We welcome youth of all backgrounds in this immersive, earth-based learning experience anchored in hands-on learning and forest skills, joyful nature connection, fresh air, and loving community.
Nature school ethos in the United States is centered around the idea that children learn best when they are active in the natural world.
- Child-centered Nature school programs are centered around the child and the land, with children building relationships with the outdoors through regular access to the same space.
- Emergent curriculum Nature school educators use an emergent curriculum, which is driven by inquiry and inspired by the child.
- Risk-taking Nature schools view risky play as an important part of learning and development.
- Environmental education Nature schools integrate environmental education into their programs, such as by teaching children about conservation values.
- Holistic development Nature schools support children’s holistic development, including their cognitive, physical, social, emotional, aesthetic, and spiritual domains.
- Development of senses Nature schools help children develop their proprioception and vestibular senses, which are important for healthy growth.
The concept of nature-based education is not new, but the formalized outdoor schooling that we know as nature schools is relatively recent. In the 2022–23 school year, there were an estimated 800 nature preschools in the United States.
Golden Isles Nature School 