Forest Lake Nature School
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A Place Unlike Any Other

Where children and youth grow in connection with nature, community, and themselves — a homeschool enrichment community in Stillwater, Lino Lakes, and Forest Lake, MN.

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Welcome to Forest Lake Nature School

We are a homeschool enrichment community where children and youth grow through nature, creativity, and connection.

At the heart of Forest Lake Nature School are stories of connection – tree climbing, animal tracking, and forest forays. Founders Anthony & Melissa Ulrich created FLNS in 2024 as a homeschool enrichment community rooted in gratitude, belonging, and nature connection

Our mission is to awaken deeper connection to earth, others and self, weaving songs, rituals, storytelling, and seasonal rhythms so that children grow in creativity, resilience, and gratitude.

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Our Offerings

Chickadee Explorers (3–6)

Curiosity, creative play, gentle rhythms.

Age: 3-6 years

Time: 9:00 – 12:00 pm

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Fox Walkers (6–9)

Resilience, discovery, adventurous learning.

Age: 6-9 years

Time: 9:45 – 3:15 pm

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Coyote Ninjas (10–12)

Leadership, mentorship, rites of passage.

Age: 10-12 years

Time: 9:45 – 3:15 pm

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Parent Child Enrichment (1-4)

Nurturing Rythms, Purposeful movement and songs for toddlers and their caregivers

Age: 1-4 years

Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am

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About Us

Mission & Philosophy
We nurture connection — to nature, community, and self. Guided by deep nature mentoring and Waldorf principles, we inspire curiosity, empathy, and joyful learning rooted in relationship and reverence.
Deep Nature Connection
Rooted in the 8 Shields and Coyote Mentoring model, we guide children through story, curiosity, and experience — awakening wonder and belonging through authentic relationship with the natural world.
Our Culture
We cultivate resilience, creativity, and belonging through nature, mentorship, and community. Children learn life skills, share stories, and grow in rhythm with the land — discovering confidence, joy, and connection that last a lifetime.
Waldorf Inspiration
Guided by Waldorf philosophy, we honor childhood as a sacred journey — nurturing head, heart, and hands through rhythm, art, and beauty. Our days flow with imagination, creativity, and reverence for life.
Food as Relationship
We see food as sacred — a living connection to land, community, and self. Through gardening, wildcrafting, cooking, and story, children learn that true nourishment begins in relationship and gratitude.
Our Place
Rooted in forests, meadows, and regenerative homesteads, our learning spaces invite wonder and hands-on discovery. From Honeycomb Cottage to our wild forest peninsula, the land itself is our classroom and our guide.
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Meet Our Guides

Melissa Ulrich
  • Founder & Lead Guide,
    Forest Lake Nature School
  • Assistant Teacher, Minnesota Waldorf School (2022-2025)
  • Driven to cultivate expansion, curiosity, and support the ongoing journey and discovery with all children
  • Passion for wildlife tracking, advocate of seasonal rhythms, place-based learning, and fostering a deep connection with the natural world
  • Mother of 2, seeking to bring wholehearted enthusiasm and an openness to the beauty and challenges it brings

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Anthony Ulrich
  • Co-Founder & Lead Guide,
    Forest Lake Nature School
  • Cyber Tracker Level III Certified (2024)
    and Forest School Teacher Institute Level II Certified (2023)
  • Experienced Forager & Wild Food Harvester (maple syrup, wild rice, mushrooms)
  • Co-Lead Guide, Wilderness Awakening (2023–Present)
  • Primitive Skills & Rewilding Practitioner

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Greg Schayes
  • Teacher / Guide,
    Forest Lake Nature School
  • Nature connection facilitator
    since 2006
  • Teaching philosophy rooted in exploration, wonder, and play
  • Experienced in outdoor education and community building
  • Lifelong learner with passions for books, family, and the natural world

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Julia Beasley
  • Teacher / Guide,
    Forest Lake Nature School
  • Founder of Wilderness Awakening (since 2020)
  • Lifelong Educator with Montessori roots
  • Experienced in Forest School methodology & emergent curriculum
  • Passionate about nurturing curiosity, magic, and mystery in nature

