- Welcome to Forest Lake Nature School
- info@ForestLakeNatureSchool.com
- 18348 Loyola St NE Columbus, MN 55025
Schedules by Day
Survival Skills
Permaculture & Biodynamic Gardening: Growing Food & Medicine
Lunch / Free Play
Herbalism: The Art of Plant Medicine
Cooking
Music
Art & Nature Crafting
Lunch / Free Play
Deep Nature Connection
Natural Building & Carpentry
Music
Art & Nature Crafting
Lunch / Free Play
Deep Nature Connection
Natural Building & Carpentry
Survival Skills
Permaculture & Biodynamic Gardening: Growing Food & Medicine
Lunch / Free Play
Herbalism: The Art of Plant Medicine
Cooking
Survival Skills
Permaculture & Biodynamic Gardening: Growing Food & Medicine
Lunch / Free Play
Herbalism: The Art of Plant Medicine
Cooking
Music
Art & Nature Crafting
Lunch / Free Play
Deep Nature Connection
Natural Building & Carpentry
Music
Art & Nature Crafting
Lunch / Free Play
Deep Nature Connection
Natural Building & Carpentry
Survival Skills
Permaculture & Biodynamic Gardening: Growing Food & Medicine
Lunch / Free Play
Herbalism: The Art of Plant Medicine
Cooking
At Honeycomb Cottage, the Fox Walkers & Coyote Ninjas programs invite children ages 6–12 into a life of exploration, skill, and belonging. This is a time when curiosity begins to grow into capability, and when the forest becomes both a playground and a classroom. Guided by mentors, children build confidence and resilience while strengthening their connection to land, community, and themselves.
Our program weaves together ten core classes — Survival Skills, Permaculture & Biodynamic Gardening: Growing Food & Medicine, Herbalism: The Art of Plant Medicine, Deep Nature Connection, Natural Movement, Carpentry & Natural Building, Music, Art & Nature Crafting, Drama & Improv, and Cooking, . Each class offers its own doorway into learning, yet together they create a rhythm that balances practical skill, creative expression, and community life.
At Honeycomb Cottage, children are surrounded by diverse habitats — woods, fields, gardens, and gathering spaces — that provide abundant opportunities for play and projects. They might follow a deer trail through the forest, gather herbs from the garden for cooking, build a bench for the circle, or bring a story to life through skits and song. In every activity, the emphasis is on relationship: with the land, with peers, with mentors, and with their own gifts.
Mentorship That Lasts – Every guide is chosen with care, aiming to be one of those people children remember for the rest of their lives.
Learning with the Land – Children don’t just learn about nature; they build, forage, craft, and cook directly from the abundance the land provides.
Balanced Program – Practical survival skills, creative arts, physical play, and community life are woven together for whole-child growth.
Scaling Challenge – Foxes (ages 6–9) engage through play and exploration, while Coyotes (ages 10–12) deepen skills, independence, and leadership.
Fox & Coyote programs at Honeycomb Cottage is more than a program — it’s a living village. Children leave with skills they can carry forward, friendships that feel like family, and a lasting sense of wonder and belonging to the world around them.
Fox Walkers & Coyote Ninjas Classes
In Survival Skills, children learn to meet the land with curiosity and confidence through fire, shelter, and tracking. On this rich and abundant landscape, they gather and harvest from the materials the forest provides, building a direct relationship with place. Each lesson blends practical skill with deep nature connection, helping children feel both capable and at home in the wild.
Practices We Explore:
Fire Craft — Learning to build, tend, and respect fire as a source of warmth, safety, and connection.
Shelter Building — Creating protection from the elements using natural materials, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Tracking & Awareness — Following signs of animals, learning to move quietly, and awakening the senses to the life of the forest.
Tool Use & Cordage — Practicing safe knife use, knot tying, and making simple ropes from natural fibers.
Water Gathering — Learning how to find, filter, and appreciate one of our most vital resources.
