Maple Ridge Forest School

Giving children space to learn and interact with nature.

Registration for 2026/2027 will open on May 19!

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 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

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 2021-2023)

Little Forest School

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

 

Typical themes covered in this age group:

  • Bugs
  • Animals
  • Trees
  • Weather
  • Birds

DATES: Mondays 

Term 1: September 14 – December 7, 2026

Term 2: January 11 – May 31, 2027

TIME: 8:30am – 11:30am OR 12:30pm – 3:30pm

COST: Term 1: $404.25 | Term 2: $588.00 | Both: $992.25

* All children must be fully potty trained to attend Forest School. Child must be 3 years of age by the start of the term for which they are registered.

The program does not run on the following dates: September 21, October 12, December 14, December 21, December 28, January 4, February 15, March 15, March 22, March 29, & May 24.

Registration for 2026/2027 Open May 19

Ages 5-7 (birth years 2019-2021)

Nature Explorers

Our Nature Explorers program encourages your child’s early appreciation of nature. These immersive, hands-on lessons lay the foundation for kids to develop a deep connection with nature, helping them grow into confident, grounded, and environmentally-conscious adults.

 

Typical themes covered in this age group:

  • Fall Semester: Salmon/ Mushrooms/ Migration/ Cooking
  • Winter Semester: Hibernation/ Geology/ Navigation
  • Spring Semester: Pollinators/ Trees and Plants/ Wetlands

Two group options for Nature Explorers: Tuesday OR Thursday

TUESDAY GROUP:

DATES: Weekly on Tuesdays starting September 15, 2026 until May 25, 2027

TIME: 9:30am – 2:00pm

COST: $1,764 +gst

Please note the program does not run on the following dates: October 13, December 15, December 22, December 29, January 5, January 26, March 16, March 23, March 30

Registration for 2026/2027 Opens May 19

THURSDAY GROUP:

DATES: Weekly on Thursdays starting September 17, 2026 – May 27, 2027

TIME: 9:30am – 2:00pm

COST: $1,827 +gst

Please note the program does not run on the following dates: November 26, December 17, December 24, December 31, January 7, February 121, March 18, March 25

Registration for 2026/2027 Opens on May 19

Ages 8-10 (birth years 2016-2018)

Forest Adventurers

At this age, your child will start to appreciate a deeper connection to nature. Our Forest Adventurer program works to strengthen this bond and foster meaningful interactions between kids and the natural world. 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: Salmon/ Mushrooms/ Survival skills
  • Winter Semester: Hibernation/ Migration/ Climate patterns
  • Spring Semester: Biodiversity/ Navigation/ Outdoor cooking

DATES: Weekly on Fridays starting September 18, 2026 until May 28, 2027

TIME: 9:30am – 2:00pm

COST: $1701 +GST

Please note the program does not run on the following dates: October 23, November 27, December 18, December 25, January 1, January 8, February 12, March 19, March 26, & May 14

Registration for 2026/2027 Open on May 19

Ages 5-12 (birth years 2014-2021)

Forest Club

Multi-age program designed for siblings.

Our Forest Club program is designed for siblings ages 5-12 who wish to focus on learning across multiple ages. These sessions emphasize peer learning, mentorship, role modeling, and social play, fostering a strong sense of community. Additionally, this program is open to individuals as space allows. It also welcomes those who have aged out of our other programs but still have a passion for forest school and wish to take on a mentorship role.

 

Typical themes covered in this age group:

  • Fall Semester: Life of a Tree/ Mushrooms/ Survival skills
  • Winter Semester: Hibernation/ Animal behaviour/ Cooking
  • Spring Semester: Biodiversity/ Navigation / Plants

DATES: Weekly on Wednesdays starting September 16, 2026 until May 26, 2027

TIME: 9:30am- 2:00pm

COST: $1,827 +GST

Priority is given to sibling registrations first.

Please note the program does not run on the following dates: September 30, November 11, December 16, December 23, December 30, January 6, March 17, & March 24

Sibling Registration for 2026/2027 Opens May 19 Individual Registration for 2026/2027 Opens May 19

Ages 13+ (birth years 2009-2013)

Forest Leaders

Our Forest Leader peer mentorship program is for those forest school students who have aged out of the program, but wish to stay involved as mentors and develop their leadership skills. Participants will take on a peer leader role within one of our Nature Explorers (ages 5-7) groups, helping to guide and inspire younger students. There are very limited spaces in this program, and selection is based on a candidate’s fit.

 

Learning outcomes for this age group:

  • Learning how to model positive behaviour and problem-solving.
  • Developing confidence in guiding and supporting younger peers.
  • Learning to work collaboratively with both peers and adult mentors.
  • Learning how to inspire younger students to care for the environment.
  • Building resilience, adaptability, and self-confidence.

DATES: Weekly on Tuesdays OR Thursdays from September 15/17, 2026 until May 25/27, 2027

TIME: 9:30am- 2:00pm

COST: $350 +GST

Interested participants must apply to be a part of the program, and will be accepted only if deemed a fit for the program. Applicants may be required to complete a short interview to determine fit. Previous forest school experience, or other outdoor experience required. Participants must be able to attend a minimum of 2 sessions per month.

Applications for 2026/2027 Open on May 19

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!”