Homeschool Enrichment in Nature
The Earthroots Homeschool Enrichment in Nature Program is a school year long program running from August through May. In this program, ecology based lessons integrate content from core academic areas. Additionally, language arts, social studies, science, and math are incorporated into seasonal, nature based lessons that focus on ancestral skills.
How did our ancestors get what they needed to survive?
Ancestral Skills are skills practiced and used by our ancestors in daily life. However, when developed in childhood, familiarity with the natural world becomes second nature, like acquiring a first language. The learning and practice of these skills reawakens our deep, ancestral connection to Earth. People have been living this way forever!
Furthermore, we teach each class in context of specific seasonal changes and observations, such as harvesting acorns in the fall, harvesting nettle in winter, or observing birds in the spring.
We recommend parents read Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature by Jon Young to better understand Earthroots mentoring philosophies.
Class Details
WHO: Children from Kindergarten through 6th grade.
WHERE: Our classes meet in the canyon areas of eastern Orange County. Please contact [email protected] for the specific drop off location. For the privacy of the area residents and our students, we do not post the location on our website. Additionally, we frequently take field trips to other locations.
WHEN: Mondays from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
The school day starts at 9:00 am (drop off 8:45-8:55) and ends at 3:00pm (pick-up 3:00-3:15).
Classes begin on August 29th.
This is a drop off program and is not designed for additional family members to attend.
Payment Plans
To set up a payment plan, please email us at [email protected].
Earthroots is an approved vendor for the charter schools on this list.
*Note: OC Parks, CA State Parks and other locations have parking fees not included in the cost of class.
A Typical Day
8:30am-8:50am – Drop off
9:00am – 9:30am – Hike to the day’s location
9:30 – 10am – Connection Circle
10:00am – 11:00am – Games
11:00am – 12:30pm – Main Lesson (students divide into developmentally appropriate groups for this portion the day. Also, the students are in mixed-age groups a majority of the day)
12:30 pm -2:30 pm – Unstructured Free Time (instructors are present to interact and help students during this time of child-led activity)
2:30 pm – 2:45 pm – Quiet Sit and Journaling
2:45 pm – 3 pm – Hike to Pick-up Location
3:00 pm – Closing Circle
3:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m. – Parent Pick-Up
Registration Information
Enrollment for Spring Semester begins November 1 for currently enrolled students and November 15 for new students.
Enrollment for Fall Semester begins April 15 for currently enrolled students and May 1 for new students.
Registration information and payment must be received by us at least one week prior to class. Your registration is complete only when we have received payment in our office. Registration is due at least one week in advance of the class. We may accept late registration if space is available, with an additional fee of $25 up to 2 business days before class.
Review our registration and cancellation policies and procedures HERE.
Scholarships Available
Earthroots is committed to creating nature connection opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) participants.
It is Earthroots Field School’s policy and pleasure to make scholarship space available in its programs for those in need.