Nature Games — Activities that strengthen instincts, teamwork, and quick thinking while deepening awareness of the environment.
Guide: Greg Schayes
Days Offered: Mon – Thurs
In Music, children find their voice and rhythm through song, dance, and the joy of learning an instrument. Drawing inspiration from Waldorf traditions and the living world around us, music becomes a natural way to celebrate the seasons and mark the rhythms of the day. These practices strengthen confidence, expression, and a sense of belonging to community and place.
Practices We Explore:
Seasonal Songs — Singing to mark time, weather, and rhythm, helping children feel rooted in the cycles of the year.
Instrument Practice — Learning to play recorder, harmonica, or drum through daily repetition and joy.
Rhythm & Coordination — Developing timing, flow, and body awareness through percussion and movement.
Circle Dances & Singing Games — Experiencing how music builds community and shared joy.
Listening to Nature’s Music — Tuning ears to birds, wind, and water as sources of inspiration.
Sharing Performances — Bringing music into celebrations to honor effort, community, and season.
Guide: Julia Beasley
Days Offered: Wed/Thurs
In Deep Nature Connection, children slow down and enter into relationship with the living world through core routines like sit spot, foraging, bird language, and animal tracking. This is about listening as much as doing. Noticing the rhythms, patterns, and teachings of the land. Through these practices, children root themselves in belonging, gratitude, and wonder.
Practices We Explore:
Sit Spot — A daily rhythm of stillness where children observe, listen, and begin to feel at home in the landscape.
Bird Language — Learning to interpret bird calls and alarms as the “voice of the forest,” a living map of the ecosystem.
Foraging & Harvesting — Gathering plants and foods with gratitude, care, and attention to season and sustainability.
Animal Tracking — Reading stories in the sand, mud, and snow, and learning what they reveal about local wildlife.
Sensory Awareness Games — Practices that awaken sight, sound, touch, and intuition, helping children move with presence.
Storytelling & Reflection — Sharing observations and discoveries to strengthen memory, gratitude, and connection to place.
Guide: Greg Schayes
Days Offered: Mon – Thurs
In Drama & Improv, children explore storytelling, play, and performance as pathways to imagination and connection. Through games, skits, and improvisation, they learn to listen, adapt, and bring characters to life while working together as a group. Along the way, they practice the building blocks of confident communication skills that translate into public speaking, negotiation, authentic relating, and healthy heart-centered conflict resolution.
Practices We Explore:
Improv Games — Building creativity, quick thinking, and confidence through spontaneous play.
Storytelling & Character Work — Bringing stories to life inspired by nature, myth, and imagination.
Skits & Performances — Practicing collaboration, humor, and self-expression in small group scenes.
Public Speaking — Developing clarity, presence, and comfort sharing ideas in front of others.
Listening & Response — Learning to communicate and problem-solve through story and role play.
Conflict & Resolution Through Story — Exploring empathy and understanding by acting out real-life dynamics in playful ways.
play
Guides: Hiring!
Days Offered: TBD
In Art & Nature Crafting, children create beauty with their hands using natural materials gathered from the land. From clay and plant dyes to carving and weaving, they discover how art can be both playful expression and functional skill. Each project deepens their relationship with the forest and nurtures patience, creativity, and confidence.
Practices We Explore:
Gathering Materials — Foraging for natural materials like clay, fibers, bark, and leaves with care and gratitude.
Natural Dyes & Pigments — Using plants and minerals to color fabric and paper, learning chemistry through art.
Weaving & Felting — Creating with natural fibers to build patience, focus, and rhythm.
Carving & Sculpture — Shaping wood, clay, or stone into expressive forms that honor nature’s beauty.
Basketry & Functional Art — Crafting useful items while exploring texture, pattern, and design.
Seasonal Projects — Making art that celebrates the cycles of the seasons and the changing light of the year.
