THE ACADEMIC MISSION OF ONE FOREST SCHOOL IS TO FOSTER AND PROMOTE A SAFE AND POSITIVE OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT ENHANCES STUDENT LEARNING THROUGH A PROJECT-BASED CURRICULUM UTILIZING E-STREAM (ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, READING, ENGINEERING, ART, AND MATH)- THE INTEGRATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INTO STREAM LEARNING FOR CHILDREN. TO SUPPORT THE WHOLE LEARNER IN A FOREST SCHOOL SETTING, STREAM ALSO SUPPORTS SOCIAL SKILLS, TEAMWORK, RESPONSIBILITY, ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MINDFULNESS.
We offer a fun-filled 10-week summer camp program for children between the ages of 2-12. We’ve partnered with Ferrum College and the Virginia Museum of Natural History to allow some really wonderful guest speakers come and instruct the children one day each week. From Herpetology and Entomology to Dendrology and Mammalogy, these doctors of science really enhance the children’s experiences while at camp!
Children get to write, direct, act, and create set designs for weekly plays that the community has a chance to see on Fridays, throughout the summer! Each week is themed with important lessons to help children learn how to deal with everyday problems like cheating, lying, bullying, etc. but done through comedy.
Plus, don’t forget about all the cool bushcraft skills they learn along the way! We whittle, learn knot tying, we start campfires through friction, we use hand tools, and we build, build, build! All the structures on the nature preserve were built with the help of the children who love to build! We also have two Virginia Master Naturalists, as permanent staff, to help teach children about Virginia native flora and fauna, macrobiology, rocks & mineral study, etc. We also offer great nature crafting and superb storytelling in hammocks!
