Question 1

What is a Forest School co-op?

Accepted Answer

We are a homeschool community inspired by the unique approach to outdoor learning. We are not a school, nor do we employ teachers. The group is led by moms and each one has a voice within the group and is responsible for their child(ren).

Question 2

Are you a preschool or drop-off program? What ages are the kids?

Accepted Answer

No, we are neither. We are a committed group of homeschoolers that hope to grow together for years to come. All moms are expected to take on an active role within the group and stay on site supporting their kids. 
We are only taking on families that plan to homeschool long-term.

We are geared towards kids 9-14 years old. We are trying to close the age gap from our oldest to our youngest in an effort to provide activities that challenge the oldest but are not too overwhelming for our youngest. Because of this we have decided not to accept families with children under the age of 6 moving forward.

Question 3

How are families selected to join?

Accepted Answer

We are actively looking for older kids to balance out our group. We are committed to keeping our kids outside throughout the teen years and only considering families that are adventurous, planning to homeschool long-term and seeking community.

Please see our enrollment page for more information on joining.

Question 4

Do you meet in inclement weather? What is the schedule?

Accepted Answer

We meet in all types of weather with the exception of unsafe weather conditions such as icy roads or if there is a heavy smoke advisory. We don't believe in bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.

Our group runs September- early June meeting consistently on both Tuesdays and Thursdays. We do meet frequently for hiking, backpacking or beach days in the summer to stay connected.

Our Tuesdays start with recess so the kids can get energy out and connect with friends. We then join for a brief meeting followed by breaking into groups by age rotating from nature-based lessons, wilderness skills, cooking and more. After rotations they have a period of free time with which they can pick from a variety of activities: art, continuing practicing wilderness skills, utilizing our obstacle course, building with tools or journaling. The moms gather at this time as a way to connect.

Tuesdays are mandatory for attendance with the exception of illness or travel. We meet in the afternoons from 12:30-3pm.

Thursdays are not mandatory but participation is expected as we explore lots of great field trips, challenge one another on hikes and meet for book club parties on this day. Thursday times vary but usually start at 10am taking into consideration drive time and length of the event.

Question 5

Are you religious or secular based?

Accepted Answer

Every family in our group is unique and has its own religion, parenting and homeschool styles. Families of all beliefs are accepted in our group. There will be times that belief in God is expressed at our events (e.g. prayer for friends, holiday parties). No singular religion or doctrine will be taught.

Question 6

Do you use a curriculum or cover any subjects?

Accepted Answer

We often pull from multiple nature-based curriculums and there are lessons that cover parts of subjects such as science, nature, art and more. We do not cover any subjects thoroughly.

Starting in the 2024-2025 year the kids began following a wilderness curriculum that teaches outdoor survival skills including: fire and shelter building, first aid, woodcraft, outdoor cooking, ropes, water safety and more. Several of the moms participated in an immersive wilderness class ahead of teaching the kids.

Question 7

What kind of commitment is expected?

Accepted Answer

We are looking for long-term connections. We believe that growth, learning and friendships will be strengthened by having consistent families with us year after year.

It is necessary for each family to offer full participation and to be committed to the overall success of the co-op. Our moms are responsible for actively communicating and checking our group chat.

Question 8

What is the tuition and what does it cover?

Accepted Answer

Each enrolled family will pay two tuition fees each year. Please see the enrollment page for more information.

Question 9

What types of hikes and field trips do you do?

Accepted Answer

Most of our hikes and field trips are outdoors and nature based. We typically travel within an hour of Snohomish, but do aspire to tackle more challenging hikes or attend new and exciting field trips that require a further drive.

We have a wide range of ages and a goal of building tolerance, stamina and strength over time. Please see our location page for a list of favorite locations.

Question 10

Are Dads able to join?

Accepted Answer

Our vision has always been to create a group of like-minded moms. We want our kids to see the resiliency and strength that we have by showing up in rough weather or hard hikes without needing the dads to carry the load or watch over the group.

We recognize that dads have a lot to offer, and we’ve strived to find ways to include them throughout the year.

Frequently asked questions