Guide: Britta Anderson
Day Offered: Mon-Thurs
In Natural Movement, children explore the ways their bodies are designed to run, climb, balance, and move in harmony with the land. Through deep nature connection games and animal-inspired forms, they grow strong, agile, and aware while playing outdoors. Each movement becomes both practice and play, building confidence, resilience, and joy.
Practices We Explore:
Animal Forms — Moving like foxes, owls, bears, and deer builds coordination, strength, and empathy for the animals who share the land.
Fox Walking — A practice of moving silently and smoothly, teaching balance, patience, and awareness.
Nature Connection Games — Games such as Otter Takes the Fish, Safari, and Scout’s Capture the Flag cultivate agility, teamwork, and joyful awareness.
Tree Climbing — Developing strength, courage, and respect through mindful exploration of height and balance.
Foraging on the Move — Identifying edible and useful plants while exploring, learning that movement and gathering are part of the same conversation with the land.
Guide: Greg Schayes
Days Offered: Mon – Thurs
In Cooking, children learn that preparing food is one of the oldest ways humans have built connection — with each other, with the land, and with something greater than themselves. Around the fire or at the table, they practice the art of turning raw ingredients into nourishment, learning that each meal is both a craft and an act of gratitude.
Children discover that food is sacred. It carries the energy of all that came before: the soil, the water, the hands that tended, and the hearts that gather to share it. Through these experiences, they come to see cooking not as a chore, but as a rhythm of life that brings people together. Over time, they grow comfortable and confident preparing food for themselves, their friends, and their community.
Practices We Explore:
Preparing Food with Intention — Turning ingredients into meals while honoring where each element came from.
Fire Cooking — Learning to cook over flame, build temperature awareness, and care for tools and utensils.
Seasoning & Flavor — Exploring taste and balance, using herbs and spices to awaken creativity.
Cultural & Ancestral Foods — Recreating traditional recipes and learning the stories they carry.
Gratitude & Gathering — Practicing mindfulness before and after meals, recognizing food as a sacred exchange.
Community Meals — Sharing what is made, learning that nourishment is both physical and relational.
Guide: Julia Beasley
Day Offered: Mon/Tue
In Carpentry & Natural Building, children learn the joy of working with their hands and creating something real from natural materials. Through guided projects, they practice using tools safely, measuring, shaping, and assembling wood to build objects that serve both play and community life.
Each project helps children experience the satisfaction of bringing imagination into form. A simple carving becomes a spoon, a few boards become a bench, a pile of branches becomes a gathering shelter. This work builds confidence, patience, and problem-solving through the steady rhythm of handwork. Children begin to understand that building is not only a skill but a way of caring for people and place.
Practices We Explore:
Tool Use & Safety — Learning to safely handle knives, saws, hammers, and hand drills with confidence and care.
Carving & Shaping — Transforming raw wood into useful or beautiful creations through patience and attention.
Building Projects — Constructing benches, tables, or small shelters that support play and community gathering.
Harvesting Materials — Gathering and preparing wood and other natural materials responsibly, with gratitude to the land.
Design & Balance — Practicing proportion, planning, and creative problem-solving through hands-on projects.
Craftsmanship & Focus — Building patience, precision, and pride through steady, intentional work.
Collaboration — Working together on group projects that require communication, teamwork, and shared care.
Guide: Britta Anderson
Day Offered: Wed/Thu
In Permaculture & Biodynamic Gardening, children learn what it means to be in relationship with the living world that feeds and heals us. They prepare the soil, plant seeds, tend the beds, and harvest what the land offers, learning that food is not just something we grow but something sacred that connects us to all of life.
From the beginning, children experience that growing food and medicine is an act of care, reciprocity, and gratitude. They learn to give back to the land as they receive from it, to listen, to tend, and to harvest with respect. These experiences teach responsibility and reverence, lessons that stay with them as they grow and begin to share food and medicine with family, friends, and community.
