Nurture the Nature Forest School

06/13/2026

🌿 Come Visit Us Today! 🌿

We'll be at the Port Union Waterfront Festival today from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM!

Stop by our Forest School booth to learn about our nature-based, child-led learning program, meet our team, ask questions, and find out about registration for the 2026–2027 school year.

We'd love to meet you and chat about how children learn, explore, and thrive in nature! 🍃

See you at the waterfront! ☀️🌳

06/11/2026

Most indoor floors are flat and predictable.

But when children walk on uneven terrain like roots, rocks, hills, mud, and trails, their brains and bodies constantly have to adjust and respond to changes in height, texture, slope, and stability.

Research shows these natural movement challenges help support balance, coordination, body awareness, muscle control, and motor development in young children.

These early movement experiences help build the foundation for future physical skills like running, climbing, sports, posture, coordination, and confidently moving through different environments as children grow. (Little hikers long island)

06/11/2026

06/04/2026

We're excited to be part of the William G. Miller Public School Fun Fair tonight from 4:00–7:00 PM! 🌿

Stop by our booth to learn more about our Forest School programs, summer camps, and outdoor learning adventures. We'd love to meet you, answer your questions, and connect with local families.

See you there! ☀️

05/20/2026

Today at Forest School was incredibly special. We had seniors join us from the retirement home for a wild edible plant walk, where we shared stories, conversations, laughter, and meaningful connections across generations. The children loved hearing about their lives, experiences, and the knowledge they shared - a beautiful reminder of how much we can learn from one another.

After our time together, we headed down to the river for a cool down, continuing to learn about the plants growing around us along the way. We spent extra time exploring horsetail, learning about its many benefits, and enjoyed trying horsetail tea together.

Days like this are such a gift, rooted in connection, curiosity, community, and nature. 🌿💚

05/14/2026

🌿 Come Meet Us at the William G. Miller Fun Fair! 🌿

Thinking about forest school for your child?

Come visit our booth to:
-Try a hands-on nature activity
-Learn about our programs
-Ask questions and connect

Spots for our programs and camps are filling quickly, this is a great chance to learn more in person! 🌱

We can’t wait to meet you!

05/12/2026

Today was filled with hands-on learning, perseverance, and connection 🌿🔥

We continued practicing with Ferro rods, adding the extra challenge of finding and preparing our own tinder bundles. There was so much determination shown today, and a few children successfully got their fires going through patience and persistence.

Around the fire, we made delicious banana boats and brewed dandelion tea together using fresh flowers and dandelion syrup. We slowed down for a sit spot by the fire, taking time to reflect, share our experiences, and simply be present in nature.

We also worked on making burn spoons, carefully using embers from the fire along with carving techniques to shape our creations. So many valuable skills were woven into the day: problem solving, resilience, patience, creativity, fine motor skills, and learning to work with natural materials in meaningful ways.

These are the moments where confidence grows, wonder deepens, and real learning comes alive 💛

05/05/2026

Today was a beautiful day!

We began with our gratitude circle before easing into fire safety and exploring different methods of fire starting. Students practiced using ferro rods and experimented with flint and steel and char cloth, building patience, resilience, and confidence as they worked to create their own sparks.

Moments like these are why this kind of learning matters. It’s hands-on, meaningful, and rooted in real experience, where skills are felt, not just taught.

We enjoyed apple slices with cinnamon over the fire and shared white pine tea, slowing down and connecting with the process from start to finish.

Throughout the day, the children followed their curiosity, discovering treasures like animal bones and coins. When we find things like bones, we don’t just identify them, we ask questions. What do you notice? What makes you think it’s from that animal? What clues can we find? These moments spark wonder, critical thinking, and a deeper connection to the natural world.

We ended our day at the pond, where spring was alive all around us. Frogs filled the air with their calls, turtles basked, and geese and ducks moved across the water. We settled into a quiet sit spot, taking time for reflection and simply being present in it all.

04/29/2026

Today we leaned into the elements and stepped into true primitive living. Climbing new hills and moving through the mud built grit, awareness, and confidence on the land.

In the afternoon, we focused on survival skills, learning essential knots, crafting baskets from sticks, and making cordage from milkweed using only natural materials. We also practiced hanging a bear bag, learning how to safely store food and live responsibly alongside wildlife.

These are the kinds of skills that connect us back to the land, resourcefulness, resilience, and the knowledge to thrive outdoors.