FOREST SUMMER CAMPS
Emerald Heart Forest School is pleased to offer 2 one week summer camps in 2024 hosted by In Place, a new local nonprofit for place-centered nature education.
Summer is a wonderful time to experience creativity and fun in and with nature!
As in all of our programs, during camp, we honor and nourish relationships with ourselves, each other, and Earth. We value the dynamic landscape of our forest home and the unique inner landscape of each child.
Through decades of experience, we have honed an approach to place-centered nature education.
We weave together play, expressive arts, nature science, kinship, and mindfulness
We explore these practices:
Gratitude and Reciprocity
Sit Spot
Our Neighbors, the Plants and Critters Around Us
Wild Edibles
Nature Craft and Art Making
Nature Walks and Hikes
Observation and Journaling
Birding
Movement and Nature Dance
Poetry and Storytelling
Social and Emotional Well-being
Peaceful Conflict Resolution
Communication Skills
Mindfulness
There's plenty of time for free play and for interest-led exploration!
Dates and Ages:
Session 1:
Monday June 17 - Thursday June 20 (4 days; 9-3)
ages 6 to 10.
Session 2:
Monday June 24 - Thursday June 27 (4 days; 9-3)
ages 6 to 10.
Hours:
9:00AM to 3:00PM (flexible drop-off 9:00-9:30AM)
Facilitators:
Taira Restar and assistants
+ stellar Guest Teachers:
Claire Peaslee, playful birding
Ken Otter, surfing
Richard Vacha, tracking
Location:
Inverness Park home base. And other local wild lands.
Inverness Park address given upon registration.
We are in 3.5 acres of forested land at "the top" of a quiet residential neighborhood. Please note that our location is not fenced in. For safety, only children who are able to stay within our physical limits can participate in camp. If your child tends to wander off and/or "test boundaries" with adults, camp may not be a good match. Feel free to email our director, Taira, if you have any questions.
Practicalities
Gear
Because we are outdoors in all weather, including rain, forest campers dress in outdoor gear. Campers wear long pants and close-toed shoes. They are encouraged to wear sun hats. If your family does not have this type of clothing, we will do our best to help you round some up.
Water & Food
Children bring their own snack, lunch and water. We have plenty of drinking water to refill bottles.
Readiness:
Forest school is a unique experience. We want every camper to feel confident and to have fun. Please see our registration form for how we determine readiness.
Costs:
$25 non-refundable deposit per camp plus
camp payment.
Choose your camp payment based on the sliding scale.
Camps 1 and 2; MTWTh, 4 days of camp; 9-3
Sliding scale $375- $475
$475 covers costs (materials, teachers' wages, administration, insurance)
There are 6 partial scholarships available through In Place nonprofit:
Paying non-refundable deposit of $25 plus $300, $200 and $100 for camp tuition.
It is our heartfelt intention to make place-centered nature education accessible to all.
Registration and Payment:
To register and to hold your child's spot, 3 steps are required.
(1) Complete and SIGN registration form.
(2) Complete and SIGN waiver. (Parent of current or recent student, you do not need to re-sign.)
(3) Make payment. (payment info on registration form)
Questions & Your Wild Ideas
Have questions? Email Taira.
As we move forward with new programming, we would love to hear about your interests, needs and wild ideas. Forest School Programming Survey.
Gratitude & Land Acknowledgement
Emerald Heart Forest School is on the unceded lands of Coast Miwoks. We thank Coast Miwoks, past and present, for their care of these lands and waters.