Practices We Explore:
Soil Building — Creating compost, mulch, and organic inputs that feed the garden naturally.
Seed Work — Starting, planting, watering, and tending vegetables and herbs through each season.
Ecological Understanding — Observing insects, pollinators, and weather patterns that sustain life.
Seasonal Rhythms — Working with the moon, sun, and elements to guide planting and harvesting.
Harvest & Gratitude — Gathering what has grown and returning thanks through song, sharing, and seed saving.
Community Gardening — Working side by side, learning that abundance is meant to be shared.
Guide: Heidi Madsen
Day Offered: Mon/Tue
In Herbalism, children come to know plants not as ingredients but as living beings, teachers, and allies that offer nourishment and healing. Through harvesting, drying, and preparing teas, salves, and tinctures, they learn to approach the plants with respect and gratitude. Each creation becomes a conversation with the land, a small ceremony of reciprocity.
This is not about products or recipes. It is about remembering relationship. Children learn that wellness begins with how we see and tend the world around us. As they grow, they carry this understanding into their families and communities, knowing how to make simple medicines, how to care for others, and how to honor the gifts of the Earth.
Practices We Explore:
Plant Identification — Recognizing local herbs and learning their gifts and growing patterns.
Harvesting with Respect — Gathering plants ethically and giving thanks for what is taken.
Preparing Medicines — Making teas, salves, tinctures, and infusions from harvested plants.
Drying & Storing — Learning how to preserve herbs while keeping their potency and spirit intact.
Energetics & Use — Understanding how plants support wellness through their properties and relationships.
Gratitude & Ceremony — Offering songs, prayers, or stories to honor the plants and the people who taught us to work with them.
responsibility.
Guide: Heidi Madsen
Day Offered: Mon/Tue
How it Works
Programs designed for two-day enrollment (Mon/Wed or Tue/Thu).
Flexible one-day enrollment available.
Attendance is fully up to the discretion of what is the best fit for their family. Letting us know when your child will not be in attendance is requested.
1. Relational Trust and Clear Communication
We prioritize strong relationships with families, so if anything happens, you hear from us directly and promptly. Parents are immediately contacted if there is any injury or incident requiring attention beyond basic first aid.
2. Trained and Certified Staff
All guides are certified in First Aid and CPR, and some hold advanced certifications such as Wilderness First Responder. Each guide is familiar with our emergency action plan and practices scenario-based drills throughout the year.
3. Emergency Protocols and Equipment
We keep complete emergency contact information, first aid kits, and shelter plans on site at all times. Staff carry communication devices (cell phones or radios) to reach emergency services quickly if needed. In the event of severe weather, we move to designated indoor or sheltered spaces (such as the pole barn, garage, or nearby building) according to our safety plan.
Yes, when it feels supportive and developmentally appropriate. We consider both age and stage when forming groups so that each child can thrive within the flow of their peers.
Some siblings do beautifully together, while others benefit from having space to build their own friendships and independence. We’re happy to talk with you about what feels best for your children and the group as a whole.
We understand that life happens—schedules shift, and circumstances change. At the same time, we rely on each family’s financial commitment to sustain our guides’ income, land partnerships, insurance, and the many preparations that make our programs possible.
Our registration and supply fee is non-refundable and is collected at the time of registration. Because our class sizes are intentionally small, each spot is valuable. Please consider your family’s rhythm and level of commitment before reserving a space.
If you need to withdraw, tuition (minus processing fees) can be refunded up to 30 days before the first day of class. After that point, tuition is non-refundable.
We appreciate your understanding and partnership in keeping our school community sustainable and thriving.
Forest Lake Nature School is designed as a drop-off program so that children can fully settle into the rhythms of their group and build confidence and connection with their guides and peers.
We understand that separation can be a meaningful transition for both children and parents, and we support that process with warmth and care. Once the group has established its rhythm, we occasionally invite parents to volunteer, share a skill, or join special community days, but this is coordinated in advance with the instructor.
