Outdoor Education Programs for Children in VA and SC
TRAVELERS REST, SC FOREST SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Classes offered at our Travelers Rest location:
0-3 years old- Forest Sprouts- a parent and child 8 week class.
3-4 years old- Forest Seedlings- a weekly drop off class that runs for the duration of the school year.
5-7 years old- Forest Saplings- a weekly drop off class that runs for the duration of the school year.
8-12 years old- Forest Oaks- a weekly drop off class that runs for the duration of the school year.
13-17 years old- Summit Adventure Course- a bi-monthly advanced course that runs for the duration of the school year.
The Travelers Rest, SC location is right outside the hustle and bustle of the city at Look Up Lodge(unaffiliated). Located on over 250 acres, the key features of this private property are mountaintop views, a fruit orchard, a large field for games, and immense forest for exploration. Shallow creeks feed a large lake- complete with a picturesque 25 ft. cascading waterfall. The lake is home to many varieties of fish, beaver, ducks, frogs, salamanders, and more. Not only is the lake and forest teeming with natural habitat for animals, but is an oasis for native plants that are abundant for harvesting with the students season after season. VFS Travelers Rest was the second VFS location that opened in 2021.
The Forest School Programs of Valley Forest School are focused on nature-based skills including foraging, wild crafting, whittling, fire building, shelter building, and survival skills. Students are immersed in nature on a weekly basis through hikes, nature walks, lake swimming, creek exploration, campfire baking, and foraging for wild edibles. These students experience hands-on primitive skills through knot tying, fire building, local fauna and wildlife identification, and wild crafting.
FOREST SPROUTS- BABIES AND TODDLERS
This 8 week parent and child class is one of the best ways to get your feet wet at forest school! This brand new class follows a Waldorf approach to hands on outdoor education at a toddler's pace- exclusively outdoors for total nature immersion.
Expect your little one to create mudpies, listen to great stories, learn colors through nature painting, jump in a mud puddle, and make new friends along the way as you're guided through activities to enhance the outdoor experience.
For those considering forest school as a part of your child's education, it's the perfect "Intro to Forest School". It's a great class for parents of multiple little ones or with a second baby on the way. For those who want a more challenging adventure, check out our other parent and child class called Adventure Babies.
Visit our parent portal to sign up for Forest Sprouts!
FOREST SEEDLINGS- AGES 3-4
Forest Seedlings is ideal for children and parents who appreciate outdoor education in all 4 seasons in some of the earliest and most formative years of life. The program for 3-4 year olds focuses on physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development intertwined with connecting with nature.
All VFS programs are 100% outdoors in total nature immersion. Seedlings classes are 4 hours.
Classes are on a weekly basis during the school year for 1-3 days per week.
Visit our parent portal to view more details about our programs including class times, requirements, and tuition/fees.
FOREST SAPLINGS- AGES 5-7
Forest Saplings is ideal for children and parents who appreciate outdoor education in all 4 seasons in the early educational years of life. Saplings focus on physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development intertwined with connecting with nature.
Forest Saplings does not replace traditional kindergarten. It is a homeschool enrichment program.
All VFS programs are 100% outdoors in total nature immersion. Saplings classes are 5.5 hours.
Classes are on a weekly basis for 1-3 days per week.
Visit our parent portal to view more details about our programs including class times, requirements, and tuition/fees.
FOREST OAKS- AGES 8-12
Forest Oaks is ideal for children and parents who appreciate outdoor education in all 4 seasons throughout older childhood. The Oaks program focuses on physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development intertwined with connecting with nature.
Forest Oaks is a homeschool enrichment program.
All VFS programs are 100% outdoors in total nature immersion. Classes are 5.5 hours.
Classes are on a weekly basis for 1-3 days per week.
Visit our parent portal to view more details about our programs including class times, requirements, and tuition/fees.
SUMMIT ADVENTURE COURSE- AGES 13-17
SUMMIT ADVENTURE COURSE- AGES 13-17
The Summit Adventure Course is ideal for children and parents who appreciate outdoor education in all 4 seasons throughout the oldest phase of childhood in the teen years. This program focuses on physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development intertwined with connecting with nature on a high adventure basis and advancing in outdoor skills.
The Summit Adventure Course meets 2x per month- once on site at forest school and once off site for hikes or water based adventure activities. There are 2 overnight campouts- one in the fall and 1 in the spring.
All VFS programs are 100% outdoors in total nature immersion.
Visit our parent portal to view more details about our programs including class times, requirements, and tuition/fees.