Homeschool Forest School
For the Forest Year, September-June, families join the Learning Community and choose from a variety of options when registering for weekly classes designed for homeschooling children, ages 5+ (5 as of September of school year), Monday-Friday.
Homeschool Forest School provides weekly classes and instruction in a variety of ways…supporting the needs of young learners (school age – 5 and up) and their families. Offerings happen Monday-Friday! Families may choose one or more options. See below…
Now Enrolling for 25/26 Forest Year
| Heartwood Core Classes School-Age – Ages 5+ *5 as of September 1 of Forest School Year | ECO Connected Classes School-Age – Ages 5+ *5 as of September 1 of Forest School Year | Nature Seekers Classes School-Age – Ages 5+ *5 as of September 1 of Forest School Year |
| Broward Ft. Lauderdale Weekly, M-W, 3 Day Option 9am-3pm Dade North Miami Weekly, Tuesday, 1 Day or Add-on 9am-3pm | Broward Ft. Lauderdale *Deerfield *NEW CLASS Weekly, Thursday, 1 Day or Add-on 9am-3pm Dade North Miami Weekly, Wednesday, 1 Day or Add *Possibly Thursday – Waitlist 9am-3pm | Broward Ft. Lauderdale Weekly, Friday, 1 Day or Add-on 9am-3pm Dade North Miami *Possibly Friday – Waitlist 9am-3pm |
| Heartwood Core HEARTWOOD – Getting to the CORE…find strength in the heartwood of the trees, delve into the deep mysteries of the core subjects – Math in Motion, Live Science & Language Arts in Nature! Discover the workings of the world through experience – exploration, discovery and play. | ECO Connected GET CONNECTED! ECO – Every Child Outside…explore, discover, and learn the wonders of South Florida nature – experience the rhythm of the seasons and its effect on the biology and ecology of Florida flora and fauna. Discover the interconnectedness of the ecosystems and find a sense of place. | Nature Seekers By the Sea! Visit Florida’s coastal ecosystems and learn all about the science of the sea and beyond! Participate in hands-on classes that bring to life the wonders of coastal life. |
Take Root, as a learning community, uses an ALL-OUTDOOR, PLACE-BASED approach to learning – focusing on exploration, play and discovery. Families join the community to participate in classes that will enrich their homeschooling curriculum. All classes take place outdoors and are implemented using holistic methodologies.
Take Root’s Homeschool Forest School provides instruction based on an emergent, nature and place based curriculum. Homeschooling kids gather to explore and learn various days of the week during the forest school year. All instruction takes place outdoors and is facilitated using Take Root’s unique approach which combines the experiential earth-based principles of Forest School, the holistic ideals of Waldorf, the child-based methodologies of Montessori and the flexibility of Agile Learning.
Instruction may include, but is not limited to: ecology, natural and cultural history, science, math, the arts, outdoor skills, yoga, movement, mindfulness, leadership, entrepreneurship, and stewardship. Core ideas are woven into the forest school flow – emphasizing the rhythm of the seasons, sensory awareness and the forest kids’ discoveries in the forest. This model allows for development of the whole child…Head (through transformative experience and reflection), Heart (through relating) & Hands (through engagement).
As members of the Forest Learning Community, each family can expect communications and regular updates on the activities/projects/lessons happening during classes throughout the Forest Year. At the end of the year, any lesson books, nature journals and field guides will be sent home to the family for their portfolio. Take Root may provide support, guidance and resources, but does not offer umbrella school or evaluation services, nor do the classes cover a full curriculum or school schedule, each class is supplemental enrichment. The Take Root team works alongside the families to provide a network of communication. Each class teacher/nature guide shares observations of their students with the directors and families each season. Each class curriculum is unique and based on the subject and emerges from the children, their interests and their experiences.
In the state of Florida, all children, age 5+, must be registered in a learning program, either as a home-schooled child with the county or the state using the PEP/Step Up program (age 5+) or with an umbrella school or private school. As homeschooling families, each family is responsible for keeping their own records and directing the education of their children. Take Root acts as an enrichment to home-school curriculum.
Take Root is a family program and does not act as a childcare facility. Take Root offers instructional program. Take Root does not provide food, lunch and snacks are up to the family to provide and plan.
The kids and their teacher guides come together to explore, play, discover and learn!
