Wild Oak Explorers

09/07/2026

Take a peak at an amazing article written by a wonderful friend.

The way homeschooling works is changing lately. When we started we tried a few different co-ops, park meet-ups, classes but eventually I needed to find a way to still work but I needed somewhere for our children as well. I combined the two and created Wild Oak Explorers and finally opened it in 2019. It still allows my passion while I bring in pocket change. Yes, that's what it is. I've heard many times of parents blaming providers for the increased cost but honestly it's not us. Everything around us it's costing more these days. There is plenty of room for both to co-exists.

What happens when homeschooling grows—and the community around it starts to change?

For more than 20 years, Candace Lehenbauer has experienced Florida homeschooling from both sides: first as a mom organizing inexpensive co-ops, field trips, and community opportunities, and later as an education entrepreneur building sustainable programs for families.

And she believes we shouldn't have to choose between the two.

🌿 Free park meetups and professional microschools.
🌿 Parent-led activities and paid enrichment programs.
🌿 Grassroots community and educators earning a living doing work they love.

There is room for all of it.

In our latest Microschool Florida blog, Candace shares her perspective on the changing homeschool landscape—and why community and education businesses may need each other more than we think.

👉 Read the full article:
https://zurl.co/bqICj

09/05/2026

I love this!

Wildlife can sometimes make us uneasy, especially when we encounter species we don't know much about. But while fear is a natural reaction, it should never lead to harming an animal. Most wildlife wants nothing more than to be left alone.

If you encounter wildlife, give it plenty of space, keep pets leashed, and allow the animal a clear escape route. If wildlife appears injured or poses a safety concern, contact the appropriate wildlife professionals rather than attempting to handle it yourself. A little patience and understanding can help keep both people and animals safe.

By learning about the wildlife that shares our parks and communities, we can replace fear with knowledge and foster a greater appreciation for the natural world around us.

🌿 Ready to conquer your fears? Visit Clearwater Nature Center and discover the amazing animals that call our region home. You may leave with a whole new appreciation for your wild neighbors. https://www.pgparks.com/facilities/clearwater-nature-center

"If I am killed
for simply living,
let death be kinder
than man."
— Althea Davis, "Kinder than Man"

🌿🦉🐍🦊🐸

09/04/2026

This is great!!

What if school didn’t mean sitting still? What if it began with cur...

09/03/2026

Have you heard of Mc Kenzie Deep Pond in Hilliard?? This 65 acres was donated to the Boys and Girls Club in 2018. Campers from around NE Florida get to experience a week out here every summer.

How amazing it is that we get to come out here as well!!! Would you like your child or family to join on Wednesdays?? Please reach out for more information!
I love watching the kids fly off the blow up slide!!

09/02/2026

This is amazing!! We have started our 8th school year now and the amount of options of nature, forest, and farm schools are mind blowing!!! I started my reserach on them almost 14 years ago and training was very mnimal as well as schools to visit. I was very thankful to have received certification through the Forest School Teacher Institute as well as have hosted trainings for them here.

It’s here! We’ve been so excited to finally share this with you!

Episode 1 of Farm School’d, The Movement, is now live, and Nature Kin Farm & Forest School is part of the story. 💚

Filmed right here at our home at Crabtree Farms of Chattanooga , Episode 1 features Stephanie Lomino and gives viewers a glimpse into our Nature Kin community, along with the children, families, and educators helping show what learning in nature can look like.

We’re also incredibly proud to see Dr. Jean Lomino and the Forest School Teacher Institute featured as the series explores the growing movement of farm, forest, and nature-based education.

For those of us who get to experience this kind of learning every week, there’s something pretty special about seeing it captured on film and shared with a much larger audience. We can’t wait for you to see it!

🌱 WATCH EPISODE 1 HERE 🌱
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFKAuvjqgc4

Watch on YouTube and subscribe to the Farm School’d channel to follow the full four-part series.

Follow on Instagram and Farm School’d on Facebook for more from the series.

And after you watch, come back and tell us what you think! 🌿

09/01/2026

We head back out to McKenzie Deep Pond tomorrow!! We have a few more seats available on the Boys and Girls van or bring your kids out and stay with them.

08/31/2026

I love what my friends provide for others!!! Trust me, we don't do this to get rich. We do this for our own kids and your kids. It's not easy and many times we could use more support but alas, we continue busting our butts.

🎉 We are an accredited institution! 🎉

Choosing a WASC-accredited institution offers critical advantages for students, parents, and educators alike.

🔑 Key Benefits of WASC Accreditation

1. Guaranteed Quality of Education

Accreditation ensures that your tuition and time are being invested in a high-quality program. The school's degrees and certificates carry measurable value because they meet strict external benchmarks.

2. Credit Transferability

If a student needs to transfer to another school, college, or university, institutions are far more likely to accept credits earned from a WASC-accredited school. Non-accredited credits rarely transfer.

3. College and Career Readiness

Many college admissions boards and military branches specifically look for diplomas from accredited high schools. Similarly, employers trust graduates from accredited institutions because they know the baseline training meets industry standards.

4. Access to Financial Aid

For higher education, federal and state financial aid (like FAFSA) is typically only available to students attending accredited institutions.

5. Continuous School Growth

Because the WASC process requires regular self-studies and external reviews, the school never stagnates. Teachers receive professional development, and resources are consistently optimized to benefit the classroom.

08/28/2026

If you are wanting to get in some yoga and learn breath work with your child while in nature, please don't skip these classes!! Staff have had the wonderful experience and I can't wait for others to join in!! If you don't want to join for the full ten week session, we also offer a 5week flex pass :)

https://www.wildoakexplorers.com/caregiver-me

Registration is open for the 26/27 year!

Caregiver & Me 10 week session with a 5 day flex option or drop in, 9:30-12pm starts September 14 at the ARC of Nassau.

Limited spots open, $250 for the session.

Monday's-

Literature Class with Socratic Discussion(Ages 11-15) 9:30am-11am

11:15-12:15 Community Art Class (Ages 5-15)

Forest School: Tuesday/Thursday (Ages5-10)

Wednesday Adventures: McKenzie Deep Pond-Hilliard (Ages 8+)

https://www.wildoakexplorers.com/

08/27/2026

Our mission is to make sure children are not disconnected from Nature!! Do you see this happening? I have seen children come so far and a lot of times it's because a parent has instilled their own fear.