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 Forest Learning Hub provides instruction based on an emergent, nature and place based curriculum. In the Forest Learning Hub, the 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 will share 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!