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Britta Anderson
  • Teacher / Guide,
    Forest Lake Nature School
  • Naturalist, builder, and artist based in Minneapolis
  • BFA in Printmaking, University of Minnesota
  • Former Educator, Guelph Outdoor School; trained in the Eight Shields
  • Skilled in natural building, bushcraft, and wildlife tracking

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Trevor Barette
  • Teacher / Guide,
    Forest Lake Nature School
  • Degree in History; professional background in Finance & Small Business
  • Lives on 4 acres with his partner and 26 chickens
  • Known as an “animal whisperer” with a gift for connecting to wildlife
  • Valued for integrity, humor, and building joyful connections with people

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Erin Anderson
  • Teacher / Guide,
    Forest Lake Nature School
  • Returned to Minnesota in 2019 after years of adventure
  • Practicing lawyer with a passion for nature connection
  • Cyber Tracker Level III
    Certified (2024)
  • Advocate for respect and harmony with all living creatures

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Ruth Albee
  • Teacher / Guide,
    Forest Lake Nature School
  • Practitioner at Functional Patterns Minnesota & White Bear Lake
  • Human Biomechanics Specialist with a background in Psychology & Human Development
  • Co-founder of Honeycomb Cottage MN, offering bee therapy & workshops
  • Passionate land steward, educator, and advocate for regenerative living

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Heidi Madsen
  • Founder of Bluebird Hill Homestead in Hudson, Wisconsin
  • Lives and teaches on a 6-acre off-grid regenerative homestead
  • Over 25 years of experience in shamanic and energy healing
  • Known as an “animal whisperer” with a gift for connecting to wildlife
  • Valued for integrity, humor, and building joyful connections with people

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Testimonials

Melissa and Anthony are kind, gentle, loving souls with a fabulous focus on the beauty around and within. We met through the music classes I teach and they were focused on the rhythm of their children’s learning styles. Anthony brings an unmatched energy and Melissa brings a peaceful gratitude for all around her. They are right on track with healthy sustainable lifestyles for body, mind and spirit. Your family will be enriched by this family whether you have a moment with them or a blink of the preschool years or a lifetime of friendship. Highly recommend! With their thoughtfulness and dedication, their school will be of unmatched quality and bring joy to all who enter their life garden. 

- Tibbe

I would very much love for my children to be a part of Forest Lake Nature School. If I could roll the clock back in time and make it all happen somehow, cosmically, if they were small people, I think they would be nurtured well and certainly enjoy a couple days a week with you all. Which is the best compliment I can really give, because I am pretty particular about what I want my children to be a part of.

- Greg

Forest Lake Nature School has been one of the biggest blessings my wife and I have experienced in our community. Anthony and Melissa have created a space that is safe, that is nourishing, and the learning that happens is remarkable. My daughter is now a bird identifying expert, she has a deep desire to be outside, and the relationships she has created are set up to last a lifetime. We are so grateful for being introduced to the Ulrich family and everyone in this community.

- Aaron

In a crazy world where so many people are disillusioned with school systems, and kids are bombarded with screens, this is an amazing change of pace AND a place for kids to learn the way they were created to learn!

- Bethany

FLNS is a blessing to the twin cities! An educational and nourishing offering for families, an invitation to deepen relationships with the land and each other. A much needed invitation for children to experience the simple yet profound beauty of the natural world.. and to explore with freedom and ease!

- Bridget

My daughter and I are really enjoying the parent-child group through Forest Lake Nature School. Melissa and Anthony are so warm and welcoming and we’ve made so many friendships and found such a great community through our participation in their program. We love the community building, togetherness, learning, programming and atmosphere. Their group is always our favorite activity of the week because we get to play outside together while being apart of something that is really helping shape the next generation into loving, kind, responsible, aware and well rounded people who care about living a holistic lifestyle in balance with nature and who will be passionate about stewardship of the land. We love Forest Lake Nature School and look forward to our ongoing participation as part of this beautiful family they have created.

- Sarah

For our family, Forest Lake Nature School has meant connection, being closer to nature and nourishment of the mind/body/soul.

- Kyra

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