Wildwood is at the forefront of the Relational Forest School model that places relationship at the heart of education. It is a practice rooted in the understanding that children’s learning and growth unfold most fully within relationships - with themselves, with trusted adults, with peers, and with the living world.   Relational forest school is about cultivating ways of being with each other and with the Earth that foster belonging, respect, and reciprocity. We don’t just learn about nature, we learn with nature. This approach honors learning not as something transmitted, but as something emerging through connection. Connection is the foundation of deep learning.   ↟ Relationship — Learning happens in relationship with the land, with seasons, with community.   ↟ Attunement — Children feel secure when adults notice, respond, and hold space for their inner world, their experiences, learning and expression.    ↟ Ecosystemic Identity & Belonging — Children come to know themselves as part of the natural world, not separate from it.   ↟ Reciprocity — Both children and adults practice giving and receiving care within their communities and with the land.​   ↟ Whole Child Approach — Children are seen as whole beings, curious, capable, and connected to the living world.   ↟ Co Learning — Teachers and caretakers are co-learners, not just instructors.   ↟ Nature Based — Nature is not just a backdrop, but a living participant in the learning journey. Benefits of our Relational Forest School Builds resilience and adaptability by spending time outdoors in varied conditions. Cultivates empathy, cooperation, and emotional regulation through community practices. Supports nervous system regulation for both children and adults. Strengthens ecological identity: a felt sense of belonging to the more-than-human world. Our Core Values: Children — We believe children are inherently competent, intelligent, creative, and loving beings. Curiosity — We harness the natural curiosity of young children by asking questions at the peak of discovery or interest. We continue asking questions to encourage reflection, conversation among peers, or further exploration.   Connection — We believe that we are a part of nature, not separate from it. We model and instill a deep love, wonder, and gratitude for nature and all of its gifts. This authentic connection to nature leads to caring for our forest and our natural environment. Compassion — We treat ourselves, each other, and every living thing, big or small, with kindness, empathy, and respect. Physical Experience — We strive to create a place where children can be fully “in” their bodies, testing their limits and experiencing themselves as strong, confident physical beings. Children are free to explore and learn with all of their senses. Through year long nature-immersion programs, children become hardy and resilient, and more in-tune with their body's needs.

Our Wildlings and Earthlings classes will be held at the Big Springs Hollow Trailhead at the top of Big Springs Park in Provo Canyon. Please plan to drop off your child at the trailhead. Our Seedlings classes will be held at Southfork Parkin Provo Canyon. Please plan to drop your child off near the pavilion on the north (right) side of the park.    We also have a secondary location that allows for flexibility when the weather is more intense or road conditions are unsafe. On these days, classes may migrate to Battlecreek Falls Trailhead in Pleasant Grove. Parents will be notified at least one hour before class time via Brightwheel if class will be held at the secondary location. Please CLICK HERE for links to maps of these areas.

Our program offers seasonal lessons from our Wildwood Way Curriculum: All Seasons created by Lis Kennedy, Kylie Finlinson, and Jessica Schirmer. This bespoke curriculum includes earth science lessons, songs, verses, mindfulness, and unique activities and crafts for the children to integrate what they are learning.   In addition, Wildwood integrates an emergent curriculum that flows organically from what the children are curious about and what Mother Nature presents to us that day. We have found that creating space for both short, structured lessons as well as a lot of free play and exploration is a good balance for all ages. Elements that inspire our curriculum: 1. Commitment to nature immersion regardless of weather 2. Flow learning 3. Inquiry-based teaching style 4. Place-based education 5. Respect for others, self, and the earth 6. Positive reinforcement approach 7. Emphasis on all relationships 8. Authentic play 9. Exposure to moderate risk 10. Small class size, low student-teacher ratio

