History + Mission
At Mountain Run Forest School, we believe that everything is better outside. Especially childhood. Especially education. We believe in giving children more of what research (and common sense) says they need: time to move and play, time to grow their gross motor skills, time to explore nature in mixed-age groups, time to read and ask questions, time to learn without the fear and pressure of testing.
Here at Mountain Run Forest School, we believe that everything is better outside— especially childhood. When you picture a school, you might picture cinder block walls and fluorescent lights, with a plastic playground and limited recess. You might picture students who are bored, or who are stressed out and struggling. You might imagine your spirited, wild and wonderful child coming home disappointed because it’s been raining all week and they had indoor recess yet again.
WE DON’T BELIEVE IN INDOOR RECESS.
And we don’t believe that stress should play a part in your child’s education. We believe education can, and should, be joyful, gentle, and uplifting. We believe the early years should be spent outdoors in active, mixed-age play, and should involve plenty of mud, frogs, and worms. Most importantly, we believe that your child is defined by much more than just academic success: we want children to grow into kind, courageous humans who show up boldly for themselves, each other, and the planet.
I had been a certified public school teacher for nearly a decade when my daughter was born in 2020. It was a wild year for educators across the world: we were forced to examine the way things had always been done, because public schools had been forced into uncharted territory. It made me reflect on what I loved about public education, and what frustrated me about it. When I looked at my daughter, I knew I wanted something different for her: a gentle, fresh air childhood that didn’t shoehorn her into a narrow view of what she should be learning and doing based solely on her age. I wanted her to have the time and space and freedom to run and climb, swim and build, use her imagination, read great books, and play with children of all ages. It was a moment of truth for me: if I wanted to give these things to my daughter, shouldn’t I work to give these things to other children, too? Mountain Run Forest School was born.
Whether you are seeking an exceptional, full time education for your child, or an awesome part time adventure group, Mountain Run Forest School has a place for your family.
