We are committed to playing outdoors in all seasons and all weather, but we take safety very seriously. If the weather is unsafe (lightning, high winds, etc), we seek cover immediately. If the weather will be truly miserable for more than a day, we have indoor spaces we can use (renting a cabin for the day, taking a field trip to a children’s museum, etc). Our fulltime crew maintains an indoor classroom that we use during the colder months for our academic block, so we don’t have to worry about pages blowing away or fingers getting too cold during handwriting practice. We still aim to spend 4-5 hours a day outside, all through the year. The right gear makes a huge difference in comfort levels— check out our gear list for more information.

We love parent involvement! If you are interested in chaperoning field trips or hikes, assisting in our outdoor classroom, or joining us for special events, let us know! Have a special skill or interest you want to share with our students, like wood working, fishing, art/music, etc? We’d love to have you!

If your student is very young, or this will be their first experience away from family, we work together to plan a stress-free and joyful transition. We want all of our students to feel safe and secure as they start school!

As long as there are seats available on the bus, we are happy to accommodate this. We wouldn’t be surprised if your child starts coming one day a week, and then begs to come full time— it’s happened before. :)

We have a limited number of work trade positions available each season. This usually involves a parent assisting one day a week, or a few times per month. We are also open to bartering for services related to tax preparation, vehicle maintenance, and special skills instruction (if you are able to teach a watercolor/ukulele/wood carving/etc class). Please enquire!

We also offer a 10% sibling discount.

We are a Charlotte Mason inspired program. You can read more about our general philosophy right here. We use a variety of Charlotte Mason resources for science, history, social studies, and art, as well as following student interest. We use Ambleside Online’s group curriculum; this is not an online program (as the name suggests), but a truly literature based curriculum.

We use a variety of specific programs to meet the needs of individual students. We currently use a combination of Life of Fred and Right Start curriculums for math, depending on the needs of each child. We use an Orton Gillingham approach to teaching reading and spelling.

At Mountain Run, we don’t refer to students as “behind” or “ahead” in any subjects. We firmly believe that “wherever you are, there you are,” and work with students at their own level without labeling, shame, or competition. That being said, we carefully monitor student progress to make sure students are supported, confident, and thriving. If a student needs additional support in any subjects, we communicate with families early and often.

Our instructors are certified teachers, and we use VA state standards to generally monitor student progress. We understand that families may sometimes need to transition to public school, and we want to make sure our students are prepared to enter a grade level classroom elsewhere.

We do not believe in standardized, high-stakes tests, and do not assign students grades or scores for any classroom. Rather, we provide narrative feedback to students and families throughout the year.

Mountain Run uses a secular curriculum. We respect families of all faith traditions, and promote civility, kindness, and tolerance.

Miss Pam is a member of Culpeper United Methodist Church. If you need someone to pray with you, or want to talk more about finding a church home, just ask. :)

Part time families may enroll for a single term (fall, winter, or spring).

Fall term: Aug 22/24- Nov 6/8

Winter Term: Nov 14/16- Feb 20/22

Spring Term: Feb 27/29- May 21/23

We offer rolling admission throughout the year— if you are just now hearing about us, you are not too late!

We use public facilities wherever available— there are often bathrooms available at trailheads and in public parks. If we are far from facilities, students go outdoors. We follow “leave no trace” practices, and carry a “go bag” with a trowel and hand sanitizer. If your child has never peed in the woods, we strongly encourage you to teach this important life skill before your child starts school.

Alas, no. But you can join our waitlist for next year!

If your child is 5 (or will be turning 5 soon), but missed the cut off for kindergarten, they can enroll in our program midyear. Our outdoor, play-based program may be a great fit for your family. Please enquire!

If we are traveling outside of cell range, parents will always know exactly where we are headed and how to find us, in case of emergency.

We take safety very seriously. Instructors are certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR, carry an extensive first aid kit, and only venture into sketchy cell service territory with a safety plan— well traveled paths, park rangers close by, and an itinerary provided to parents.