SEEDLINGS Mondays                          1:00 - 3:00              South Fork Tuesdays                          1:00 - 3:00              South Fork Wednesdays                   1:00 - 3:00              South Fork Thursdays                        1:00 - 3:00              South Fork ​ WILDLINGS Mondays                           10:00 - 12:30        Big Springs Tuesdays                           10:00 - 12:30        Big Springs Wednesdays                    10:00 - 12:30        Big Springs                        Thursdays                         10:00 - 12:30        Big Springs ​ EARTHLINGS Wednesdays                     10:00 - 12:30        Big Springs Wednesdays                     1:00 - 3:30            Big Springs

We use the wonderful Brightwheel app for enrollment and tuition. At least one parent must download the app in order to access your child's class messaging, tuition invoices, and the payment system. ​ Tuition is paid monthly and due by the 1st of the month and no later than the 5th.   We require all parents to set up autopay for their child's monthly tuition. Initial automatic setup can be inputted by using the Brightwheel app/website by credit card (2.75%fee) or bank account transfer {0.5% fee plus ($0.25 min, $1 max)}. ​ If tuition is more than 1 month late, students will not be able to return to class until all invoices are paid up. Also, the student's spot cannot be held in the meantime, and Wildwood reserves the right to fill the class spot(s) at any time.    We understand unexpected things come up and hardships occur! We are always happy to work with you the best we can and just ask that you keep us in the loop and communicate.​ ​​ **The cost of tuition is spread evenly over the course of 9 months, no matter how many class days or weeks end up falling in that month. Some months will have holidays or weeks off (i.e. December), where other months will have 5 weeks of class rather than a typical 4. To keep the tuition consistent we have opted to set up our tuition payments this way. Thank you! ​ SEEDLINGS CLASS 1 class per week            $115/month 2 classes per week       $230 /month ​ WILDLINGS CLASS 1 class per week            $140 /month 2 classes per week       $280 /month ​ EARTHLINGS CLASS 1 class per week            $140 /month

We use the Brightwheel App for most school and class notifications. We require at least one parent to download the app, so you are informed of important information regarding your child's class (cancelations, location changes, school events, etc.) ​ Please make sure to turn your notification settings on in the app so you do not miss any important communication. Here is an article that shows you how to set up push notifications if you need some assistance. COMMUNICATION: If you need to convey time-sensitive information about an upcoming absence, late arrivals, or a change to pick-up plans, please contact your teacher directly via Brightwheel messaging before or after class.   We keep our class time free from interruptions and screens unless there is an emergency. For all other non-time-sensitive questions, please email wildwoodschoolutah@gmail.com.  *Please do not pass along important information to teachers at drop-off or pick-up, as that can be a hectic time and we may forget. Brightwheel message or email is preferred.

Please keep your child home if they show severe symptoms, such as a fever or heavy vomiting, and notify the school. Children should be symptom-free for at least 24 hours without the use of medicine before returning to class. This helps them recover and prevents illness from spreading. Since we are outdoors, there is a reduced chance of passing germs than in a traditional indoor school setting.  ↟ If your child will be absent or late, please message teachers directly in the app.  ↟ If you know in advance that you will miss a day for vacation, etc., you can also email us ahead of time to let us know.

Wildwood Forest School generally follows the Alpine School District schedule and rules for weather closure. However, since class is held at a higher elevation, we can experience more severe weather and may need to cancel class or issue a delayed start due to weather, even when Alpine is in session. We have built into the tuition cost of our programs up to 4 cancellations days (3 for Monday classes) for severe weather, illness, or emergencies.  This means that if your child's class is canceled more than the alotted times throughout the year, we will reimburse you for the additional canceled class(es). We keep track of all canceled days for each child.    We will notify families of a cancellation or delayed start as soon as possible via Brightwheel.

Drop Off:  Please walk your child to the designated meeting area and make sure a teacher acknowledges their arrival. If you arrive late, the group may have already moved to a different location on the land. Please contact staff before arriving so we can direct you to the group if possible. Pick Up: Children will only be released to a parent/guardian or an adult listed on the child’s authorized pick-up list. Please notify school who you would like to be included on your child's Authorized Adults list.  If someone new will be picking up your child, please notify the teachers in advance. Staff may request identification if the person is not known to us. We ask that you please do not drop off your child more than 5 minutes before class starts and make sure to pick up your student promptly when class ends. All of our teachers have obligations before and after class to attend to. If you are more than 5 minutes late more than once, we will need to charge a late fee of $10 for every 10 minutes late.

