Maple Ridge Forest School

Giving children space to learn and interact with nature.

Registration for our 2024/2025 will open to new families on June 1.

Kids exploring the forest at Wild & Immersive camp
Kids learning at Wild & Immersive forest school

Every kid should be able to experience and enjoy the great outdoors.

Through our Forest School programs, children will learn and have fun with their peers while exploring nature.

What your child will be doing at Forest School:

  • Hands-on learning, done mostly outdoors
  • Exploring a variety of nature-based and environmental topics
  • Socializing and interacting with outdoor-loving peers

5 unique programs & age groups

Weekly nature-inspired activities

Connected to the BC curriculum

Designed for the home learning community, but open to any child looking to experience the outdoors. Sessions feature weekly themes and engaging activities designed to encourage students’ interests.

  • Birds
  • Wetlands & toads
  • Insects
  • Tree and plant ID
  • Animal habitats
  • Geology
Rotating text that reads Programs Rooted in Nature
Kids looking at greenery through a magnifying glass Kid and leader smiling at Wild & Immersive forest camp

While engaging in outdoor activities, our facilitators will also help your child work on important life skills.

What they’ll learn:

  • Listening
  • Teamwork
  • Sharing
  • Problem-solving

Sessions are all fully supervised so you have peace of mind when dropping your child off for the day.

Let’s begin

Choose your child’s age:

Ages 3-5 (birth years 2019-2021)

Little Forest School

Nurture your child’s relationship with nature and pique their interest in the environment with our preschool sessions. The combination of child-led, interactive educational elements with fun and games will foster socialization, communication, problem-solving, and observational skills.

 

Typical themes covered in this age group:

  • Bugs
  • Animals
  • Trees
  • Water
  • Clouds

DATES: Mondays September 16, 2024 – May 26, 2025

TIME: 9am – 12pm

COST: $35/session- registration is 1 day or 2 days per week, on a monthly basis.

* All children must be fully potty trained to attend Forest School.

The program does not run on the following dates: September 30, October 7, October 14, November 11, December 16, December 23, December 30, January 6, February 17, March 17, March 24, April 21 and May 19.

Registration opens June 1

Ages 5-7 (birth years 2017-2019)

Nature Explorers

Our Nature Explorers program encourages your child’s early appreciation of nature. These lessons lay the foundation for kids to develop into secure, at-ease, and environmentally-conscious adults.

 

Typical themes covered in this age group:

  • Fall Semester: Salmon/ Mushrooms
  • Winter Semester: Hibernation/ Bears/ Nocturnal Animals
  • Semester: Pollinators/ Flowers and Plants/ Wetlands

DATES: Weekly on Tuesdays starting September 17, 2024 until May 27, 2025

TIME: 9:30am – 2:00pm

COST: $1,680 +GST

Registration opens June 1

Please note the program does not run on the following dates: October 1, November 12, December 17, December 24, December 31, January 7, January 28, March 18, and March 25.

Ages 8-9 (birth years 2015-2016)

Forest Adventurers

At this age, your child will start to appreciate a deeper connection to nature. Our Forest Adventurer program works to deepen this bond and foster meaningful interactions between kids and the natural world, benefitting us all.

 

Typical themes covered in this age group:

  • Fall Semester: salmon/mushrooms/survival skills
  • Winter Semester: hibernations/animal tracking in the snow/climate patterns
  • Spring Semester: biodiversity/wetlands/Earth Day

DATES: Weekly on Fridays starting September 20, 2024 until May 30, 2025

TIME: 9:30am – 2:00pm

COST: $1,680 +GST

Registration opens June 1

Please note the program does not run on the following dates: October 25, December 20, December 27, January 3, January 10, February 14, March 21, March 28, and April 18.

Ages 10-12 (birth years 2012-2014)

Forest Leaders

Our Forest Leader sessions take a deeper and more scientific approach to the connection between youth and nature. We’ll challenge your child to explore their place in the world while also empowering them to be more independent and sustainable humans.

 

Typical themes covered in this age group:

  • Fall Semester: photosynthesis/tree diseases/salmon/mushrooms
  • Winter Semester: Great Bear rainforest/Great Backyard Bird Count/Black History Month/survival skills
  • Spring Semester: Biodiversity/Entomology/Invasive Species

DATES: Weekly on Thursdays starting September 19, 2024 until May 29, 2025

TIME: 9:30am- 2:00pm

COST: $1,860 +GST

Registration opens June 1

Please note the program does not run on the following dates: December 19, December 26, January 2, and January 9.

Ages 5-12 (birth years 2012-2019)

Forest Club

NEW multi-age program for siblings.

Our Forest Club program is for siblings ages 5-12 who wish to focus on learning across multiple ages. These sessions are focused on participants learning from each other, mentorship and modeling, and social play while creating one learning community.

 

Typical themes covered in this age group:

  • Fall Semester: salmon/mushrooms/survival skills
  • Winter Semester: hibernations/animal tracking in the snow/climate patterns
  • Spring Semester: biodiversity/wetlands/Earth Day

DATES: Weekly on Wednesdays starting September 18, 2024 until May 28, 2025

TIME: 9:30am- 2:00pm

COST: $1,680 +GST

Registration opens June 1

Participants must attend with a sibling for this program.

Please note the program does not run on the following dates: November 6, December 18, December 25, January 1, January 8, February 26, March 19, March 26, and May 14.

What parents and teachers are saying about Forest School:

“I am the grandmother of a 10 year old child on the autism spectrum and attend the Thursday Wild and Immersive 10-13 group as his interventionist.   This is the first program that he has felt at ease in and showed signs of acceptance and success.  Kjersten and Julie are the kindest and most adaptable leaders.   They are attentive to the needs of all the children and it is evident that the children are comfortable and engaged in the environment.  I stand back and observe my grandson’s interactions with the other children and intervene if he is having a problem.   I’ve also observed how happy the children are in the program and how the leaders interact and intervene when necessary. I wish there was something like this when I was a child.”

“Such a great programs for families looking to get their children connected with nature, and increasing their appreciation of the world around them. The programs are fun and interactive, and the staff are all knowledgeable and excited to be with the kids. We love the nature walks they put on during the holidays!”

“A wonderful program of day camps and week long camps for kids (and parents) looking for an outdoor education experience and whole lot of fun in the forest! Lots of smiles! Highly Recommend.”

“I have sent my son here for two years in a row (summer camps and March break camp) and then my daughter this year as well. It’s worth the drive – the kids come home exhausted and happy. They are active, learning about the outdoors and doing fun things like building forts/shelters, capture the flag games, learning about animals in the wild and water safety. I almost hate to recommend the camp because the registration will fill up more quickly than it already does!”

“My son has been going to Wild and Immersive programs for 3 years now and we love it!! The educators and environment is exactly what EVERY child needs! My son loves the variety of activities, learning about our environment and is excited to go to each of his classes/camps! I cannot say enough about how much we love and appreciate programs like this!”