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Forest School (K-8) Nature Immersion Program

"Teaching children about the natural world should be seen as one of the most important events in their lives." 

-Thomas Berry

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This amazing offering is one of a kind in the Jacksonville area!  The Spring River Community has a long and rich history of supporting outdoor education, including the founding of the only all outdoor K-8 outdoor education program in Northeast Florida.

 

Our Forest School mission is to instill in our students a love and reverence of our local parks and natural wonders. After all, our children are the future stewards of this beautiful earth!

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Our nature immersion program is rooted in the Forest School traditions of North Europe, focusing on experiential learning that will help build students' reverence for the natural world.   With a holistic, learner-centered focus, our foresters will become invested in their education and foster a lifelong relationship with the land, their teachers and classmates, and the community. 

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Our twice-a-week class will take place in local forested parks and will be led by trained and experienced outdoor educators, whose bios you can read on the Meet Our Teachers page under the Enrichment and Specials teachers section.

 

The Jacksonville area has many parks to explore, such as unspoiled Florida scrub hammocks, forests, wetlands, marshes, dunes, and beaches to foster nature education and connection. The long-term benefits of learning outside of nature are well-researched and documented and are the perfect complement to any homeschool program.  Our classes have spent time at Timucuan Preserve, Dutton Island Preserve, and Hanna Park.

 

Forest School, all outdoors homeschool enrichment Jacksonville Florida

During our time in the forest, exploration of the natural world around us is our curriculum.  Through direct discovery, the students will learn through firsthand experiences that engage the five senses. Observing, collecting, and categorizing natural objects, as well as other hands-on activities, help acquaint students with the natural world in general – and with our local landscapes in particular.  We study Physical Geography such as weather and seasons, plant and animal identification, eco-studies, trail reading and etiquette, and navigation.

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Our foresters will follow a predictable rhythm, including circle time, nature hike/exploration, silent snack time to foster quiet observation, nature journaling with study observations, outdoor artistic or skill work activity, lunch, and nature-infused storytime.

FAQ: Forest School

  • Forest School is a homeschool enrichment class for grades K-5 that meets on Wednesdays and Thursdays in 2024-25, split into two classes of grades K-2 and grades 3-5. Families can sign up for one day or two. Sibling exceptions will be considered.  

  • 2025-26 Programming will be on Wednesdays and Fridays (same hours)and will include Middle School on Fridays.

  • The Class hours are 9 am - 2 pm

  • Tuition/Fees:

    • 2024-25

      • Annual Commitment is $1,815 for either 1-day program

      • Supply Fee: $80 for either 1-day program.

    • 2025-26​

      • Grades K-5/Annual Commitment is $1,890 for either 1-day program 

      • Middle School/Annual Comittment is $1,975 for either 1-day program

      • Supply Fee: $100 for either 1-day program.

  • Class ratio 1:7 with a lead and assistant teacher​

  • The group will be visiting a minimum of one park each session period.

  • Children should bring their own water bottle, backpack, sir spot blanket, hat, snack, and lunch.

  • Any child attending will need to be mature enough to carry their own backpack and belongings

  • Any child attending will need to be mature enough to stay with the group and listen to the teacher.

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K-5 Forest Rhythm and Daily Activities

  • Drop off & Free Play​​

  • Morning circle, verse, movement, and nature study​

  • Hike​

  • Silent sit spot/snack

  • Free Play​

  • Hike​

  • Lunch​

  • Craft/handwork​

  • Journal​

  • Story/closing Circle​ ​

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Nature Immersion
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Middle School Forest Program: Bushcraft and Primitive Skills

During adolescence healthy risk-taking opportunities in the outdoors supports social-emotional learning by allowing students to build confidence while exploring their identity and learning to navigate challenges through controlled experiences.  

 

Students will face setbacks and adapt to situations within a safe and and supportive environment.  Resilience, social connections, and decision making skills may be practiced in a variety of scenarious.  

 

While gaining Bushcrafting skills, our middle school students will expand their situational awareness and improve their understanding of the natural environment while practcing primitive skills such as shelter buiding, fire making, navigation, and physical endurance.

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Activities may include whittling, fishing, fire-starting (using ferro rods), hiking, and cooking. Parents will be asked to sign a handbook acknowledging the parent and participant's understanding of the risks associated with these activities.  Students will be asked to comply with guidelines for behavior, participation, and respect for others and the environment.

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​Our pilot program begins Winter 2025 and will be part of our full time offerings in school year 2025-26.

Winter 2025

Middle School Program Details:

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Bushcraft and Primitive Skills

  • Dates: 2/7/25-3/14/25

  • Meets Weekly on Fridays

  • 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

  • Fee $420

  • $80 supply fee

  • Grades 6-8

  • Classes held in local parks and preserves

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