Our intention is to create a safe and loving space where children can develop independence while still feeling deeply supported by the larger village around them.
Yes. Our lead guides and anchor teachers are trained to recognize the signs of anaphylaxis and to administer epinephrine (EpiPens) when needed. Safety and preparedness are essential parts of our training and daily rhythm.
Because our program takes place outdoors and children may be spread across different learning areas, there may be moments when a guide is not immediately within eyesight—such as accompanying another child to the restroom or gathering supplies. For that reason, we ask that children who have prescribed medication carry it with them at all times, and that parents review its use with our staff before the program begins.
Our goal is to ensure that every child is supported, safe, and known by the adults around them.
Masks are not required at Forest Lake Nature School. Because our programs take place primarily outdoors in the fresh air, families are free to decide what feels best for them.
We respect each family’s choice and trust our community to make thoughtful decisions that support everyone’s comfort and well-being. Children and adults are always welcome to wear a mask if they prefer.
If your child is experiencing persistent coughing or cold symptoms, it may be best for them to stay home or wear a mask out of respect for others until they are feeling better.
No, Forest Lake Nature School is not affiliated with any specific church or religious organization. We welcome families from all walks of life and honor the diverse spiritual and cultural backgrounds that make our community rich and vibrant.
At the heart of our work is a shared reverence for the natural world and a belief that life is sacred, interconnected, and full of mystery and beauty. We recognize that many traditions—Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Baháʼí, Indigenous, and others—speak to this same sense of wonder and gratitude for creation.
Our goal is not to teach doctrine, but to nurture in children a deep awe for the living world, a sense of belonging, and respect for the many ways people understand and celebrate the sacred.
Please list any food allergies or sensitivities on your registration form so our team can plan accordingly.
In our cooking and nature-based food experiences, we do our best to accommodate allergies and use simple, whole-food ingredients. While we make every effort to avoid known allergens, we cannot guarantee that all ingredients are sourced from allergen-free facilities.
During snack and lunch times, children eat outdoors or in open-air shelters, and we maintain a no food-sharing policyto support everyone’s safety. If your child has significant allergies or requires additional precautions, please reach out to the director so we can make a thoughtful plan together.
Forest Lake Nature School follows a common-sense, nature-based approach to health and safety. Because our programs take place primarily outdoors with abundant fresh air, natural spacing, and sunlight, the risk of transmission is very low.
We trust families to use discernment and open communication. If your child is unwell or showing symptoms of any contagious illness (COVID or otherwise), we ask that you keep them home until they are well enough to return to full participation in outdoor play and learning.
We do not require masks or testing, but we do encourage transparent conversations and respect for each family’s comfort level. If there is a confirmed case within our community, we notify affected families promptly so they can make informed decisions.
Our focus is always on supporting the whole child and community well-being—physically, emotionally, and relationally—so that children feel safe, connected, and cared for.
We will have some combination of compost toilets, portapottys, and nature pottys as our bathroom options.
We believe that meaningful growth happens in all kinds of weather, and we help children learn how to stay comfortable, resilient, and joyful outdoors year-round. Our guides are skilled at adapting plans to meet the day’s conditions, and we have sheltered spaces available when extra protection is needed.
That said, if weather ever becomes unsafe—such as severe storms, lightning, or extreme cold—we will cancel or adjustclass and notify families as soon as possible. When it makes sense, we’ll offer a makeup day or alternate experience to stay connected as a community.
Some of our guides are licensed educators, while others bring rich experience from fields such as wilderness education, permaculture, early childhood development, music, and the arts.
We don’t believe that credentials alone define quality. In fact, the path of trusting in certifications without looking deeper is one we intentionally move beyond. We are building something much more meaningful—a dream team of guides who are pure of heart, exceptional communicators, and gifted space-holders for children.
