Dedicating one day a week to being in nature.
Forest School is my core offering and is for any child interested in spending a full day learning in the woods, no matter the weather. Students meet weekly for the Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions, and are immersed into a culture of nature connection and wilderness living skills.
Forest School Basics
Justin Sutera teaches groups that never exceed 12 students. Some students are homeschooled, and others are public or private school students who have arranged to substitute one day of traditional learning for wilderness education. Regardless of your primary educational choices, Forest School curriculum adds a layer of richness to your child’s formative learning years.
Forest School days are designed with a specific and thoughtful approach which includes many core routines that help shape our time together. Most days we make a fire and sit around it together as one tribe. We gather in a circle to share our noticings from the natural world. We also spend time at Sit Spots out in the woods, carving out time to be alone and feel into the rhythm of the forest. We share Gratitude every day, and we practice clear and Authentic Communication as well as deep, Respectful Listening.
Fall 2024 Forest School
Missed out on Fall? Scroll down to check out Winter Forest School!
Dates: 12 weeks beginning the week of Tuesday September 3 to week of Tuesday December 10, with no program the week of Thanksgiving, and 2 other weeks TBD. *Each week represents one day, either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
Time: 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Conditions: We meet outdoors no matter the weather. Warming spaces will be provided if temperatures are exceedingly low. Warming spaces include a tipi tent with a small wood stove.
Instructor: Justin Sutera
Group size: 12 students
Age range: 7-14 years old
Tuesday Forest School: Elmore Site
Wednesday Forest School: Elmore Site
Thursday Forest School: East Hardwick
Cost: $550
Winter Forest School
Enrollment for the Winter 2025 Session is Open!
Click HERE to fill out the Registration form.
*Please note, filling out the form does not gaurentee a spot*
Dates: 8 weeks beginning in January 2025. *Each week represents one day, either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
Jan 14, 21, 18
Feb 4, 11, 18, 25
March 11
Time: 9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Conditions: We meet outdoors no matter the weather. Warming spaces will be provided if temperatures are exceedingly low. Warming spaces include a tipi tent with a small wood stove.
Instructor: Justin Sutera
Group size: 12 students
Age range: 7-14 years old
Tuesday Forest School: Elmore Site
Wednesday Forest School: Elmore Site
Thursday Forest School: Elmore Site
Cost: $400
Tuesday
Forest School
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ages 7-14
12 week sessions
$550 per session
Elmore, Vermont
Wednesday
Forest School
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ages 7-14
12 week sessions
$550 per session
Elmore, Vermont
Thursday
Forest School
9:00 am – 2:30 pm
Ages 6-12
12 week sessions
$550 per session
East Hardwick, Vermont
Forest School Skills & Routines
We also practice foundational wilderness skills that are considered central to our curriculum:
Fire Skills include lighting fires in wet weather with one match, using the bow drill and hand drill to learn friction fire techniques, and ultimately making a fire using only what the wilderness provides.
Tool Skills include using a variety of knives to shape wood and develop competency as carvers. We also work with saws and hatchets to shape larger pieces of wood and understand safe and effective tool use. We also make our own tools using found natural materials.
Survival Skills by building shelters, cooking primitively, shooting bows and arrows, weaving baskets, creating artwork, and more.
Naturalist Skills are also central to our curriculum, which include tree identification, plant identification, animal tracking & stalking, bird identification and bird language.
There is deep meaning and intention in whatever skill we are learning, and there is always room to grow through the many stages of each skill. For example, within any group, first time fire builders are working alongside experienced firemakers. I meet both students with a healthy challenge that pushes them towards their edge and helps them define new boundaries of personal growth and achievement.
Peer Mentoring
Our Forest School groups are intentionally multi-age so the children can learn from each other. Having kids of varied developmental stages learning side-by-side adds depth of experience and authentic opportunities for peer mentoring. It is wonderful to see how the younger kids are inspired, and amazing to witness the older kids stepping into leadership and teaching roles. It’s also wonderfully refreshing to notice how everyone is simply playing and laughing all together, regardless of their ages or skill levels.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Forest School are the long term relationships that develop between our students and among our student groups and families. There is so much potential for growth and connection in the communities forming through regular participation in Back to the Earth programs.
“My kiddos have been hooked on Forest School since they started. They come home sharing unique nature-based crafts like spoons, bowls, containers and journals.
Forest School is an invaluable experience for children, and Justin is an engaging, inspiring instructor the kids look up to. I would highly recommended his programs for anyone wanting a closer connection to the outside world.”
– Forest School Parent