Heartwood: Oaks
Heartwood is divided into three distinct groups: the Acorns, Saplings, and Oaks. The Oaks group is designed to provide an opportunity for long-time students to continue challenging themselves in a group of peers who share their level of ability and passion for learning.
The Oaks is an INVITATION ONLY group designed specifically for long-time students ready for a greater level of challenge. Click here for more information on the Oaks group.
As of Fall 2022, Oaks is a more mobile program taking place at various locations including Shope Creek. We’re going exploring! As such, Oaks is now based at Haw Creek Commons and that is the only drop-off and pick-up location for this program.
More on Location Change...
Hello Oaks parents!
In our efforts to continue raising the bar and meet the needs of our maturing Oaks students, we’re trying something a little different for Fall 2022. Instead of the usual programming based entirely out of Shope Creek, we’re going exploring!
There are so many amazing natural wonders in the greater Asheville area, and we want to share them with our students. The Oaks program will now be much more mobile, with the students regularly traveling to different areas around Asheville to discover all that these magnificent mountains have to offer.
Some important notes:
- Oaks will now drop-off & pick-up ONLY at Haw Creek Commons(younger siblings of the Oaks can ride in our shuttle vans to Shope Creek).
- Each day the Oaks will load up into one of our shuttle vans, head out from there, and return to HCC at the end of the day.
- The program will be limited to a maximum of 13 students so that everyone can fit in the van.
- Some days may still take place at Shope Creek, and some days we may stay at Haw Creek Commons for special projects.
- Trips to surrounding natural areas will be no more than 1 hour drive-time one-way – but it’ll be worth it!
Ages: 11-15
Spots Remaining: 1 as of 1/24/23
Time: 9:30 am - 4:15 pm
Inclusive of drop-off & pick-up window
Dates:
Wednesdays, March 1 - May 24
Breaks for Earthskills Rendezvous April 19
12 sessions total
For Drop-off & Pick-Up and other logistics info, see below.
Price: $785
- Monthly payment plan available
- $100 non-refundable deposit due at registration
- Limited Partial Scholarships available (see below)
Registration
Registration is now open.
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
Logistics
Drop-off/Pick-up Locations
All programs take place at Shope Creek Wilderness, with the exception of Blacksmithing and Heartwood: Oaks, which are based at Haw Creek Commons.
For programs occurring at Shope Creek Wilderness, parents may drop off and pickup at the program location or at Haw Creek Commons for van transportation.
For Blacksmithing and Heartwood: Oaks, parents must drop off and pickup at Haw Creek Commons.
Shope Creek Wilderness
472 Shope Creek Road, Asheville, NC
Drop-off between 9:45 am - 10:00 am
Pick-up between 3:45 pm - 4:00 pm
Haw Creek Commons
315 Old Haw Creek Road, Asheville NC
Drop-off between 9:30 am - 9:45 am
Pick-up between 4:00 pm - 4:15 pm
After Care
We are currently exploring a number of potential After Care possibilities. If you are in need of After Care to make this program work for your family, or if you would simply be strongly interested, please send us a quick email at [email protected] letting us know and we will keep you posted on our progress.
Clothing and Gear
Our programs are all-outdoors, with rain shelters available as needed. Children must arrive each morning fully prepared with a backpack, packed lunch, and clothes appropriate for being out in the weather. Families new to Forest Floor may need to purchase additional gear to ensure their children will be fully equipped for wet and colder weather as the season progresses. For a full packing and clothing list see our FAQ.
COVID-19 Cancellation Policy
A family is eligible for either: (1) a full refund if the cancellation occurs before the start of the program; or (2) a pro-rated refund for any unattended program days; under the following conditions:
Forest Floor cancels any programs due to COVID-19 or the Sars-Cov-2(novel coronavirus) pandemic.
A family needs to cancel because they are directly adversely impacted by COVID-19 (job loss, illness, or caring for sick family members).
AND in the event of cancellation (either on our part or yours)if you are in a position to donate your registration as a scholarship it would be a huge help to both Forest Floor and families in need.
Please note: Our standard cancellation & refund policy will apply for all cancellations other than the two conditions listed above. See our FAQ for details on our standard refund policy.
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.