Our philosophy honors village expertise, recognizing that wisdom is cultivated through lived experience, mentorship, and time in nature. We pride ourselves on finding and nurturing the best of the best—people whose presence, curiosity, and compassion make them extraordinary mentors for your children.
We’re always excited to meet inspired humans and village experts who feel called to guide children in nature. If you have a gift to share—whether it’s in the realms of wilderness skills, art, storytelling, gardening, music, or heart-centered teaching—we’d love to connect.
To begin the conversation, please reach out to us at info@forestlakenatureschool.com. Tell us a little about your background, your passions, and what draws you to this work.
We are curating a dream team of guides—people who are pure of heart, exceptional communicators, and ready to help create the kind of school the world most needs right now.
We are in the process of developing summer programs and nature camps that align with our school’s heart-centered, nature-immersive approach. These offerings will provide children with opportunities to explore, create, and connect with the land through the vibrant summer months.
While our core school year runs from early September through Thanksgiving and again from mid-March through early June, our summer sessions will extend the magic of learning in nature into the warmest season.
Stay tuned for updates as we grow—our vision is to offer year-round opportunities for families to stay connected to community, wonder, and the living world.
Our current offerings are designed for children ages 6 and up as of the first day of class.
We plan to expand over time to include younger and older age groups, creating a full village of learners where children can grow together through every stage of development. Stay tuned as new programs and age cohorts continue to unfold.
Yes. Our classes are intentionally mixed-age, reflecting the way real communities and ecosystems thrive—with a diversity of ages learning side by side. Older children naturally take on mentoring roles, while younger ones grow through observation, imitation, and belonging.
Our guides thoughtfully adapt each class to meet the needs, interests, and abilities of all participants, creating an environment that feels both inclusive and appropriately challenging for every child.
We plan and prepare with every intention of running our programs as scheduled. However, on rare occasions, factors such as low enrollment, guide availability, or budget considerations may require us to adjust a class or cancel a session.
If a class or session is fully canceled, families will receive a full refund for that program.
Our goal is always to communicate clearly, plan responsibly, and honor the trust families place in us when enrolling their children.
Attendance is fully up to the discretion of what is the best fit for their family. Letting us know when your child will not be in attendance is requested.
Yes. At Forest Lake Nature School, the health of our community depends on everyone’s care and consideration. Because our days are spent in close connection with one another and the natural world, we ask that families use both discernment and kindness when deciding if their child is well enough to attend.
If your child is feeling unwell, the best place for them is home so they can rest and recover fully. Please keep your child home if they:
Have had a fever of 100°F or higher within the past 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine).
Have vomited more than once in the past 24 hours.
Have diarrhea or loose stools that make normal activities difficult.
Have a rash of unknown cause—please check with your family doctor before returning.
Are experiencing fatigue, coughing, pain, or congestion that would prevent them from engaging comfortably outdoors.
If your child has a lingering cough or other mild symptoms, please consider keeping them home for a day of rest or having them wear a mask out of respect for others.
Our intention is never to be rigid, but to care for the whole community with awareness and love. Thank you for helping us keep our learning village healthy and thriving.
No, families have the flexibility to enroll for one or two days per week depending on what works best for their schedule and rhythm.
Each day offers a variety of learning experiences and areas of exploration—typically two in the morning and two in the afternoon—with a nourishing block of free play and lunch in between.
Children who attend both days get to experience the full rhythm of our week and participate in all areas of study and hands-on projects, while those who attend one day still enjoy a complete, meaningful experience within their group.
Our goal is to meet families where they are while maintaining the flow and integrity of our learning community.
We spend our days outdoors in all kinds of weather, so clothing that keeps your child warm, dry, and free to exploremakes all the difference. As we like to say, there’s no such thing as bad weather—only clothing that isn’t quite ready for it!
We recommend layering for changing temperatures and always dressing in comfortable, durable play clothes that can get muddy, wet, or grass-stained. Closed-toed shoes or boots are essential for safety and adventure.