Student safety is our top priority. All teachers are CPR-certified and carry cell phones and first aid kits at all times. We teach children outdoor safety practices to prevent injury, and we maintain clear protocols for responding to emergencies. In the event of any accident, a full incident report is completed and caregivers are notified by the end of class, or sooner if warranted. We have established safety protocols and trained staff for the following risk areas: Climbing • Plants • Water Play • Stick Play • Wildlife • Wandering/Hiding • Rock Throwing Teachers actively supervise the group at all times, minimize distractions, and conduct regular head counts to ensure every child is accounted for. Research shows that children with regular outdoor play experience are injured less often than those without it. Outdoor play builds real-world risk assessment, gross motor skills, and body awareness - foundational abilities that support lifelong safety and confidence outdoors. Within clear safety boundaries, our students are free to explore, play, and learn to their fullest potential!

Please take your child to the restroom upon arrival so they can begin the day ready to play. If a child needs a bathroom break during class and public restrooms are not accessible, a teacher will assist the child in a private area away from the rest of the group. For many children, this may be a new experience, and our teachers work gently with students to help them feel comfortable and at ease with the process. In keeping with Leave No Trace principles, teachers pack out or bury all biodegradable waste.

As a relational forest school, we believe that conflict is a natural and valuable part of childhood development — an opportunity for children to build empathy, communication skills, and self-regulation. Rather than relying on punishment or shame, our teachers are trained to use the principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to guide children through conflict in real time. When disagreements or conflicts arise, our teachers help children: Identify and express their feelings and needs Listen to and acknowledge the feelings and needs of others Find solutions together that respect everyone involved This approach allows children to practice real conflict resolution skills rather than having outcomes imposed on them, and it strengthens the trusting relationships between children and teachers that are central to our school's philosophy. What We Consider Typical Conflict Young children are still developing impulse control and emotional regulation, and it is developmentally normal for conflicts to occasionally become physical (ie. a grab, a push, or a frustrated shove). These moments are treated as teaching opportunities. Our teachers will step in, support the children involved in working through the conflict, and help them find a resolution using our NVC-based approach. Zero-Tolerance for Violent Behavior Separately from typical conflict, we maintain a zero-tolerance policy for violent behavior that puts other children or teachers at serious risk of harm. This includes repeated, escalating, or intentional acts of aggression that go beyond developmentally typical conflict and cannot be resolved through our standard conflict-resolution approach. Our Process Early concerns: If a teacher observes a pattern of escalating aggressive behavior, we will communicate with the child's caregivers as soon as possible to share our observations and collaborate on a plan to support the child. Serious incidents: If a single incident poses a serious risk of harm to another child or teacher, we reserve the right to remove the child from the program immediately, without a prior warning, in order to protect the safety of all participants. Ongoing risk: If concerning behavior continues despite our best efforts to support the child through it, we may determine that we are not able to safely accommodate that child in our program going forward. Our goal is always to support children and families through challenges whenever possible. Removal from the program is a last resort, reserved for situations where the safety of the group cannot otherwise be assured.

To protect the safety of our students and in accordance with our insurance coverage, we do not permit visitors during class time. This policy allows our teachers to maintain full attention on the group and ensures a secure, distraction-free learning environment. All staff are required to complete a background check prior to working with students.

We strive to create community among the Wildwood families. Building a network of support for  nature loving families empowers and encourages them to get out in nature even more - in all weather! We host 4-6 Wildwood family gatherings throughout the year to provide opportunities to build community and share experiences together. We encourage families to stay after class and continue playing in nature together. We also encourage caregivers to meet up during class time and enjoy the forest or trail together. If you do decide to stay in the area for your own nature time, please stay out of sight of our class to make sure the students are not distracted.