Fundamentally Wild!

Registration open

Tuesdays 9am-3pm in Port Crane

Thursdays 12pm-3pm at Highland Park

  • Benefits for Older Children

    Forest School offers benefits for all ages of children, from kindergarteners to high schoolers. Children who attend forest class versus indoor classrooms have been shown to have higher cognitive function, increased motor coordination and balance, deeper appreciation and connection to nature, and increased self-regulation and sensory integration. These results prove true for all children, regardless of physical and cognitive ability.

  • Divergent thinking. Resilient. Creative.

    Removing the walls of the classroom offers a whole new way of learning and challenges your child in a fresh new way. With opportunities to practice creativity in their play and in problem solving, their ability to see various solutions will quickly grow. When their idea or answer doesn’t work, we’ll offer gentle support and guidance as they work to find a new answer and find the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing a challenge.

  • Real Life Skills

    Who knows what kind of careers and jobs will be available for this generation as they grow into adults? Instead of preparing your child for specific jobs or industries, Fundamentally Wild! focuses on the core areas of development: physical, social, cognitive, linguistic, emotional, and spiritual. Each day will give your child opportunities to practice being an important part of a community, advocating for their ideas, taking supported risks, becoming knowledgeable about environmental stewardship, problem solving independently and as part of a group, and reflecting on their feelings and sense of self.

  • Play and Choice

    Play and choice are integral to Fundamentally Wild! The benefits of play in children older than 8 are just as significant as in early childhood; playing in adolescence helps grow satisfied and content people and reduces the likelihood of anxiety and depression as they grow. Choice of activity or project grows their self agency, which in turn gives your child confidence to work towards goals, make decisions quickly and effectively, and see “the big picture” instead of focusing on small details.

Join Fundamentally Wild!

A Typical Day at Forest School

What is a typical day at Forest School?

Every Forest School day begins with gathering as a group and checking in with ourselves and our environment. We share what activities are offered for the day, weather conditions, take note of changes in plant and animal life in our outdoor classroom, and discuss what projects and activities the group may be interested in that day. As a child-led program, each day’s plans looks different! At our new Port Crane location, our day begins with a short hike to our outdoor classroom and offers expanded opportunities for hiking, exploring, and a more secluded , immersive experience. Daily activities at both locations include nature studies, bushcraft and survival skills, games that promote teamwork and cooperation, art and crafting, and more. There is no set schedule, and children can choose to rest, eat, or take some alone time at their leisure.

How can this fit into my family’s homeschooling?

Forest School can fit into most areas of study on your homeschooling reports, and contributes to your quarterly hour goals. A typical day at Forest School includes ELA (storytelling, vocabulary, verbal expression, writing), Math (comparing shapes and patterns, identifying patterns, geometry, problem solving, engineering through construction), Science (plant and animal identification, cause and effect, physics properties, creating experiments and hypothesizing an outcome), Social Studies (local geography and map making and reading, civics through democratic voting and debating ideas and plans, participating as an important member of a community), Art (creating process based art with natural objects as well as manufactured, making 2-D and 3-D art pieces, self-expression through visual or performance art), Health (hygiene practices while outdoor, food preparation in an outdoor environment, learning about good mental health practices and the role of nature for good mental health, practice risk assessment and risk taking) and Physical Education (running, climbing, jumping, bending, learning safe movements for load bearing and moving heavy objects, exploring outdoor physical activities as a method of physical fitness).

With just one session, your child fulfills over 10% of their quarterly educational hours!

Do you offer formal instruction, such as reading?

Forest School teaches educational skills through natural opportunities and by following children’s lead and interests For example, if a child’ asks “How do I write ‘Bugs Keep Out’?” a Forest School teacher will demonstrate writing the phrase or help the child sound out the words, whatever is more appropriate. Research supports the understanding that children learn more effectively and quickly when they learn at their independent pace. A child-led program supported with teacher scaffolding allows The Moss House to respond to children’s needs in the moment, and reinforce their discoveries and learnings.

What if my child has learning disabilities or delays?

The Moss House welcomes neurodivergent learners with open arms! In fact, research suggests extended time in nature such as attending a Forest School program, can help reduce the severity of attention deficit symptoms by relieving attention fatigue, help improve sensory integration, and other concepts beneficial to children with ADHD, autism, and other neurodiversities. (People have written extensively on this topic, here’s a study many people find helpful: https://positivepsychology.com/attention-restoration-theory/). While we are not special education teachers, both leaders of The Moss House have extensive experience working with and supporting neurodivergent learners. If you’d like to have a more detailed discussion about how The Moss House can support your family, please reach out to us via email at mosshouseny@gmail.com.

What are your rates?

Fundamentally Wild! Full day (Port Crane), six week session: $45/day, $270/session

Fundamentally Wild!: 3 hour day (Highland Park), six week session: $25/day, $150/session

Sessions can be paid for weekly or as one payment prior to start of the session. 10% discount for paying for session in full; 10% discount for siblings; Additional 10% discount for children enrolled in both Tuesday and Thursday programs.