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Year-long Nature School

Forest Learners

Ages 6 to 10

North VANCOUVER

9:30AM to 3PM

6,750 + tax

$50 Application Fee (non-refundable)

Registration Steps
Program Prep
Register Interest

The Forest Learners Program is an immersive three or four-day-per-week nature-based program that allows children to learn life, naturalist, and survival skills alongside math, reading, writing, and science. The program sets learners up for a life of deep nature connection, resiliency, positive learning, and total comfort in the natural world.

Each year the two cohorts (8 to 10-year-olds and 6 to 7-year-olds in 2021-22) will continue with their same cohort, and the curriculum adapts to the ages of the kids as they grow older.

See the Forest Learners Info Session Recap and Q&A

To join the Forest Learner Program, fill out the form to register your interest. We will contact you based on your preferences to have a conversation about what you are looking for in your child’s education program, and determine together if we are the right fit. Then, your child can join an in-person meeting or trial day, and if everything is seamless, we will take a deposit upon acceptance.

Program Highlights 

  • Two full days of Soaring Eagle Nature School programming in the forest, providing deep learning of naturalist and survival skills, but also math, reading, writing, science, and more
  • One indoor/outdoor day at Camp Capilano with large and flexible common areas, a kitchen, and nature trails at our doorstep
  • An optional fourth day with a mix of academic study, field trips, and outdoor learning. (Please note that kids need to be registered with Island Discovery (IDLC) to participate in this day)
  • Small class size (10-12 kids) and high adult to child ratio (1:6)
  • Project and passion-based learning approaches to the BC core curriculum 
  • Field trips to explore different ecosystems and habitats
  • A focus on crafting such as weaving, sewing, making cordage, and more
  • Survival skills such as carving, shelter building, navigation, wildlife tracking, mammal ID, bird language, and edible and medicinal plants
  • Song, theatre, music, and art
  • A non-coercive, gentle, and feelings-based approach to communication and play
  • Emphasis on emotional awareness, compassion, and gratitude

Program Details

Mondays & Thursdays – Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve
Tuesdays – Camp Capilano

Siblings receive a 10% discount

2022-23 DATES
First day – Sep 13, 2022
Last day – Jun 8, 2023

No program due to stat holidays: Oct 10, Feb 20, April 10, May 22

Winter Break: Dec 19 – Jan 6 (return Jan 9) 

Spring Break: March 13 – 25 (return March 27)

An optional fourth day takes place on Wednesday at Camp Capilano. Kids enrolled with Island Discovery (IDLC) can take part on this day. The day is a mix of academic study, field trips, and outdoor learning. There is a small additional fee for the rental of the site, split among all the parents that is determined at the beginning of the year. The teacher is hired by IDLC, in collaborating with Soaring Eagle.  Wednesday is the only optional day. All other days have required attendance.

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Testimonials

What Families are Saying

“Our son loves the Forest Learners program! Not only does he get to spend his days outdoors with a small group of kids and caring instructors, he is learning about the natural world while developing age appropriate skills in literacy and numeracy. This is what school should look like for all students – outdoors, integrated and full of joy!” – Magda, Forest Learners Parent

“This year, the Forest Learners program has been a gift to our child and to our family. This program is deeply rooted in a holistic approach to child development. From physical and emotional development to embodied and cerebral learning, we feel like THIS is the way to learn. We are so grateful for this program and the incredible teachers who guide our child into new levels of knowledge, problem-solving skills, and very importantly, confidence.” – Carla, Forest Learners Parent

    “Our 6 year-old son looks forward to forest school each and every day – in all weather. He has learned so much about the rhythms of the seasons, about flora and fauna, and about how to co-exist with (and in) nature. More than that, he has learned how to sit and listen, how to tell stories, and how to notice what’s around him. Our son shows us daily that this is the right ‘schooling’ experience for his body, mind, and spirit.” – Geordie, Forest Learners Parent