Earthsong Explorers
Connecting children to the rhythms of nature through explorative free play
Earthsong Explorers
Connecting children to the rhythms of nature through explorative free play
Earthsong Explorers in action
About Earthsong Explorers
Pillars of Forest School
- Holistic Learning: Supporting the social, emotional, physical and intellectual development of each child through immersive, hands-on experiences
- Child-Led and Play-Based: Encouraging exploration, experimentation, and discovery at each child's own pace, nurturing intrinsic motivation and a love of learning
- Risk and Challenge: Empowering children to assess and navigate appropriate risk, fostering resilience, confidence, and problem-solving skills
- Connection to Nature: Helping children understand themselves as part of the natural world, fostering a sense of stewardship, wonder, and belonging
- Community-Centered: Rooted in the creation of engaged, vibrant, and diverse communities where children and adults learn and grow together
- Guides, Not Experts: Educators serve as facilitators, supporters, and co-learners –honoring the wisdom and curiosity of each child rather than imposing knowledge
- Core Values Over Metrics: Prioritizing confidence, creativity, emotional intelligence, and motivation over grades, test scores, and a rigid curriculum
Why Forest School?
- North Carolina is ranked 34th in education nationwide, while the U.S. ranks 31st globally. These numbers reflect widespread challenges including overcrowded classrooms, violence and bullying, excessive screentime, funding cuts, and a rigid focus on standardized testing.
- A survey by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence found that 80% of high school students are stressed, 70% are bored, and 60% are tired.
- Gallup research shows that less than half of students feel engaged in school, with engagement levels decreasing as students advance in grade levels.
- Amid this growing education crisis, many families are turning to alternative, nature-based programs that nurture the whole child.
- Research shows that students in forest school experience greater wellbeing, stronger social-emotional skills, and higher academic development.
- A study of unschooled children found that 83% went on to pursue higher education, and most are gainfully employed, independent, and intrinsically motivated.
Integrated Academics - Learning in Real-World Contexts
- Math: measuring, counting, and problem-solving through hands-on activities like gardening, tracking weather patterns, and building structures
- Science: exploring ecology, biology, and conservation by observing plants, animals, and habitats
- Literacy & Language Arts: practicing storytelling, nature journaling, and observational writing inspired by time outdoors
- Social Studies: investigating culture, history, and environmental impact through community service and conservation projects
- Art: using natural materials to inspire creative expression through crafts, drawing, pottery, and painting
- Projects & Research: Engaging in multidisciplinary projects that integrate academics, research, and team building—such as installing a permaculture garden and a pollinator hotel—to support local flora and fauna with sustainable food and shelter.
Earthsong Explorers Program
- Currently serving children ages 4-12 (with plans to expand to include toddlers and teens in the future)
- Sessions are 5 days a week, Monday through Friday
- Families can choose between a morning session (9 AM -1 PM) or an afternoon session (1 PM-5 PM)
- Operates on a trimester schedule: Fall, Winter, and Spring
- Summer camps offered during school break
- Each class includes 2 guides and 8-12 students for a low student-to-guide ratio
- Weekly tuition: $240
Our Campus at Hart Square Village
The Grounds
About Hart Square
About Hart Square
Earthsong Explorers is blessed to call Hart Square Village our home—200 stunning acres of private forest in the foothills of North Carolina. With miles of hiking trails, four serene lakes, lush gardens, the nation's largest collection of historic log cabins, and beautiful indoor facilities (including restrooms and a classroom for inclemen
Earthsong Explorers is blessed to call Hart Square Village our home—200 stunning acres of private forest in the foothills of North Carolina. With miles of hiking trails, four serene lakes, lush gardens, the nation's largest collection of historic log cabins, and beautiful indoor facilities (including restrooms and a classroom for inclement weather), this sacred land offers the perfect setting for immersive, nature-based learning.
About Hart Square
About Hart Square
About Hart Square
Hart Square is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving cultural heritage through living traditions, past and present. They celebrate the diverse crafts, trades, and practices of our region through mission-driven public events, folklife classes, and K–12 educational programming. Hart Square welcomes visitors Tuesday through Saturday through their Village Membership program.
Our Partnership
About Hart Square
Our Partnership
The Hart Square Foundation has graciously opened their gates to Earthsong Explorers. In honor of their generosity and shared commitment to education and nature, we ask that all of our forest school families become Hart Square Village Members. Membership includes access to both indoor and outdoor facilities (ideal for parents wishing to hi
The Hart Square Foundation has graciously opened their gates to Earthsong Explorers. In honor of their generosity and shared commitment to education and nature, we ask that all of our forest school families become Hart Square Village Members. Membership includes access to both indoor and outdoor facilities (ideal for parents wishing to hike, relax, or work nearby during forest school), as well as exclusive discounts on events and classes—like square dancing, May Day, Christmas in the Village, and more.
Giving Back
About Hart Square
Our Partnership
Our partnership with Hart Square is rooted in reciprocity. We are dedicated to supporting their mission by encouraging our students and families to volunteer at events and contribute to the stewardship of the Village grounds. Through acts of service—such as pruning apple trees, preparing for seasonal festivals, or helping maintain trails—
Our partnership with Hart Square is rooted in reciprocity. We are dedicated to supporting their mission by encouraging our students and families to volunteer at events and contribute to the stewardship of the Village grounds. Through acts of service—such as pruning apple trees, preparing for seasonal festivals, or helping maintain trails—our students learn not only hands-on skills, but also the value of giving back to their community with love, care, and gratitude.
Meet Our Founders
Jamie Forbes, Director
Jamie is a mother of three who always dreamed of a better way of life for her children – one rooted in community, alternative education, and a strong connection to nature. She and her family lived this vision in Costa Rica, and upon moving back to North Carolina, Jamie was determined to bring that dream to life in Hickory. Not only did her own children need it, but she felt the local community was yearning for it too. Jamie is a certified Forest School Teacher through the Forest School Teacher Institute and a graduate of Davidson College. Her passions include healthy living, alternative healing modalities, conscious parenting, and of course, spending time in nature!
Sarah Todd, Head Guide
Sarah is a mother of two with a Bachelor of Science in Fermentation from Cornell University. A former professional brewer, she brings a love of fermentation, horticulture, and the outdoors into everything she does. Sarah has gained hands-on experience in teaching, traditional crafts, and bushcraft through her work at the Ithaca Children's Garden. She now spends her days tending her food forest, expanding her nursery, and caring for her menagerie of animals. Passionate about lifelong learning and self-sufficiency, Sarah is dedicated to sharing her homesteading knowledge and nurturing a love of learning in the next generation.
Contact Us
Now Open for Fall Registration and Summer Camp!
🎉 Exciting News!
Applications are now open for the 2025–2026 school year and our Summer Day Camps!
✅ Register for Fall
☀️ Sign up for Summer Camp
🎨 Explore Each Week’s Summer Camp Theme
We can’t wait to welcome you—whether for a full school year or a summer full of fun!
