Treewild Forest Classroom offers a full day outdoors each week. Children come here full of curiosity and leave full of wonder. No matter the weather, bright sunshine or brilliant cold, the children are engaged with nature and learning in a way that can never be achieved by sitting inside.
Study upon study show how children thrive being in the outdoors. Their academics gain relevance; their bodies grow stronger, and their spirits gain courage and tenderness with this hands-on, unplugged and experiential program.
A Treewild day is full of activities that engage skills in the natural sciences, physics, the arts, language, and mathematics. It is Field Work at its best. Treewild Forest Classroom is led by renowned outdoor classroom specialist, Joplin James.
As always, Treewild is committed to not sharing viruses. Being outdoors does a lot to deter illnesses, but we mask if there is a risk. When it comes to challenging themselves in the outdoors, balancing on a log, climbing a tree or over rocks, we take a child’s safety quite seriously, while being attentive to stretching their capabilities so they develop both courage and tenacity.
Treewild Forest Classroom is a year-long program that runs from 9am to 3pm on Tuesdays (for younger students) and Wednesdays (3rd-up.) We are considering opening a half-day program for Kindergartners from 8-12 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In 2023, our opening day will be September 26th, and we’ll finish the end of May. Treewild is located on Thompson Road in Shelburne, Vermont.
Treewild does not usually take off for weather. We focus on appropriate clothing and use a variety of warming techniques to keep the children comfortable. We have a Mongolian Ger with a wood stove, the Dodeca with a smokeless fire. We keep moving on the coldest days to keep comfortable.
Treewild is committed to creating a diverse and delightful group of children through our application process, with a generous scholarships. We actively welcome children of all backgrounds.
Treewild operates on the traditional lands of the Abenaki people. We are grateful to their heritage, and seek to honor the land in a way that respects their stewardship.
