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Learning Pod

Monday–Wednesday | Ages 7–13

 

Overview

Flora & Fauna Learning Pod is our core three-day program. Students engage in academic studies while remaining connected to the natural world, their community, and the experiences that shape childhood. Learning takes place in a variety of settings throughout the week and is enriched by time outdoors, creative work, projects, and participation in community life.

 

Our guides create opportunities for students to engage deeply with their work, develop independence, and contribute as active members of the community. While each day unfolds differently, the focus remains the same: meaningful learning rooted in curiosity, engagement, and real-world experience.

 

Cohorts

Students are organized into cohorts for much of their academic work while also coming together as a larger community for outdoor play, festivals, field trips, community gatherings, and other shared experiences.

A typical cohort structure may include:

  • Explorers (Ages 1–2)

  • Forest Friends (Grade 3)

  • Forest Keepers (Grades 4–5)

  • Forest Trackers (Grades 6–7)

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Forest Friday

A School Year in the Woods

Forest Friday follows the changing seasons and the opportunities each season brings.

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Throughout the year, students explore topics such as birds, trees, fungi, insects, weather, local habitats, and ecology. These studies provide a framework for observation and discovery while encouraging students to ask questions, make connections, and develop a deeper understanding of the natural world around them.

As students return to the same trails and outdoor spaces throughout the school year, they begin to notice patterns that might otherwise go unseen. A familiar tree changes with the seasons. Birds arrive and depart. Fungi emerge after periods of rain. Animal activity shifts as temperatures change.

Nature journaling, field studies, creative projects, games, and hands-on exploration help students deepen their understanding while strengthening their powers of observation and cultivating a lasting sense of curiosity.

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Students who participate throughout the year have the opportunity to witness seasonal change firsthand and develop a deeper familiarity with the places they explore.

 

A Day in the Woods

Forest Friday follows a rhythm that balances exploration, learning, creativity, and play.

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  • Arrival

Students gather, connect with peers, and prepare for the day ahead.

  • Morning Gathering

The group comes together to introduce the day's activities, seasonal themes, and areas of focus.

  • Exploration & Discovery

Students may participate in nature study, field observation, seasonal investigations, games, creative projects, or other hands-on learning experiences.

  • Lunch & Outdoor Play

Students share a meal together and enjoy unstructured time outdoors. Play provides opportunities for creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and social growth.

  • Afternoon Exploration

The day continues with projects, nature journaling, outdoor skills, creative work, exploration, and activities connected to the season's studies.

  • Closing Circle

Students gather to share observations, reflect on the day's experiences, and prepare for departure.

  • Dismissal

Students head home with muddy shoes, new discoveries, and stories from the day.

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Unlike the Learning Pod, Forest Friday does not use formal cohorts. Students may work in mixed-age groups, smaller age-based groups, or project groups depending on the needs of the day.

OurPrograms

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