Our Forest Program
Muddy Boots Academy is a bilingual, nature-based program rooted in seasonal rhythms, hands-on exploration and whole-child development.
Opening September 2026
When children spend regular time at Muddy Boots, families notice real shifts
More than a good day outsideCuriosity: an appetite for questions, exploration, and figuring things out
Confidence: the kind that only comes from doing hard things and succeeding
Regulation: children who come home settled, grounded, and ready for connection
Imagination: less reliance on screens to fill the time
Independence: trust in their own instincts and capabilities
Resilience: comfort with discomfort, with mess, with not-knowing-yet
One day in the forest.
9am – 3pm · $65 per session · Seasonal discounts availableA full day of forest exploration, fire building, den construction, creek wading, whittling, mud sliding, risk-taking and wonder. Led with educator-level intention and nature-rooted childhood freedom.
No screens. No structured seats. No rushing.
Just children doing what children were made to do.
What happens when children are given the space to just be.
A day at Muddy Boots might look like:Wading through the creek in rubber boots
Building a den in the woods from sticks and rope
Learning to whittle, drill, or start a fire safely
Mud sliding, tree climbing, balancing on logs
Watching a life cycle unfold in the soil
A science experiment that started as a question someone asked
Afternoon stillness the kind that only comes after a full day outside
Frequently Asked Questions
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We welcome children ages 4–10. We use a mixed-age approach, which encourages collaboration, confidence, and natural peer learning.
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Our programs unfold across six acres of ever-changing forest. New spaces invite curiosity, while revisiting familiar places helps children deepen their connection and observe nature's quiet transformations.
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We encourage sending plenty of layers and extra clothing options in your child's backpack. The forest changes throughout the day, and having choices helps us stay comfortable. Above all, comfort matters most because when a child feels good, they can fully settle into the rhythm of a day outdoors.
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We welcome children from public school, homeschool, and flexible programs. Our hands-on, outdoor learning complements what they're already doing. Don't worry about falling behind academically because the skills children build here, like focus, independence, and critical thinking, strongly support their overall learning.
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We believe childhood should feel wholesome, joyful, and rooted in connection. When we strip things back to the basics — time outdoors, play, curiosity, and real-world exploration — children are given the space to simply be children. In that simplicity, something powerful happens: they build stronger foundations. Confidence, resilience, creativity, and problem-solving all grow naturally through these lived experiences. By slowing down and focusing on what truly matters in early childhood, we actually allow children to build more — deeper learning, richer connections, and a stronger sense of self.
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Muddy Boots Academy provides all of the food we prepare and cook together throughout the day. This often includes simple, nourishing, and fun outdoor-cooked meals and snacks — warm soups over the fire, bannock, roasted veggies, popcorn, berry pancakes.
We do still ask families to pack a wholesome lunch with extra snacks, as full days outdoors tend to work up a big appetite. We also strongly recommend sending a large water bottle. We'll have a refill station available throughout the day to keep everyone hydrated.
