EdenAcres Environmental Education
Education · Environment · Community
440-479-4813
"EdenAcres is exactly what our family was looking for to supplement our homeschool curriculum. A chance to make and maintain friendships, gain independence, and be physically active while enjoying the outdoors in a safe, supportive environment. A big component of why we chose to homeschool is to make sure we foster a love of learning in our children, and to enable them to interact with the natural world with regularity, instead of spending most days indoors- Eden Acres provides that, and more. We feel so lucky to have this amazing resource close by, and greatly value the opportunities it brings to our children.”
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Sandra
FOREST KEEPERS
Middle School Nature Immersion for ages 12-15
The Forest Keepers Middle School program offers a unique community for young teens of all abilities to learn and grow through relationship with nature and each other. Our Forest Campus provides the ideal environment for exploring nature, stewardship and for mastering outdoors skills. We encourage students to become leaders by integrating team building and problem-solving skills with the forest and the diverse community around them.
The Forest Keepers’ philosophy sees the student as the discoverer. Our job is to facilitate and support the gifts and passions of each unique student. Forest Keepers encourages students to push their comfort edges and expand their unique skill sets, developing their diverse abilities and talents to become capable, confident leaders in the broader community.
The Forest Keepers Middle School program:
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cultivates the whole person, integrating social, emotional, academic, and leadership skills with outdoor play
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encourages creative thinking, drawing on student input to come up with answers and solutions
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facilitates the development of problem-solving skills and self-sufficiency
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fosters a deep connection with nature as students learn, play games, and explore the outdoors
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teaches through outdoor place-based project learning
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integrates elements of science, social studies, history, mathematics, art, and writing into experiential learning
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adapts learning to support individual academic capabilities
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supports students in the development and implementation of an annual stewardship project
Forest Keepers fosters a lifelong love of learning and love of nature. We build community focused on the joys and challenges of engaging in authentic relationships with each other and with the land that sustains us.
We would love to meet your Middle School student and explore the forest together.
Daily Rhythm**
9:00 - 9:15 Drop-off
9:00 - 9:30 Morning Circle/Team Building Activity
9:30 - 10:30 Game/Movement/Hike
10:30 - 11:00 Snack & Free Exploration
11:00 - 12:30 Ancestral Skills/Project/Skill Building
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch & Free Exploration
1:30 - 2:30 Science-Based Inquiry/Stewardship Project
2:30 - 2:45 Clean-up & Closing Circle/Reflection
2:45 - 3:00 Pick-up
**The daily rhythm described above is an example of the flow of the day. Instructors practice emergent and child-centered learning, meaning that we adjust and modify with the changing needs and interests of the children while incorporating in whatever the forest or farm has to offer on that specific day.
Our Staff
Our Nature Educators come from a variety of backgrounds including Waldorf education, natural sciences, outdoor education abroad, and more. No matter their educational background, all are experienced and passionate about sharing nature with children. Instructors are certified in CPR/First Aid and epipen administration. Staff ratios for Forest Explorers are no larger than 8 students with 1 teacher. All adults in the program have passed full FBI background checks.
When:
Fall and Spring Semesters
Mondays and Wednesdays
9:00 am-2:45 pm
Dates:
Fall Semester: 9/12/23 - 1/25/24
First day of fall semester: Monday, September 11
Spring Semester: 1/30/24 - 5/23/24
First day of spring semester: January 30, 2024
View the School Calendar here!
Where:
Hillsboro Forest School Campus @ 16528 Johnson Road, Hillsboro, OR 97124 (use this link for forest school entrance)
How Much?
This year, we will offer a Choose-Your-Tuition model that includes three options to choose from: Sliding Scale; Standard Rate; and Pay-It-Forward. Click here to learn more!
We are choosing to shift towards a sliding scale model because Equity in Education is one of our core values. We are using this model as a means of increasing access to alternative education and as a tool of economic justice. We invite you to join us in this vision of a better, more equitable world!
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Questions? Send us an email at naturedays.edenacres@gmail.com
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