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Where the Wild Ones Gather
The NatureWise Way
At Fern Gully Forest School in Olympia, Washington, our NatureWise homeschool enrichment program offers full-day and half-day nature immersion options for ages 6–12 that nurtures the whole child—mind, body, and spirit—with holistic outdoor education. Rooted in nature-based learning, our interdisciplinary program weaves together hands-on academics, wilderness skills, creative expression, and social-emotional growth into a living curriculum guided by the seasons.
Our seasonal flow connects learning with the cycles of the Pacific Northwest:
Fall – Roots & Relationships
Winter – Creating Our Dreams
Spring – Awakening & Renewal
Summer – Abundance & Adventure
Through all the seasons, children explore the forest, creek, and meadow through the 4 Realms of Connection and Awareness:
The Heartwood (Self)
The Circle (Community)
The Wild Path (Nature)
The Craft (Ancestral Skills)
Along the way, they grow brave, kind, creative, and resilient, gaining both practical life skills and real-world academic knowledge.
Parents love Fern Gully Forest School for its holistic homeschool support, forest immersion, and community-centered education. Here, children discover a sense of belonging, deep connection and care for themselves, others, and nature while preparing to thrive in the modern wild world. Together we are cultivating a culture of kindness, and giving hope with practical skills for a brighter future.
We Explore:
Wilderness awareness: nature connection & mindfulness practices
Survival skills: shelter-building, fire-making, tracking, & navigation
Hands-on Science, math, natural history, ecology, ethnobotany & more
Homesteading & wildcrafting (herbal medicine, food prep, tool use)
Social-emotional learning, compassionate communication, & confidence-building
Creative expression through storytelling, art, games, & 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:
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Herbal preparations & wildcrafted medicines
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Making food, sharing & storytelling
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Wild Crafts & expressive art
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Diverse academic subjects woven into hands-on projects and experiential learning
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.
Details & Rates
Sliding Scale Tuition
Low-income/Regular/Supporting
Daily Drop-in Rate: $60/$80/$100
*While availability lasts.
Monthly Rates
1 day/week:
$260/$320/$380
2 days/week:
$480/$520/$560
3 days/week:
$700/$740/$780
4 days/week:
$940/$980/$1020
5 days/week:
$1060/$1100/$1140
*10% Discount for Siblings or if you Pay in Full for the year
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 and scholarships or work trade may be available.
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!
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Click Below to go to the short registration form.
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 Wild Path
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 Craft
Connection to Ancestral 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
Restorative Practice the NatureWise Way
We believe that children grow into their fullest, kindest selves through connection — to self, to others, to nature, and to community. When challenges arise, we see them as sacred opportunities to learn and grow. Conflict and mistakes are natural parts of learning, and we respond not with punishment, but with empathy, responsibility, and connection. Our restorative approach helps children repair harm, rebuild trust, and become more attuned to themselves, others, and the living world around them.
At Fern Gully Forest School, we recognize that meaningful learning happens beyond the walls of a traditional classroom. Our homeschool enrichment programs offer a holistic, nature-based supplement to your child’s core education. Designed for children ages 6–12, our curriculum fosters creativity, confidence, collaboration, and curiosity through immersive experiences in the forest.
For those in public school, check with your administrator to see if you can give your child the life-changing gift of nature enrichment classes. We have families in the Olympia School District who's kids are thriving with this option and it is a simple process to fill out a form with your intent.
We support families in meeting their education goals by offering interdisciplinary, experiential learning that integrates science, math, social studies, language arts, and life skills. Rooted in child-led exploration and community connection, our programs cultivate environmental stewardship, emotional intelligence, and practical skills that prepare young people to thrive in school and in the world around them.
Our enrichment classes complement your existing education plan by deepening your child’s love of learning and nature, strengthening social-emotional growth, and honoring each child’s unique developmental journey.