Bramblehurst School of Bushcraft & Wizardry Overview
It’s your first day of class at the new Bramblehurst School of Bushcraft & Wizardry, and you’ve just been sorted into the House that will likely determine your best friends for next several months. You had thought Transfiguration was your first class, but the animated writing on the schedule you were issued keeps shifting and now reads Herbology 101.
Making your way across the wooded campus, the trail meanders through stands of old growth Oaks and Hickories, some of which seem to watch with curiosity as you pass underneath. As you near the squat earthen hut that must be the Herbology classroom, a burst of light from inside is quickly followed by an explosion of growth as vines climb out the door and windows, reaching up to the forest canopy.
This is going to be an interesting semester…
Join us for our newest magical endeavor as we learn the wizarding arts in our forested classroom at Bramblehurst. At this new Bushcraft and Wizardry Academy there are expanded grades for both younger students (ages 6-8) and older (ages 9-12).
Possible lessons may include (and will vary to be age appropriate):
- Carving your own wand from wild harvested wood
- Making healing potions
- Felting wool socks to give to house elves in need
- Forming clay cauldrons for potion brewing
- Becoming invisible as if you’re wearing an invisibility cloak by learning camouflage
- Dipping handmade candles
- Learning to to tend, use, and feed wild magical plants in Herbology Class
- Caring for the forest by planting a Whomping Willow using dragon dung as fertilizer
- Crafting a bamboo cup to drink butter beer and pumpkin juice
Age Groups:
6-8
9-12
Time: 9:30 am - 4:15 pm
Inclusive of drop-off & pick-up window
Dates: Thursdays, Feb. 29 - May 23
Breaks for Earthskills Rendezvous April 18
12 program days total
For Drop-off & Pick-up and other logistics info, see below.
Price: $745
- Monthly payment plan available
- $100 non-refundable deposit due at registration
- Limited Partial Scholarships available (see below)
Registration
Registration is now open for Spring 2024.
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
This program (and most others) takes place at Shope Creek Wilderness. The exceptions are Blacksmithing, which is based at Haw Creek Commons, and programs in our West Buncombe location at Otherside Farms.
For programs occurring at Shope Creek Wilderness, parents may drop-off and pick-up at the program location or at Haw Creek Commons for van transportation.
For Blacksmithing, parents must drop off and pickup at Haw Creek Commons. Programs at Otherside Farms have different logistics.
Haw Creek Commons (with van shuttle)
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
Shope Creek Wilderness (program site no shuttle)
472 Shope Creek Road, Asheville, NC
Drop-off between 9:45 am - 10:00 am
Pick-up between 3:45 pm - 4:00 pm
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.
Scholarship Information
Overview
We offer limited partial scholarships to individuals who otherwise could not afford our programs.
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 2023-2024
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.