Children should come prepared to climb, dig, splash, roll, and explore with curiosity and freedom. When they come home dirty, it’s usually a sign of a full and wonderful day in nature.
Yes, please send your child with a nourishing, home-packed lunch and a filled water bottle each day. We eat together outdoors as a community, often under the trees or in our open-air shelters.
Lunches should be simple, whole, and satisfying—foods that give steady energy for play, learning, and exploration. Please avoid sending candy, processed snack foods (like Doritos or similar chips), and industrial drinks such as sodas or flavored beverages.
Many processed foods contain refined seed and vegetable oils, which we prefer to limit for the well-being of the children. When possible, choose whole ingredients and foods made with natural fats like butter, olive oil, or coconut oil.
Lunches are kept in a shaded area, but an ice pack is helpful on warm days. Please label your child’s lunch container and water bottle with their name.
We see lunchtime as a time for nourishment, gratitude, and connection—a chance to refuel and share stories from a morning of adventure in nature.
Since our day begins around 10:00 a.m. and ends near 3:00 p.m., we generally do not schedule a formal snack time. We encourage families to offer a wholesome snack before drop-off and to have one ready for the ride home, especially after a full day of fresh air and exploration.
If your child is enrolled in a cooking or food-based class, they will often enjoy a shared snack experience as part of that session.
We keep our rhythm simple and focused—fewer transitions, more presence, and steady energy sustained by good food, movement, and connection.
Each child should come prepared for a full day of adventure, movement, and exploration. Please send:
A lunch packed in a labeled lunch carrier.
A labeled water bottle (please send water only).
Clothing that can get muddy and messy—comfortable play clothes and closed-toed shoes or boots that are easy to move in and won’t cause blisters.
All items should fit into a mid-sized backpack—large enough to hold a coat or extra layer, but not so big that your child struggles to carry it. Our learners travel with their backpacks throughout the day, so please pack thoughtfully and lightly.
We encourage children to take ownership of their belongings, so labeling items and keeping gear simple helps build independence and ease.
Yes, siblings who are enrolled in the same age range will typically be placed together, as this often helps children feel more comfortable and connected in a new environment.
If you would prefer that your children be in separate cohorts, simply email us at info@forestlakenatureschool.comand we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.
Our goal is always to support what feels most harmonious for each child and family.
At Forest Lake Nature School, every child is seen as a whole and capable being. We honor the unique rhythms, learning styles, and sensitivities that each child brings to our community.
While we are not a therapeutic or special education program, we deeply value inclusion and do our best to create an environment where children of varied abilities can thrive. Because our model is nature-based and relational rather than clinical, there are some accommodations we may not be equipped to provide.
We invite families to share openly about their child’s needs so we can explore together whether our setting is a good fit. In many cases, we find creative ways to support children through smaller group sizes, a slower pace, sensory-rich experiences, and compassionate mentorship.
If you’d like to begin that conversation, please reach out to the director to schedule a time to connect.
Our core school program follows a seasonal rhythm, running from early September through Thanksgiving, and resuming again around Maple Syrup season in mid-March through early June.
While that is our main rhythm, we are gradually expanding to include shorter winter sessions and summer camps so that families can stay connected to nature and community throughout the year.
This approach allows us to honor the changing seasons while providing opportunities for continued learning, exploration, and belonging year-round.
9/14/2026 – 11/27/2026 (11 weeks)
$1,595/ 2 days per week OR $850/ 1 day per week ($145/week + $125 supply/registration fee)
* In observance of Labor Day, programming will begin on 9/14 (Mon)
*In observance of Thanksgiving, programming scheduled for 11/26 (Thur) will happen on 11/27 (Fri)
3/22/2027 – 6/4/2027 (11 weeks)
$1,595/ 2 days per week OR $850/ 1 day per week ($145/week + $125 supply/registration fee)
* In observance of Memorial Day, programming scheduled for 5/31 (Mon) will happen on 6/4 (Fri)
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