Wildways
A student-led survival program taking place during the school year. Designed for students ages 9-14 who have completed survival school. Students who have not completed survival school can apply to attend wildways. Applications for new students are now open!
What is Wildways?
Wildways is a continuation of survival school in a academic-year-long format. Students have the ability to hone in on their outdoor skills and practice new ones. Each month, students will focus on a special project of their choosing and work with their teacher to budget, get supplies, learn new skills and pull off the project. Being able to meet with the same group regularly enables this program to be student-directed and centered on STEM-based projects. Survival school is a prerequisite for this course so all participants have the same base skills. Students who have not completed survival school must attend a 2-day workshop to qualify. Wildways will feature guest speakers/educators to help students learn additional skills like architecture, carpentry, botany, leatherwork, and much more. The main focus of this weekly experience will be to build students' confidence, independence, teamwork and overall life skills.
Core Focus
In this 8-month class, students will participate in team-building activities, survival skill practice, and larger group projects. We provide a rich learning environment for students to explore, create, and take risks. Throughout the academic year, guest teachers will be invited to share their area of expertise with wildways students. Each semester will feature an optional camp-out experience for participating students.
skill based + student-led learning
New Students:
What if my child hasn’t completed survival school?
Students who have not completed survival school can still participate in wildways! We have a formal application process to ensure wildways is a good fit for your child before committing to the entire school year.
Fill out an application and pay the $10 fee. Register for orientation at this time.
Attend a 30 minute Q + A orientation session on zoom. If you’re still interested after the orientation session, you’ll be invited to register!
Any students who have not completed survival school will need to attend our mandatory survival workshop as a prerequisite. The $75 workshop is scheduled for September 5th and 6th, 2023.
The Application Process
FAQs
-
Dress for the weather, we meet outside rain or shine! Each week, your child will be immersed in nature learning practical outdoor skills and working on child-led projects with their peers. Whether we're building shelters, bridges, or working on fire and knife skills, your child will be under the direction and supervision of one of our trained forest school teachers. On top of building outdoor survival skills, this class will help your child build confidence, independence, problem solving skills, critical thinking and collaboration. Many of these skills translate directly into academics and will help students excel in every task and learning subject.
-
Wildways is a student-directed and project-based learning approach. It includes access to our forest school facility, a weekly hands-on 3-hour class that lasts a semester and guest speakers to help students learn new skills. All supplies and curriculum materials are included.
-
This program will meet at our private forest school site in Mokena, IL with access to our heated schoolhouse building during inclement weather.
-
Each class time offered is only open to 14 students. Enroll soon to ensure your spot is saved!
Once you enroll, you will receive access to our parent handbook. 2 weeks before class starts, you will be emailed all the information you need before class.
Survival school graduates do not need to apply, and can skip directly to registration. Applicants will have access to registration based on the date the application form is filled out, and the orientation zoom meeting has been attended.
-
Enrollment is open to the returning survival school students on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $500 per 4-month semester.
The fall semester is from September through December.
The spring semester is from February through May.
New students need to apply for a $10 fee.
There’s no such thing as bad weather.
Our motto at forest school is: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes." Appropriate clothing for Forest Preschool is CRITICAL to the success of the program. Clothing guidelines are available in the parent handbook. Our experienced teachers will be there to guide you every step of the way to ensure the safety of students in all weather situations. During periods of inclement weather, students will be gathered indoors, or class will be cancelled if necessary.
