Homeschool Programs Overview
Carefully crafted since 2011, our programs provide a progressive learning journey and comprehensive foundation in deeply relating to the natural world.
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.
Spring Programs are starting this week and most are full, with just a handful of spots left as noted below.
We’ve just added a new option, Forest Fridays, that will start on March 19.
2021 Spring Homeschool Programs are open for registration – see below ⬇︎⬇︎⬇︎.
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 5-7
TUESDAY
Ages 5-7
Better Gnomes & Gardens
March 2 – May 25, 2021.
FULL – WAITLIST.
Children embark on a miniature homesteading adventure, crafting a Gnome home from forest materials, and proceeding to learn hands on about gardening & more.
WEDNESDAY
Ages 5-7
Heartwood: Acorns
March 3 – May 26, 2021.
FULL – WAITLIST.
Our core nature-connection curriculum offers a progressive learning journey with games, stories, and exploration in the natural world.
THURSDAY
Ages 5-7
Nature’s Kitchen: Fire Craft + Cooking
March 4 – May 27, 2021.
ONE SPOT LEFT.
The kids will learn the fundamental survival skill of fire tending, as they setup a wild kitchen in the woods, go foraging and prepare meals as a team.
Ages 6-10
FRIDAY
Ages 6-10
Forest Fridays
March 19 – May 29, 2021.
JUST ANNOUNCED – REGISTER NOW
See the forest life sprouting and creeping forth after a long winter’s sleep. Experience the magic of spring as we explore, play, learn, and connect with nature & community.
Ages 8-12
TUESDAY
Ages 8-12
Forest Ninja: Hunter’s Mind
March 2 – May 25, 2021.
FULL – WAITLIST.
Children learn to quiet their mind and come to their senses, learning tracking, stealth and becoming attuned to the forest and its dwellers. With a bit of archery thrown in.
WEDNESDAY
Ages 8-12
Heartwood: Saplings
March 3 – May 26, 2021.
ONE SPOT LEFT.
Our core nature-connection curriculum offers a progressive learning journey with games, stories, and exploration in the natural world.
THURSDAY
Ages 8-12
Mountain Dwellers: Wild Living Skills
March 4 – May 27, 2021.
ONE SPOT LEFT.
Students learn about old-time mountain camping setting up a deep-woods campsite. They’ll acquire a range of skills such as site selection, finding water, & setting a fire ring.
Ages 10-14 & 12-16
TUESDAY
Ages 12-16
Blacksmithing
Postponed Until the Fall.
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 3 – May 26, 2021.
FULL – WAITLIST.
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.
FRIDAY
Ages 12-16
Friday Teen Adventures
Postponed Until the Fall.
Answer the call of the wild with a new and epic adventure in a new location each week. Fish for trout wading in the river, hike to astounding views, and discover the world. With an optional overnight camping weekend.
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 van transportation. Address: 315 Old Haw Creek Road.
Parents may also drop-off and pick-up at Shope Creek Wilderness — except for Blacksmithing and Teen Adventures which are based out of Haw Creek Commons. 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 please follow the link below to fill out the application.
COVID Safety Policies
Spring Homeschool 2021
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(with the exception of van travel).
Pre-Screening and Monitoring
- We will take every child’s temperature each morning upon arrival. If any child registers a fever (thermometer reading of 100.4˚F or higher) or are showing any signs of COVID-19 (cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell) we will not allow them to attend. 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:
- While on Haw Creek Commons property (NOT our forested Shope Creek program location), everyone ages 3 and up are required by the owners of the property to wear a mask anytime they are less than 6 feet from another person.
- While in vans all students and staff are required to wear masks for the duration of the trip.
- At our Shope Creek Wilderness location children will not be required to wear masks, but will be fully supported if they choose to do so.
- Staff will wear a mask anytime they are less than 2 feet from another person.
Cleanliness:
- Children will wash or sanitize hands each day immediately upon arrival and throughout the day.
- Children are asked to carry a personal supply of hand sanitizer and will be asked to use it before and after activities that could result in cross-contamination.
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.