FOREST SCHOOL (Grades 1 to 8 and Family)

Add variety, adventure, action and fun into your child’s learning opportunities.  

Homeschool families looking for a more structured and social setting, or traditional school families looking for an outdoor school day that includes hands on learning and fresh air….we have got you covered!

Who ARE THESE programs for?

Kids Inc Forest School 2026 Spring Semester starts the week of March 30 2026 however intake is ongoing so please reach out anytime to discuss a prorated semester option.  We have 2 programs at our Forest School so there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy! Check out our program descriptions here and email us to open the lines of communication today at registration@kidsinc.ca

Mondays from 9:30AM to 12:00PM (SPRING – March 30 to June 1 2026 – optional class Easter Monday)  – Family Forest School is for parents/caregivers and participants who are in most cases from 18 months years of age to 4 years of age – however – all ages can be considered and all you have to do is give us a call or an email to discuss the ages of the participants in your family to see if this program might be a good fit. Younger siblings who are younger than 18 months old are welcome to come along for the ride but we suggest that you use a front loaded baby carrier rather than a stroller for your infant/young toddler.  Our program not only uses nature and the forest as a teaching tool but we also provide access to books, toys, and crafts that extend the learning in a way that engages the participants and keeps them curious, active and busy while they are with us. Please reach out to us to learn more about the program, the terrain, and how this program might fit into and enhance your weekly schedule for your family. Email us for more information or to discuss your families interest at registration@kidsinc.ca 

FAMILY FOREST SCHOOL – SPRING SEMESTER 10 WEEKS $250.00 + HST (can be prorated if you are joining late) – Our Family Forest School will provide parents and caregivers along with the student/s in their family to attend together for a half day of learning, and fun!  There will be lots of songs, activities, and exploration included in this program and we will build a strong sense of community along the way! 

If this program sounds interesting to you please email us to tell us you are interested at registration@kidsinc.ca with the subject – FOREST SCHOOL!  

Welcome to our full day forest school with a TWIST!  Wednesday from 8:30AM to 3:30PM (SPRING – April 1 to June 3 2026) – Full day school age Forest School for students in Grades 1 -8. Our inclusive atmosphere welcomes one and all no matter what other kinds of educational opportunities the student in your family may or may not be involved in.  Public school students, private school students, home school students and beyond!  All are welcome at Kids Inc Forest School.  Here at Kids Inc Forest School we like to add a twist and open ourselves up to learning opportunities that might be a little outside of the box of a traditional forest school program.  Of course we provide a nature based education model that fosters the philosophy of forest school by providing access to natural spaces, allowing our students interests to direct or curriculum, using play as a way to learn, and having a focus on wellness – however – we also infuse elements of experiential learning into our program. By adding projects, experiments, planning, and reflection into the mix as we find that our students gain insights, leadership skills, communication skills, and are exposed to critical thinking opportunities that they might not otherwise get the chance to engage in. We also love to add bushcraft, hand crafts, camping skills, STEM, music, and a few other surprises along the way!  Email us at registration@kidsinc.ca to organize a tour or to book a time to connect with us by phone today for further discussion. 

FOREST SCHOOL – SPRING SEMESTER 10 WEEKS $600.00 + HST (can be prorated if you are joining late) – Our Forest School for Grades 1-8 will be based in experiential learning.  We will have fun in the garden, mud kitchen, pond, forest, and on the playground!  Learning opportunities are waiting to happen all day everyday at Kids Inc Forest School!

PLEASE NOTE:  Our full day forest school program does have sliding scale discount opportunities for families in need so please reach out to us at registration@kidsinc.ca if you want to be a part of our forest school program and finances are a barrier. 

If this program sounds interesting to you please email us to tell us you are interested at registration@kidsinc.ca with the subject – FOREST SCHOOL!  

What ARE thESE programS about?

Check out the following points to learn more about our programs and what makes them unique. If you have any further questions about our programs after reviewing this information please feel free to reach out to us at registration@kidsinc.ca and use the subject line FOREST SCHOOL and we will get back to you as quickly as we can! 

Both of our Kids Inc Forest School programs will run 2 semesters per school year. Our Spring semester will run from April to June and Fall semester will run from September to December.  We provide a small ratio of care so that each student gets interaction with educators throughout the day.  We provide hands on experiential learning opportunities, fun and adventure, and creative and supportive learning environment. Our programs include a structured lesson plan followed by boundless opportunities for student lead play based activities.  We will engage in project based learning too. There are social benefits in this style of program as well as the excitement that comes when the classroom is specially provided by Mother Nature herself!  

Our program takes place right at the Kids Inc. Camp facility located at 5567 Fourth Line Hillsburgh N0B 1Z0. Not all of the same facilities are used for Forest School. For example the pool is not opened during the Forest School season and therefore the pool will not be used for this program. There are some areas that are used for Forest School that are not used for our camp program so that is exciting for our students to explore some areas they may have never seen before! Please reach out to learn more about the facility areas that will be used for the Forest School programs.

Our programs is based in the concepts of nature based learning and experiential learning while also being inspired by some of the philosophies found in the educational methods of classic Forest School, Montessori, and Waldorf. Our program will include learning opportunities that touch on elements found within the Ontario curriculum and you are welcome to contact us to learn more.  We will also infuse music, story telling, wellness and self care, and foster an atmosphere that inspires social connection, leadership and resillience. 

Our full day forest school program on Wednesday’s may also include some elements that make it feel like we have brought camp into the classroom!  We might include a camp based activity like archery, or spending some time in the pond, or engaging in a sport or playing at the playground as a way to introduce a new skill or concept to our learners in a fun atmosphere!  There are unlimited opportunities for learning here at Kids Inc and we can’t wait to tell you all about the fun that we have up our sleeve!  Please reach out to us anytime to discuss this program as intake is ongoing and we would be pleased to have new students join in the fun anytime!   

100% – This program runs rain, shine, snow, and in cold temperatures. We ask that you send your participant dressed for the weather. We will only cancel the program if the roads are dangerous for travel and we will communicate with you via text and email about these kinds of situations as they arise. 

We sure do!  We will send the Parents Handbook out to you prior to the start of the program in question. 

We do not provide grades or report cards. This is an experiential learning program that is not evaluated. Please reach out to us to learn more about this aspect of the program if you have more questions.

We are so lucky to have wonderful educators on our staff team who are here to inspire the learners in your family. Our educators have a variety of background education and previous work experience. From a Degree in Psychology,  to diplomas in Early Childhood Education, Autism and Behavioural Services, Recreation Therapy, and Certificates from the Forest School Teacher Institute and High Five. The variety of the backgrounds that have brought us all together is a part of the magic of the program! Let us know if you have any more questions about our team and we would be happy to provide you with more information. 

TELL ME MORE ABOUT this program...

For more information about our forest school programs please send us an email at registration@kidsinc.ca

Early registration is recommended!