Where the Wild Ones Gather

WilderKin: the Nature Wise Way

Welcome to WilderKin—a kinship of forest-guardians, naturalists, and young adventurers in a heart-centered, hands-on enrichment program for homeschool kids ages 7-12. Our full-day (9:30-3:30) interdisciplinary program nurtures the whole child—mind, body, and spirit—through holistic education and seasonal rhythms.

Rooted in the wild woods of Fern Gully Forest School, this immersive outdoor journey weaves together experiential academics, connection to nature, ancestral skills, and social-emotional wisdom—all guided by the rhythms of nature.

We invite children to walk the Nature Wise Way—deeply attuned to themselves, the land, and their community—while becoming WilderKin: brave, curious, and rooted in kinship with all living things.

This is more than just outdoor education—it’s a living story. Children are invited into a forest-bound fellowship of young guardians in training, each learning the ancient ways of connection: to self, to each other, to ancestral skills and to the living Earth.

Whether tending a fire, identifying medicinal plants, or navigating group dynamics, children learn to trust themselves, collaborate with others, and walk a wise and wild path forward.

Children Explore:

🌲 Wilderness awareness & nature connection practices
🧭 Survival skills: shelter-building, fire-making, tracking, and navigation
🌿 Hands-on Science, ecology, and ethnobotany
🔥 Homesteading and wildcrafting (herbal medicine, food prep, tool use)
💛 Social-emotional learning, compassionate communication, and confidence-building
🎨Creative expression through storytelling, art, games, and seasonal rituals
🌈Inquiry-based academics woven into real-world nature exploration

A Holistic and Hands-On Approach

In this immersive program students learn through real-world, nature-based experiences that bring learning alive. Our interdisciplinary, experiential approach blends practical skills with meaningful learning, all grounded in nature connection.

Each day is rooted in wonder and unfolds with purpose and playful skill-building in a living classroom—with nature as our guide and community as our foundation.

Rooted in Connection

We believe that when children feel safe, seen, and supported, they thrive. In our small, mixed-age groups, students form deep friendships, practice leadership, and grow resilience. Our experienced teachers meet each child where they are developmentally—nurturing body, mind, and spirit.

Students are gently encouraged to take healthy risks, ask questions, solve problems, and learn how to contribute meaningfully to their world—building resilience and self-awareness along the way.

Learning in a Living Landscape

Our forest classroom is alive with wonder. From forts built with logs to secret hideaways, from sunny meadows to shady groves, children spend their days immersed in nature. We also use our covered outdoor areas for:
🫖 Herbal preparations & wildcrafted medicines
🍲 Food sharing, storytelling, and expressive art
📚 Integrating academics into hands-on projects

Through all seasons and weather, we follow nature’s lead and celebrate the gifts of each—rain or shine, learning never stops, it's an adventure of discovery and belonging.

Our Unique Curriculum

Built around four interconnected realms that reinforce holistic development:

Realm 1: the Heartwood

Connection to Self (Inner Realm)

Theme: “Listening to the Forest Within”

Focus: Emotional intelligence, confidence, character-building, self-expression and regulation

Activities:

~Guided meditations and awakening senses

~Journaling, goal-setting and dream-mapping

~Feelings check-ins with nature metaphors

~Nature mandalas & expressive art

~Breathwork and grounding games

~Mindfulness practices/yoga in the forest

~Making personal “forest names” and symbols

Realm 2: The Circle

Connection to Others and Community

Theme: “Kinship with the Wild”

Focus: Teamwork, empathy, collaboration, communication, social skills and rituals

Activities:

~Group games and problem-solving quests

~Collaborative storytelling and story weaving

~Conflict resolution lessons and role-plays

~Sharing circles and “Forest Council” rituals

~Kindness practices and gratitude shares

~Shared meals, campfires and cooking skills

~Cooperative Challenges and Projects

Realm 3: The Living Earth

Connection with Nature

Theme: "Understanding the Language of the Land"

Focus: Naturalist knowledge, ecology, wildlife biology and ornithology, wilderness awareness, sensory exploration, and seasonal cycles

Activities:

~Plant and animal identification

~Tracking animals and reading signs

~Learning the language of the birds

~Nature scavenger hunts

~Sit spots and nature journals for drawing and writing observations and telling stories

~Nature-inspired art and crafts

~Seasonal rituals and Awareness of the Cycles (equinox and solstice ceremonies, harvest feasts)

Realm 4: The Wild Path

Connection to Earth Skills

Theme: “Discovering the Wild Path"

Focus: Survival & life skills, environmental stewardship, homesteading and ancestral skills

Activities:

~Honorable Harvest: foraging, stewardship, edible plant ID, ethnobotany and plant uses

~Fire-building and safety

~Shelter-building and survival skills

~Gardening and homesteading skills

~Knife safety + whittling projects

~Talisman making with natural materials

~Knot-tying, knitting, weaving

~Leave No Trace practices

Details & Rates

Sliding Scale Tuition

Low-income/Regular/Abundant

Daily Drop-in Rate: $60/$80/$100

*While availability lasts.

*Early Bird Spring Special!

Monthly Rates:

Tuesdays: $240/$300/$380

2025/26 School Year Monthly Rates

1 day/week:

$300/$350/$400

2 days/week:

$600/$650/$700

3 days/week:

$800/$850/$900

4 days/week:

$950/$1000/$1050

5 days/week:

$1080/$1100/$1150

*10% Discount for siblings.

REGISTRATION
Registration fee: $50 non-refundable admin fee.

Enrollment Deposit: $200 deposit is applied to the last month's tuition and is refundable only with a 30 day cancellation notice.

Apply Now to Save your Spot!

See the button below and send the enrollment fees ($250) at this link.

*Add a note with your kids name

Please contact us if you have any questions or cost is prohibitive. We envision a world where quality outdoor education is affordable for all. Low-income discounts may be available.

Apply Now