Forest Academy

Forest Academy We are an outdoor education program that focuses on problem solving, self-control, and social skills.

The mission of Forest Academy is to return a sense of wonder and joy to the young child’s educational experience through immersion in a natural environment that provides opportunities for developmentally appropriate, child-led play. Our program focuses on helping children to develop essential life skills such as problem solving, self-control, perseverance, resilience, and social-emotional skills.

There is a growing body of research that shows how important these skills are to help kids participate more effectively in their education and their lives, as well as how Forest Schools help to develop these skills.

Because of community support, our staff worked hard through the summer months to continue to grow the depth of the impac...
08/20/2026

Because of community support, our staff worked hard through the summer months to continue to grow the depth of the impact we can make in the children in our community.
Check out these graphics to see how we prepared for the beginning of the school year.

Want to get involved? Check out our website at forestacademylafayette.com

A peek into our first completed week of forest school classes here at Forest Academy 🍃Even with the wind and scattered s...
08/18/2026

A peek into our first completed week of forest school classes here at Forest Academy 🍃

Even with the wind and scattered storms our teachers instructed our students in safety and exploration!

Our protocols called for us to be indoors for some of our classes, but when the threat had cleared...the students dove right into the invitations to play and learn outdoors.

We have a few limited spaces available for more students, reach out today to [email protected] to see if we have a class that fits your needs.

Forest Academy is excited to host a Wilderness Mental Health First Responder Training with the Institute for Wild Med. W...
08/17/2026

Forest Academy is excited to host a Wilderness Mental Health First Responder Training with the Institute for Wild Med. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide this valuable professional development for our staff as a part of our participation in the Partners for Youth Su***de Prevention Initiative. We are also pleased to offer a limited number of spots to mental health professionals, youth service providers, educators, outdoor leaders, and interested community members.

This hands-on training will help participants recognize and respond to different states of activation, strengthen self-regulation and co-regulation skills, explore the role of rhythmic outdoor activities in nervous system regulation, and build practical tools for supporting others during times of stress and emotional challenge.

Space is limited. Register here: https://www.instituteforwildmed.com/wmhfr-forest-academy

For more information, contact [email protected].

🌲💻 A Huge Thank You to the The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette! 💻🌲We are incredibly grateful to the Community ...
07/23/2026

🌲💻 A Huge Thank You to the The Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette! 💻🌲

We are incredibly grateful to the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette for funding Forest Academy's technology upgrade. Their generosity is helping us strengthen our ability to connect, communicate, document learning, and support the growth of the children and families we serve. While technology doesn't fit in our forest school classes, it is necessary for the administrative work that helps our organization grow.

As I set up my new computer, I decided to decorate it with messages and symbols that reflect what matters most to me in my work as a pediatric occupational therapist and forest school leader.

✨ Building connection before expecting compliance

✨ Embracing neurodiversity and individual strengths

✨ Fostering independence, confidence, and joy through meaningful experiences in nature

✨ Honoring play, nature, and authentic childhood experiences

✨ Celebrating life's simple moments

I also included two of my greatest heroes - Fred Rogers and Mary Poppins. They inspire me to connect with and respect all children, to create an environment where they feel safe and understood, to honor their feelings before pushing them to grow, and to find ways to make life's challenges a fun game.

These messages help ground me in my purpose every day: supporting children as they develop the skills they need to participate fully in the activities that matter most to them.

Thank you, Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette, for investing in Forest Academy and the children, families, and educators who grow with us every day. Your support helps us continue creating meaningful learning experiences where children can explore, learn, and thrive.

What really happens during the free play we carve out in our sessions? While the game or items our students find vary by...
07/22/2026

What really happens during the free play we carve out in our sessions? While the game or items our students find vary by day...and even by the minute, the core lessons remain the same.

Every aspect of the natural environment perfectly supports the development of essential life skills such as risk assessment, problem-solving, resilience, and perseverance. When we see them stretch social skills and negotiate with one another, they learn creative problem solving and regulation skills.

If this reminds you of the skills you aim to teach your child, reach out today! Email us at [email protected]

Thanks to the sponsorship of a generous community member, Miss Tabitha, Miss Nicole, and Miss Heather recently traveled ...
07/18/2026

Thanks to the sponsorship of a generous community member, Miss Tabitha, Miss Nicole, and Miss Heather recently traveled to Baltimore to complete their Nature-Based Teacher Certification through the Association for Nature-Based Education (ANBE).

This accomplishment brings our total to FIVE teachers and administrators who have earned this specialized certification.

To the untrained eye, forest school may look like children simply playing in the woods. In reality, every aspect of the environment is intentionally designed to support the development of essential life skills such as risk assessment, problem-solving, resilience, and perseverance.

We are incredibly grateful to our donor for making this opportunity possible and to ANBE for providing such valuable training. We look forward to continuing to implement best practices in nature-based learning for the benefit of our students and families.

Follow along as we learn more about the daily rhythms at our forest school classes. Our next topic: the gathering song a...
07/09/2026

Follow along as we learn more about the daily rhythms at our forest school classes.
Our next topic: the gathering song and moment of gratitude towards the beginning of our session.

🎵 Sing Together - song example!
❗Quick Review of Safety Protocols
🙏 Moment of Gratitude

Source: Eager et al. (2025), Risky Play Is Not a Dirty Word: A Tool to Measure Benefit–Risk in Outdoor Playgrounds and Educational Settings, IJERPH, 22(6), 940. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060940

Visit our website to read more research about the benefits of forest schools!

Another great Family Forest Day in the books!This past week we had a creek day at Mar-Len Park and as well as a communit...
07/04/2026

Another great Family Forest Day in the books!

This past week we had a creek day at Mar-Len Park and as well as a community hike to explore the area. I always enjoy seeing the differences among each child in which things they enjoy exploring.
Our activity for this week was a "Geo Gem Dig". We took some time discussing the different ways rocks form and how geology and geography intersect!

We have just two more Family Forest Days left this summer. Sign up today!
https://form.jotform.com/261587663376168

At Forest Academy we foster child-led learning in nature to inspire development of the whole child. We start our day wit...
07/03/2026

At Forest Academy we foster child-led learning in nature to inspire development of the whole child.
We start our day with a hike to location as a class.
🌱Our students build resilience and endurance (even our 3 yr olds carry their own packs!).
🌱They learn to listen to their bodies and rest when needed.
🌱We develop cooperation and teamwork along the trail.
🌱Staff guides the students in respectful observation of the animal and plant life we find.
🌱Children discover what their body is capable of; how a hike that used to be difficult is light and easy now.

Most importantly, our time in nature is scientifically proven to calm the nervous system. This put our brains in a prime position to LEARN and GROW.

We find our students walking away with more confidence, curiosity, and a deep sense of connection to something bigger than themselves.

If this is something you want for your children, reach out by emailing us at [email protected]
We still have a few spots left open for our 2026-2027 school year 🌳

We will be sharing more about each of these topics in the next two weeks, but here is the basic outline all of our class...
07/01/2026

We will be sharing more about each of these topics in the next two weeks, but here is the basic outline all of our classes follow:
🥾 Hike out to location
🎵 A song and a moment of gratitude
🌳Free play in nature
🍎Snack and reading
🌳Free play in nature
🧩Guided Activity
🌹Closing Routine

After time in nature we see an inner calm, increased sense of confidence, and greater focus in our students.
Be sure to check in and learn how the everything we do supports the development of the whole child!

Which slide are you most curious about?

Address

8439 SR 26 E
Lafayette, IN
47905

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 12pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+17654140125

Website

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