“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder… he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.”

-Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder

Meet The Team

Let's Explore!

Nature is the perfect classroom. Our curriculum focuses on discovery-based learning using the natural world as a catalyst for growth and development. As children spend time outdoors, they grow in understanding and connection to the earth, developing a sense of pride and protection for it.

2026-2027 Course Guide

Theme 2026-2027

Foundations of the Forest

You’re invited into a year of wonder-filled exploration as we turn our attention to the oldest teachers in the landscape — Foundations of the Forest: Rocks and Trees.

From stones and roots beneath our feet to canopies above, students will discover how rock shapes soil, soil feeds roots, and trees create shelter and stability for the forest community.

Through seasonal play, storytelling, observation, and hands-on exploration, learners will study geology and trees from the forest floor — building strong nature connection while discovering what helps a forest thrive.

Each year we focus on new concepts and ideas. We're always learning new and exciting things in Wilderness School!

Wilderness Courses

Sprouts Parent/Child

ages 2-5

Classes encourage students to connect within themselves and to the earth, their peers and their parent. Each class includes free play, yoga and sensory awareness games, music, beautiful literature, adventure hikes and nature journaling.

Juneberry Nature Preschool

ages 3-4

Emphasizing imaginative free play, curiosity, and social awareness, we enjoy student-led learning in our beautiful outdoor classroom space. Quality literature and art is presented through beautiful, living books, and we love to sing and dance to open and close our days together!

Redbud Class

approximately age 5-6

Imaginations blossom through forest play, and nature connection games expand our senses. Hikes, obstacle course, and fort-building develop gross motor skills. Students create useful objects from natural materials, and work together to solve real-world problems.

LRPhotosDiscoveryWildernessWaterCampJuly

Dogwood Class

approximately age 5-6

Willow Class

approximately ages 7-8

Students spend their days in the forest - exploring and creating. Each week includes a themed nature study. As students hike uneven terrain, climb, and balance on stones, they develop gross motor skills. Sharing discoveries and learning from one another develops our sense of community.

Maple Class

approximately ages 9-10

Students will learn to observe the natural world with all of their senses, developing a deep connection to the earth and their peers in our outdoor classroom. We adventure along the trails, into the swamp, or along the lake. Come adventure with us!

Cedar Class

approximately ages 11+

Welcome to the wild! Students will use scientific tools to investigate, learning through the process of discovery. With a focus on learning from one another, students develop their social skills and sense of belonging to a community of fellow nature enthusiasts.

Wilderness Field Study

ages 14-18

Wilderness Field Study combines modern scientific understanding with ancestral ways of connecting with the natural world. Learning is best supported through hands-on experiences as students are immersed in nature - where our classroom is the woods, lake, swamp, and field. As they connect with the earth, students develop a sense of pride and protection for it.

Nature Mentorship

ages 14-18

Adventure, community, and leadership are combined in the Nature Mentor Course. During our monthly adventures kayaking, rock climbing, zipline, etc., teens will learn from one another and develop a community of leaders. They will apply these leadership skills in the outdoor classroom by attending class as a nature mentor for students in one of our younger classes one day per week.

Ladies Rewilding

adults 18+

When was the last time you explored off-trail or got lost in a sunset? Who are YOU as a woman and how are you connected to the earth? We were created to live in relationship with the natural world and in community with one another. Let’s connect with our inner-wild.