Family Lab

An outdoor science program created for a parent to participate in together with their child.

Registration for the 2024 full academic year is now open!

What is Family Lab?

Family Lab is a 2-hour weekly science class catered to ages 3-10. Each month will follow a nature-based theme that will enable us to use our hands-on curriculum to learn about scientific topics and concepts that align with each season. Every season families will receive a new bible-based curriculum guide with lesson overviews and at-home learning opportunities. Make science exciting as you learn outdoors in all weather with your whole family. Infants and toddlers are welcome to attend with a parent and older siblings.

Better Together

During our 2-hour class we often do hands-on activities together, go on hikes in the forest and follow the children's lead on what to explore and discover. One of our trained forest school teachers will lead the family forest school session and facilitate each activity and transition.

Included is a weekly 2-hour class, a booklist to help curious explorers find more answers during the week, and an at-home activity guide to extend learning, which features a new bible memory verse to work on each month.

What is included?


The Logistics

Ready for more info? Current tuition, program updates, and calendars can be found here!

FAQs

  • Our curriculum is specially designed to include animals, plants or fungi that can really be found in your backyard or local forest in the season our class is hosted. This type of hands-on science learning enables students to be active participants in their own learning, which helps them retain information and understand important scientific concepts.

    Each month of family lab has an overarching monthly theme that breaks down into 4 weekly topics.

  • The true forest school experience includes spending time outdoors in all weather each season. This continuous interaction with nature helps children develop confidence, independence, and a lifelong appreciation for the environment. If you miss a season of Forest School, you miss a lot of benefits. That's why families who purchase a year-long family pass get the best deal, only $110 per month (or 32 weeks of family lab for $880).

  • This program will meet at our private forest school site in Mokena, IL with access to our heated schoolhouse building during inclement weather.

  • Families can commit to the full school year for a 9% discounted rate. Or commit for the whole semester for a 4% discounted rate. Families who enroll monthly are not guaranteed a spot in the same class each month. If you enroll at the beginning of the school year, before September, you’ll have the option to enroll in the same class all year. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait for a monthly spot to open each month.

  • Pay the full school year, or the whole semester for the best rates. Our monthly rate is $120 per family. Check out our rate sheet under “tuition + fees” above.

“To raise a nature-bonded child is to raise a rebel, a dreamer, an innovator… someone who will walk their own verdant, winding path.”

– Nicolette Sowder