Forest Dwellers

Ages 8-10 | Bi-weekly Fridays
Registration Opens March 1, 2025

Forest Dwellers is a year-long youth nature connection program that provides youth ages 8-10 with an exciting, safe and meaningful way to explore and engage in the natural world. Through activities, challenges, and song, youth will discover greater self-confidence, learn cooperation and teamwork, and gain a sense of environmental care taking

  • Curriculum

    Take a more in-depth look at our forest school and wilderness awareness curriculum to see what skills and experiences your child can expect to learn.

    Learn more

  • Campus

    View our unique outdoor classroom. 50 acres of forest surrounded by park land. Seasonal creek, waterfall & yurt.

    Learn more

  • Mentors

    Get to know the team behind Thriving Roots Wilderness School and learn more about your child’s program mentors.

    Learn more

  • Thriving Roots parent

    “My daughter’s confidence has really grown in the past few years in this program. It has really helped her socially, in part because of the multi-age environment. Her knowledge of the outdoors becomes deeper each year, and her ability to express it and teach others is so amazing! “

  • Forest Dwellers parent 2021-22

    “Seeing [my son] become more confident about exploring the outdoors and teaching me about plants he’s learned about at Thriving Roots has been very heart warming.”

  • Thriving Roots parent

    “Thriving Roots has become a foundational program for our home learning family. Not only are its programs facilitated by wonderfully knowledgeable and loving mentors, but it truly manifests the values and teachings that reflect our inherent connection to the natural world, and that are so urgently needed for us and our children at this time.”

  • Thriving Roots parent

    “This program lets [my daughter] be her wild self, without school teachers or parents. I really value the style of mentoring and the guidance it gives while still maintaining each individual’s needs and ideas.”

Yes! For years we’ve had students opt to take regular time off school to spend the day learning and adventuring with us in the woods. It almost always ends up as a win-win-win for the student, parents and teacher. Many parents have claimed that it helps their child be even more successful at school. Much research exists to support these findings. See this article from the Child Mind Institute to learn more about how spending time in nature is beneficial for your child’s education.

Can students in public school attend?

  • Dates: Bi-weekly. Alternating Fridays. 9:30am-3:30pm.

    Fall Semester: September 13 – December 6

    Spring Semester: January 17 – June 6

    No classes over Spring Break (March 15 – March 30)

  • Tuition: $1476 (includes $300 deposit & registration fee) + GST.

    Payment Options:

    • Credit Card: Deposit + 9 monthly instalments, or

    • Credit Card & Distributed Learning Funds: Deposit + DL Funds + Remaining balance

    Distributed Learning Funds: TRWS is registered with a number of funders e.g. Self Design, Heartwood Learning Community. We happily accept a combination of distributed learning funds and credit card. Email info@thrivingroots.org with any questions or to arrange details.

    Cancellation & Refund Policy: Please note that your registration commitment is for the full 9-month term. Please familiarise yourself with our Registration Policies before registering.

  • Conan & Teresa will be your Forest Dwellers mentors. They may also be joined by an adult apprentice from our Tend the Fire Apprenticeship program.

    Read more about the Thriving Roots team here.

  • We are committed to offering needs-based Equity Fund Discounts to those who would not otherwise be able to attend our programs due to experiencing systemic barriers to wealth accumulation. Read more and apply here.

  • We have limited space available in our programs for students with high needs. (We define 'high needs' as any designation and/or behavioural or emotional need that would require extra support i.e. ADHD, Autism, physical disability, any need for 1:1 support.)

    To ensure our mentors have the relevant experience and capacity to provide the support your child needs, please fill out our Student Support – High Needs form before registering and make sure to familiarise yourself with our Registration Policies.

    • Download our recommended gear list here.

    • We will send out a program contact list to support with carpooling before the program start date.

Program Details