Forest School at Circle R Ranch is an alternative educational program for families.  Parents attend with their children and we spend the whole time outdoors learning about and exploring nature. 

Each session is unique and based on the season and weather.  Using place-based learning, inquiry (art of Questioning) and active play in nature the children experience a connection with the land and the wild things growing on it.  There is always a focus for each session and lots of time for free play and exploration.

Some of the activities we’ve done in the past are:

• Cross county Skiing and Snowshoeing
• Sugar Maple Tree tapping, sap collecting and maple syrup boiling
• Song writing
• Scrub shelter building
• Fire building
• Gardening
• Horse grooming
• Wild animal tracking
• Sand play
• Birding
• Nature games
• Farm animal care
• Treasure hunts
• Map reading
• Rock collecting
• Natural cloth dying with black walnuts

This year we are running four Forest School groups: Wednesday afternoon (Cedar group), Thursday morning (Willow group), Friday Morning (Linden group) and Sunday afternoon (Maple group).

Cedar group

Wednesday Dates for Spring 2020:
February 12, February 26, March 11, March 25, April 8, April 22, May 6, May 20, June 3
1pm to 3:30pm
$225 per family for 9 sessions

Willow group

Thursday Dates for Spring 2020:
February 13, February 27, March 12, March 26, April 9, April 23, May 7, May 21, June 4
9:30 a.m. till noon
$225 per family for 9 sessions

Linden group

Friday Dates for Spring 2020:
February 14, February 28, March 13, March 27, April 10, April 24, May 8, May 22, May 29
9:30 a.m. till noon
$225 per family for 9 sessions

Maple Group
NOW FULL!!!!!!!!!

Sunday Dates for Spring 2020:
February 9, March 8, April 5, May 10, June 7
1pm to 3:30pm
$125 per family for 5 sessions

Our curriculum for this spring weekday programs are as follows:
(program may be subject to change based on weather and other logistics)

February #1 – Skiing or Snowshoeing, land exploration
February #2 – Tapping trees for maple syrup, studying animal tracks
March #1 – Sugar bush tour, Team building elements
March #2 – Tree bark fun, field guide primer, diversity mapping
April #1 – Signs of spring (frogs, nests)
April #2 – Plants studies, foraging, planting seeds
May #1 – Birding, bird count, bird language
May #2 – Rocks and mineral studies, rock hounding and flint flaking
June #1 – Primitive skills and tools, fire and food-share

And for our Sunday afternoon program:
Feb 9 – Snow play, snowshoeing or skiing, (wagon ride outback if no snow)
March 8 – Maple syrup sugar bush tour
April 5 – Birding and tracking
May 10 –  Wildflowers and foraging
June 7  – Fire and primitive skills

Forest School is run by Jeremiah Riehl, a passionate nature connection facilitator.  He has been working at Circle R Ranch for ten years teaching children about the wonders of nature, primitive and survival skills, as well as permaculture gardening.   You can reach him directly at:

For more information or to register
please email jeremiah.natureschool@gmail.com
or call 519 471 3799