Homeschool Programs Overview
Carefully crafted since 2011, our programs provide a progressive learning journey and comprehensive foundation in deeply relating to the natural world.
Jump to programs for ages 6-8, 9-12, and 10-16. Spring 2023 sessions have now completed. We open for Fall 2023 in late May or early June.
Through games, stories, and exploration children learn about: Outdoor safety and awareness, animal tracking, edible and medicinal wild plants, wilderness survival skills, bird language, ancient crafts, ecology, community, self-discovery, storytelling, singing, fire, and much, much more.
What’s new for Spring 2023? We’ve shifted our age brackets a bit (see note below). Bramblehurst School of Bushcraft & Wizardry and Wild Crafters are back. Teen blacksmithing is now available two days a week. And we’re introducing a new program for ages 6-8…. Birds, Beetles & Butterflies.
Why Choose Forest Floor?
We help children have fun, be healthy, and achieve their fullest potential with nature connection mentoring.
Health benefits of nature connection
- Learn wilderness skills & traditional crafts
- Meet new friends and reunite with old ones
- Unforgettable adventures every day
- Skilled and caring mentors
- Exciting wilderness experiences
- Convenient in-town drop-off & pickup
- Boost long term cognitive & social development
Ages 6-8
Program Change: 5 Year Olds
Based on feedback from our instructors and a lot of careful consideration we’ve decided to no longer accept 5 year olds into our camps and programs beginning with Fall 2022.
We realize this is a significant change and likely disappointing to some families, and we want you to know that we didn’t make this decision lightly.
What we’ve realized over the last couple years of including 5 years olds is that generally they are in quite a different place developmentally than the 6 & 7 year olds and this can have a significant impact on both their experience of the programs as well as the instructors ability to best meet the needs of all the students.
We believe that this change will result in a program that provides a deeper, more fulfilling experience for our younger students.
The Growing Wild Forest School is an excellent option for families with children ages 3-6. We encourage any families seeking a nature program for their young children to check them out.
MONDAY
Ages 6-8
Mountain Mondays
February 27 – May 22, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Watch the forest awaken from winter slumber with our nature connection mentors. We’ll explore, play games, learn skills and connect.
TUESDAY
Ages 6-8
Bramblehurst School of Bushcraft & Wizardry
February 28 – May 23, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Enroll in our outdoor academy and learn to make potions, become invisible, care for the forest and make a magic wand.
WEDNESDAY
Ages 6-8
Heartwood: Acorns
March 1 – May 24, 2023
Full with Waitlist
Our core nature-connection curriculum offers a progressive learning journey with games, stories, and exploration in the natural world.
THURSDAY
Ages 6-8
Birds, Beetles & Butterflies
March 2 – May 25, 2023
Registration is now closed.
We’ll break out the field guides, do some journaling and drawing, and learn tons about the flying, creeping, crawling friends of the forest as they return to action this Spring.
FRIDAY
Ages 6-8
Forest Fridays
March 3 – May 26, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Time to turn away from the screens and walk out into the magical forest for a day of guided nature connection with our experienced mentors.
Ages 9-12
MONDAY
Ages 9-12
Mountain Mondays
February 27 – May 22, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Bathe in the colors of the turning leaves and soak up the sun before the days shorten. We explore our core curriculum in a flexible format.
TUESDAY
Ages 9-12
Bramblehurst School of Bushcraft & Wizardry
February 28 – May 23, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Enroll in our outdoor academy and learn to make potions, become invisible, care for the forest and make a magic wand.
WEDNESDAY
Ages 9-12
Heartwood: Saplings
March 1 – May 24, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Our core nature-connection curriculum offers a progressive learning journey with games, stories, and exploration in the natural world.
THURSDAY
Ages 9-12
Wild Crafters
March 2 – May 25, 2023
Registration is now closed.
We utilize natural materials and learn a bunch of crafting skills while playing games and connecting with nature & community.
FRIDAY
Ages 9-12
Forest Fridays
March 3 – May 26, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Time to turn away from the screens and walk out into the magical forest for a day of guided nature connection with our experienced mentors.
Ages 10-14 & 12-16
TUESDAY
Ages 12-16
Blacksmithing
February 28 – May 23, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Create useful tools by heating metal in the forge and shaping it on the anvil. Students will come home with beautiful and useful handmade items created using many techniques.
WEDNESDAY
Ages 10-14, by invitation
Heartwood: Oaks
March 1 – May 24, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Our core nature-connection curriculum, Oaks provides an opportunity for long-time students to continue challenging themselves in a group of peers who share their ability & passion.
THURSDAY
Ages 12-16
Blacksmithing
March 2 – May 25, 2023
Registration is now closed.
Create useful tools by heating metal in the forge and shaping it on the anvil. Students will come home with beautiful and useful handmade items created using many techniques.
In-town Location
We are no longer at the Asheville School in West Asheville.
Our new location since 2020 is Haw Creek Commons, in Asheville off Tunnel Road.
Haw Creek Commons is a community co-work and activity center where Forest Floor has a presence. See the location on Google Maps.
Drop-Off & Pick-Up
All programs may drop-off and pick-up at Haw Creek Commons for onsite programming or van transportation to Shope Creek. Address: 315 Old Haw Creek Road.
Parents may also drop-off and pick-up at Shope Creek Wilderness for all programs except Blacksmithing and Oaks. Address: 472 Shope Creek Road.
Scholarship Information
Overview
We offer limited partial scholarships to individuals who otherwise could not afford our programs. We prioritize scholarships for people of color and single parents with financial needs. We understand that people of color experience more financial and institutional barriers to participation, and wish to help counteract that by offering scholarships.
Donate
If you are a family with means, please consider donating to our scholarship fund. Donations of a 1/4, 1/2, or FULL scholarship can be made during the standard registration process. For more substantial donations please contact us to discuss details.
Apply
Limited partial scholarships are available. Scholarship funds are generated exclusively from generosity of donations toward the scholarship fund. Scholarships are limited to the sum of these funds and are awarded based on equitable distribution. Full scholarships will be considered for families in great need, but most scholarship applicants should expect to pay at least half of tuition.
To apply for a scholarship FIRST please register for the program/camp, choose the payment plan option, and only pay a $100 deposit at time of registration.
AFTER RESERVING A SPOT, please follow the link below to fill out the application.
If your scholarship request can't be approved or isn't the amount of discount that you need, we will provide a full refund of the deposit.
COVID Safety Policies
Homeschool 2023
Our COVID-19 safety policy is based primarily on pre-screening and monitoring. It is our current position that the single largest preventative factor at our programs is the fact that we are open-air and outdoors.
Pre-Screening and Monitoring
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Any child arriving in the morning with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 will not be permitted to attend programs that day. If during the program day a child displays signs or symptoms of illness they will be separated from other students and parents contacted to pick them up.
- All staff will be self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19. If they develop symptoms, they will notify their supervisor and stay home. Any staff person who develops symptoms of illness during the work day will be separated from students and other staff and sent home ASAP.
Masks:
- As of Fall 2022, we will no longer require masks to be worn on our shuttle vans transporting students
- Children and staff will not be required to wear masks, but will be fully supported if they choose to do so.
We will do our best to fully support any child or staff who self-selects for more restrictive social distancing or mask wearing than the policies outlined above.