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Traditional schooling meets deep nature immersion. We're with nature even in our classroom, and spend hours outside rain or shine.

Our outdoor classroom features acres of forest and field, a cedar grove, a climbing tree, and a natural spring. We have exclusive access, allowing us to create long-term projects that stay up and to steward the land.

Our indoor classroom is filled with a wide range of Montessori learning materials, books, geometric shapes, art supplies, a clay pottery wheel, carving knives and wood, fun educational board games, a calming space, musical instruments, journals for each kiddo and open-ended toys such as magnetic tiles, blocks, Lego, K’nex, small world animals and people, a dollhouse, and a play house. It is comforting and really inviting for the project times of the day and solace from the bitter weather days.

Times: 8:30-3:30pm

Days: Tuesday-Thursday.

Location: Hazelton Road Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424

Tuition: Sliding scale.

 

Warm, organic meal plan available. 

We focus on building community within the classroom and Cottage Grove. Students learn real skills from experts and serve the community.

Our school culture has a strong emphasis on building community. We practice active inclusivity daily, we have students of all ages in class together to benefit from having older & younger friends, and we collaborate on epic projects that everyone contributes to in their own way.
 
We also take field trips to local natural areas, community events, the library, museums, local small businesses (we gave them each cards for Love Day!). We have guest teachers from the community. 
 
With our decades of experience and university training, we’ve created a one-of-a-kind learning community that fosters empathy, resilience, creativity, and focus. In addition to our academic curriculum, we have classes in:
  • Music: voice, drums, piano, acoustic
  • Systema, yoga, circus arts, and dance
  • Gardening: preserving, fermenting, soil science
  • Animal husbandry: rabbit breeding, 4h, training
  • Crafting: wood working, jewelry making, pillow sewing, embroidery, leatherwork, weaving
  • Fine arts: watercolor, clay sculpting & wheel
  • Ancient skills: fire by friction, lost-proofing, edible and medicinal plants, tracking
  • Wilderness Awareness School naturalist studies 
  • Seasonal traditional crafts & celebrations
  • ASL & Spanish taught immersively

Daily Rhythm

Morning Meeting: Check in with how we are all feeling, things we need to share what we are grateful for. We sing songs, share oral and written stories, mini lessons and introduce the day’s projects.

Morning Game 
Forest Camp: We walk the property and practice nature skills like tracking animals, making fire by friction, and basketry. This usually evolves into some intentional unstructured play in the forest.
Lunch together as a community <3
Project Time: Teacher directed lessons in science, geography, reading, and math. Student choice on life skill activities and lessons.
Closing circle

Meet the Teachers

Our forest school stands apart by being led by teachers with formal training in education, decades of experience working with students, and a strong foundation in outdoor education and skills. Most of all, we have a contagious passion that inspires students! We pride ourselves on being lifelong learners and dabblers in all things, so we can support students in a wide range of activities from ASL poetry to leathercrafting, from board game design to carpentry. 

Alyssa "Alyssum" Smith-Carstens

Founder/Director

  • B.A. in Social Studies Teaching with a focus on Political Science
  • Founder and Director of Frolicking Ferns Farm Preschool & Childcare since 2019
  • Instructor at Whole Earth Nature School (7 years)
  • Co-op Family Center Teacher (2 years)

Also, hobby farmer, lover of adventure, and avid book reader!

Alicia "Foxfire" Rose

Teacher/Curriculum Specialist

  • B.A. in English and Anthropology
  • M.A. in Environmental Education
  • M.S. in Game-based Community Learning
  • Creator of Wildkin, a program used coast-to-coast for inspiring student engagement in outdoor programs
  • Lead Teacher at Frolicking Ferns 
  • Programs Director and Instructor at Whole Earth Nature School (2013-2022)
  • Living Earth School Instructor (2013)
  • Adams International Montessori School instructor (2012-2013)

QUESTIONS?

For our parent handbook, to schedule a tour, or ask for more details, reach out!

 

Speak to our director Alyssa “Alyssum” Smith-Carstens at 541-743-1074.

or email frolickingferns@gmail.com