades—Kindergarten and 1st Grade, 2nd and 3rd Grades, and 4th and 5th Grades—to ensure developmentally appropriate learning while fostering collaboration and leadership.
Within grade-based groups, children will learn about natural science, history, art, and explore their individual interests, engage in hands-on activities, and build confidence.
For homeschooling families, Forest Explorers can serve as a replacement for formal academic learning in history, science, and applied arts. However, to meet the needs of a full schooling curriculum, parents are encouraged to supplement with language arts and math instruction, which are not included in the program.
Learning takes place in a beautiful outdoor environment that inspires exploration, resilience, and connection. Families can enroll in one or more classes, creating a flexible program that complements traditional academics or serves as the core of a homeschool education, all while fostering a love for learning that will last a lifetime.
Our Forest Explorers classes for grades K-4 are a la carte, meaning your child can combine classes and be enrolled 1-4 days per week. Each week students can embark on history adventures on Monday and Thursday, and Science adventures on Tuesday and Fridays. Applied Arts are offered Tuesday and Thursday Afternoons.
The Logistics
Ready for more info? Current tuition, program updates, and calendars can be found here!
Forest Explorers Science
Science classes, held on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9 AM to 12 PM, turn the natural world into a vibrant laboratory. Students grouped by grades explore ecosystems, conduct experiments, and engage in wildlife observation, driven by their own questions and curiosity. This hands-on approach helps children develop scientific thinking and a deep connection to the environment.
Core Focus
While child-led learning emphasizes flexibility and student choice, teachers maintain oversight to ensure essential skills and knowledge are covered. Students can enroll in one or both science days. The topic each week or month may be similar, but new information, experiments, and learning activities related to the learning topic will be presented each day.
Forest Explorers History
History classes, offered on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 AM to 12 PM, bring the past to life through storytelling, role-playing, and artifact studies. Students in grade-based groups immerse themselves in history in ways that are both developmentally appropriate and deeply engaging, building cultural awareness and critical thinking skills. Students can enroll in one or both history days. The topic each week or month may be similar, but new information, and activities related to the learning topic will be presented each day.
Core Focus
Forest school leans heavily on social-emotional development which directly impacts academic development. Our main focus is instilling a love for learning in students that will last a lifetime. We believe school should be fun and hands-on, filled with experiential learning and opportunities for children to pursue their interests and advance with confidence.
Forest Explorers Applied Arts
Core Focus
Applied Art classes, held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 12 PM to 3 PM, inspire creativity through a rotating monthly focus on creative writing, poetry, handicrafts, art history, and traditional art like drawing and painting. Students work to explore collaborative and individual projects, drawing inspiration from the natural world.
Applied arts students attending morning classes will have a 15 minute lunch break during afternoon drop-off and pick-up. Students can combine applied arts with Explorers science or history, or just attend art.
FAQs
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Dress for the weather, we meet outside rain or shine! Each class, your child will be immersed in nature learning science, history and arts and working on child-led projects with their peers in a mixed-age environment. Whether we're studying birds, pioneer life, using real tools, or tapping trees for maple sap, your child will be under the direction and supervision of our trained forest school teachers. This class will help your child build confidence, independence, problem solving skills, critical thinking and collaboration. Many of these skills translate directly into academics and will help students excel in every task and learning subject. Combining multiple grade levels has amazing benefits including leadership skills peer learning, and enhanced collaboration.
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Overall, the curriculum in forest school is designed to support the holistic development of the child, with an emphasis on personal, social, and emotional growth alongside academic skills. As we deep-dive into topics, student-directed projects will commence.
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1. Submit an application and fee.
2. Attend an open house date for a tour and orientation. You cannot register before attending a tour or open house. Applicants will be invited to register after their tour. The later in the year you book a tour, the less likely we are to have openings.
3. If there is space on the day(s) you requested, you will start the registration process.
4. If there is not space, you will be added to the waitlist until a spot opens up for you.
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Due to our small class sizes and large demand, new students must submit an application to enroll. There is a non-refundable $25 fee associated with the application. Once an application is submitted, applicants will be invited to tour our facility and attend a mini orientation to make sure forest school is the best fit before committing to the school year. If there is no space, applicants will be placed on a waiting list for the remainder of the school year. Registration will be filled based on the date you attend a tour/orientation.
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At Free Haven, we know that the greatest indicator of student success is parent involvement. Because of this, we have both optional and required parent participation opportunities. Each parent will have an opportunity to join their child’s class for optional special parent days.
Most homeschool programs require parents to volunteer weekly or daily. Our volunteer requirement is much more infrequent.
Our required parent participation is in the form of volunteering for specific tasks that help our school function. These tasks include site maintenance and development, fundraising, special events, and supply organization.
Learn more about our volunteer requirements on page 7 of the parent handbook.
There’s no such thing as bad weather.
Our motto at forest school is: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes." Appropriate clothing for Forest School is CRITICAL to the success of the program. Clothing guidelines are available in the parent handbook. Our experienced teachers will be there to guide you every step of the way to ensure the safety of students in all weather situations. During periods of inclement weather, students will be gathered indoors, or class will be cancelled if necessary.
