Choosing a
learning community
is a big decision.
And it's natural to have questions.
Here are answers to some of the ones we hear most often. If you're looking for more detailed information about our daily rhythm, policies, parent partnership, clothing, health practices, or registration process, we'd be happy to share our Family Guide. Simply send us an email, and we'll gladly send you a copy.
Learning &
Academics.
Do I need to homeschool?
No. Many of our families homeschool, but it's not a requirement.
Children who attend public or Catholic school may also be able to join us. Because In The Forest Learning offers a very different rhythm and approach to learning, we make that decision together with each family. Some children enjoy moving between both environments, while others are best supported by the consistency of one.
Every child is different, and we'll help you determine what feels like the best fit.
How do academics work?
Because children attend one to three days each week, families remain the primary guides for their child's academic learning at home. Our role is to support, enrich, and extend that learning through meaningful experiences while children are with us.
We believe strong academics begin with strong foundations. Our learners spend their days moving, creating, building, imagining, listening to stories, making music, caring for living things, and developing the confidence, coordination, language, and problem-solving skills that support later learning.
As children show signs of readiness, we thoughtfully introduce reading, writing, and mathematics, meeting each child where they are in their learning journey.
Is In The Forest Learning the right fit for every child?
Children with many different personalities and learning styles can thrive here.
The better question is whether this approach is the right fit for your family.
At In The Forest Learning, children spend much of their day outdoors. They're encouraged to care for their own belongings, work through challenges, solve problems, take responsibility for mistakes, and discover what they're capable of through experience.
Families who thrive here value independence, partnership, and a childhood filled with meaningful responsibility.
What happens if my child eventually returns to a traditional school?
We hear this question often.
Our goal isn't to prepare children for one particular educational path. It's to help them become confident, curious, adaptable learners who know how to solve problems, ask thoughtful questions, work with others, and trust themselves.
Those qualities serve children well wherever life leads next.
How much time is spent outdoors?
Most days, children spend between 3 and 6½ hours outdoors, depending on the season, weather, and activities planned for the day.
Nature isn't something we visit, it's where much of our learning happens.
What happens in winter or rainy weather?
We spend time outdoors in every season.
Children dress for the weather, build fires, create shelters, splash through puddles, and discover that every season has something to offer.
If temperatures become unsafe or severe weather moves in, we simply adjust our plans by spending more time indoors or staying close to the schoolhouse and large, covered picnic shelter.
Why mixed-age learning?
Some of the richest learning happens between children.
Our mornings begin as a mixed-age community where older and younger children naturally build relationships, help one another, and learn/play together.
Later in the day, children gather in smaller groups based on age, readiness, interests, and experience, allowing us to offer appropriate challenges while keeping the benefits of a mixed-age community.
How do you handle conflict?
Conflict isn't something we try to eliminate, it's something we teach children to navigate.
Rather than solving every problem for them, we guide children through respectful conversations, encourage them to take responsibility for their choices, and support them in finding solutions together.
These moments become some of the most meaningful learning opportunities of the day.
Life in the
Forest.
Joining the Community.
Can we visit before enrolling? Absolutely.
Every family begins with a Discovery Call, followed by a visit to our learning community. Between October and May, children are also invited to attend a half or full-day trial experience.
We believe the best way to know if In The Forest Learning is the right fit is to experience it together.
The Registration Process:
Book a Discovery Call.
Visit our learning community.
Trial Day (October - May), if it feels like a good fit.
Complete your registration package, including family information, child information, the parent agreement, and program fees.
Welcome to In The Forest Learning! We'll prepare for your child's first day and help your family get settled into the community.