No matter the session, whether it be Guided Play, Forest School or a Summer Session, we recommend children bring the following:

• Food

• Water

• Closed in shoes (we recommend hiking shoes or rain boots if they're happy to get wet and muddy). No sandals please!

• Weather appropriate clothing

• Insect repellant/sunscreen

• Wet gear if rain is predicted - rain jacket, pants and rain boots

• Spare change of clothes

Forest School is an inspiring educational philosophy designed to provide learners of all ages with regular opportunities to thrive, build confidence, and enhance self-esteem through hands-on experiences in natural or wild settings. This unique approach to learning complements and enriches the broader scope of outdoor and woodland education (www.forestschoolassociation.org).

The origin of forest schools have deep roots in Europe and Scandinavia, when the first kindergartens were established in the 1800s. The original kindergartens were preschool aged, in gardens or outdoors, and play-based. In the 1900s, Germany’s Waldorf-Steiner methodology promoted inquiry and play based education guided by teachers as facilitators . The outdoor school movement took hold in Germany in the 1950s/1960s where they established “Waldkindergarten” classes, which translates to “Forest Kindergarten”. This model was adopted by Denmark and Sweden as well, which aligned with their cultural love of the outdoors. From there, forest schools expanded quickly across the United Kingdom in the 1990s and then in the 2000s in the United States. The United States now has over 100 independent Forest Schools across the nation, including ours, right here in North County San Diego!

Yes, we are a school. At The Native School, our curriculum is built on the belief that children are capable and inquisitive learners, a philosophy that aligns with educational approaches like Montessori, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia, with the latter being integrated into our program. We are proud to offer a thoughtful, high-quality outdoor education in North County San Diego, fostering a strong sense of community centered around a shared love of nature. Our school nurtures the whole child by providing an enriching, hands-on learning experience that encourages curiosity, creativity, and a deep connection to the natural world, all while meeting the requirements set forth by the state of California and the Department of Education.

The Native School stands apart from other outdoor learning programs by being the only true Forest School in Southern California. While many outdoor education programs offer child-led, experiential learning in natural environments, The Native School integrates a deeper, more structured approach. Our program is guided by the principles of Forest School, where children are immersed in nature, facing real-world challenges that foster independence, resilience, and a profound respect for the environment. We believe in following the California Department of Education requirements, ensuring that our students receive a well-rounded, high-quality education while developing empathy, kindness, and a sense of global stewardship. At The Native School, children engage in outdoor learning that is both structured and flexible, enabling them to drive their own learning in a safe, supportive, and educationally rigorous environment.

As the forest school adage goes, there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing choices. If we're lucky enough to have rain, we require that children come dressed in a muddy buddy (or rain jacket and waterproof pants) and rain boots. In rare cases of extreme weather (lightning storms, severe wind and rain, etc.) class will be canceled and an emergency closure day utilized.

The Native School leverages emergent and creative curriculum, based on our well rounded, holistic approach to literacy. While our methodology and strong belief in forest school outdoor education may be different than a typical walled classroom, our program meets and exceeds state standards in literacy. This includes shared reading, shared writing, quality independent reading, and word study to name a few. These literacy components draw on the natural materials and inspirations of our outdoor classrooms. We do not simply bring reading or writing instruction outdoors; we pull from our students’ emergent discoveries, evolving interests, hands on outdoor classroom experiences, and choose meaningful “living stories” with topics that our students are interested in. In this way, learning is experiential and involved, and not reduced to a simple absorption of facts.

We have access to public restrooms, but if an urgent bathroom need arises teachers are prepared “Native School style” with portable sanitation supplies. We follow a carry in/carry out, leave no trace policy.

Our program is built on relationships and community. This is at the very heart of our school, and naturally, these things take time to build and cultivate. Annually, we have an 80% return student rate, which speaks to how valued our program is for families. We can only sustain this momentum when families are committed for the duration of the school year. Additionally, our forest school is focused on integration with nature. This includes the rhythm of the seasons, which can only be observed and felt by attending the full year cycle with us.

Once enrolled, The Native School provides a comprehensive Parent Orientation deck which reviews and recommends all clothing to best prepare your child for all seasons and conditions. It also goes over gear outfitting, as well as lunch and snack recommendations for phsically active forest schoolers.

Our enrollment process is a three step process:

1) Submit a New Student Application via our Enrollment page

2) Confirm an RSVP via email to attend a Parent Information Session to ensure we're a mutual fit

3) Once you've confirmed you wish to pursue enrollment, you'll be placed on our wait list if no openings are immediately available

Once on our wait list, slot openings will be assessed based on a number of factors, including boy-girl ratio, age, length of time on waitlist, desired class location, and desired attendance schedule.

Simply put, YES! You can utilize your charter school funding for homeschool on our enrichment programs. For more information just send us a message and we would be happy to answer any questions.

While The Native School cleans and disinfects shared supplies regularly, our supplies and our outdoor classrooms are not a sterile environment. Participating in our outdoor program could increase the risk of contracting COVID-19. The Native School in no way guarantees that COVID-19 infection will not occur through participation in our program.

Everyone understands that there is some level of risk in any activity - whether it be going for a walk, going to the grocery store, or attending Native School classes. While we have many precautions in place (temperature checks, frequent handwashing, intermittently breaking into smaller groups, staff face coverings), we do not expect that young children will be able to maintain “social distance” at all times from their peers, despite best efforts. Children gravitate towards each other and play in close proximity to one another, forming friendships and community bonds. Additionally, young children often need help from their teacher with their jacket, shoe laces, etc and seek teacher comfort when they’re sad or hurt. Children emotionally benefit from reassurance. We know that our students will need hugs and comfort at times, and thus, there will be some physical contact between teachers and children.

Masks are required for teachers at all times. Despite being outdoors, masks are required for parents and students during drop-off and pick-up, due to being a high congestion and busy time.