Earthsong Explorers Forest School in Hickory, NC
Connecting children with the wonders of nature through hands-on, child-led play and exploration
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 Industrialized Educators: Observant guides 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 with developmental ages from 2-12 (with plans to expand in the future)
- Forest school is a drop-off program, and students must be able to manage light hiking
- Families can choose a 2, 3, or 4 day week
- 9 AM - 1 PM for Preschool, 9 AM - 4 PM for ages 5+
- The school year runs from September through May
- Summer camps offered mid-June to early August
- Low guide-to-student ratios
- See "Enroll Now" page for tuition information
- Scholarships & Sibling Discounts available
Who is Not a Good Fit for Forest School?
Earthsong is for every child but not necessarily every family. Children are adaptable and hardwired to learn in nature-based settings. Adults, however, often carry deeply ingrained expectations about what education “should” look like. If you are not open to re-imagining school, Earthsong may not be the right fit for your family. We may not be a good match if you prioritize:
- Homework, worksheets, grades, testing, or rigid milestones
- Raising hands to speak or to use the bathroom
- Only being outdoors in “nice” weather
- Clean and unstained clothing
- Learning exclusively with children of the same age
- Avoiding all risk or challenge
- Eating only at designated times or being pressured to eat
- Control, hierarchy, and blind compliance
- Government- or industry-enforced curriculum
- Traditional school calendars, including bank holidays and teacher workdays
Forest school embraces autonomy, trust, child-led learning, mixed-age community, risk taking, seasonal rhythms, storytelling, and learning through play. If this vision excites you—even if it feels unfamiliar—you may be exactly where you’re meant to be.
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, trauma-informed nervous system regulation, 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 and her certification course in Wilderness First Aid. 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.
Meet Our Staff
Miranda Sebastian, Guide
Miranda is certified as a Wilderness First Responder and studied Outdoor Leadership at Appalachian State University and Prescott College. She’s spent the last several years leading backcountry expeditions, canoe trips, and climbing adventures all across the country. Much of her outdoor work has focused on supporting neurodivergent youth, using nature-based experiences as a pathway to meaningful learning, personal growth, and holistic wellness.
Her work centers around the belief that nature is not just a backdrop for learning, but a teacher itself. She believes that building reciprocal relationships with the land helps young people grow in curiosity, confidence, and connection.
When she’s not learning alongside young explorers, you can usually find her working on a creative project, wandering through wild spaces, or hanging out with her adventure buddy, Winston the pug.
Harrison Perusek, Guide
Harrison is a certified Wilderness First Responder and a lifelong enthusiast of outdoor education—both as a student and instructor. He earned his B.S. in Outdoor Leadership from Young Harris College and has spent years working in the summer camp and adventure education world, leading activities like rock climbing, canoeing, team-building, and nature exploration.
Much of Harrison’s work has focused on supporting neurodivergent youth through experiential education and outdoor play. He brings a calm, grounded energy to every group he leads, with an emphasis on fun, safety, personal growth, and respect for all.
Harrison is thrilled to bring his passion for learning and the outdoors to Earthsong Explorers. When he’s not adventuring with our students, you'll likely find him exploring the natural beauty of Western North Carolina.
Niara Braithwaite, Guide
Niara is an adventurous mom of three who finds joy in sunshine, yoga, hiking with her family, and soaking in the simple beauty of everyday life.
With over 9 years of experience working in daycare settings and as a nanny, Niara has spent nearly a decade caring for young children in a variety of environments. Through those years, she gained deep insight into early childhood education — and began to recognize what felt misaligned in traditional daycare systems. Those experiences ultimately led her to seek something different: a slower, more connected, and nature-centered approach to childhood.
She believes childhood should be full of wonder, laughter, and meaningful connection with the natural world — values that align perfectly with our mission at Earthsong Explorers.
Contact Us
Applications Now Open!
Exciting News!
Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 school year! Enrollment will remain open throughout the year, provided there are spaces available.
✅ Join Us for the Fall Semester
☀️ Register for Summer Camp
We can’t wait to welcome you to the forest!
At Home Forest School Kit
Introducing our Earthsong curated nature play kit with 32-page guide for a week of at-home forest school