Nature School Program
We love learning outdoors! Children thrive when they have room to move, wonder, explore, and discover at their own pace, and our Nature School gives them that daily opportunity. As the first fully outdoor nature-based program in the Rockfish area, our Nature School blends child-led exploration with Christian values, intentional teaching, and hands-on experiences in God’s beautiful creation. We are passionate about the way outdoor learning helps children develop confidence, curiosity, deeper friendships, and a personal appreciation for the world around them. Nature-based learning is proven to support healthy social development, emotional wellbeing, spiritual reflection, and academic growth, making it a meaningful extension of early education.
We believe nature is a gift from God and a classroom like no other. Our students experience the outdoors through wonder, worship, and stewardship - learning not only the names of plants or the habits of animals, but also how to treat living things with care and gratitude. We talk about God’s creation with reverence and help children understand that every tree, insect, flower, and raindrop has purpose and beauty. We model kindness, teamwork, and problem-solving as children play and learn side by side, discovering that community is built as much in the woods as it is in the classroom.
Our time together is rich with movement and imagination. On any given day, children may follow trails through the trees, gather native materials for sorting or crafts, stack sticks into forts or bridges, watch clouds drift across the sky, or splash joyfully in puddles after a rain. They observe the seasons changing in real time - cool autumn mornings, winter frost on leaves, spring blossoms, and warm breezes that signal the start of outdoor life again. These real-world experiences deepen their understanding of science, weather, ecology, and the rhythm of God’s creation far more naturally than worksheets or screens.
In a world where technology often replaces play, our Nature School encourages children to be fully present in their surroundings. We emphasize unstructured time outdoors, opportunities for creative thinking, and a playful learning environment where curiosity is encouraged rather than rushed. Children strengthen motor skills, storytelling, cooperation, and language as they engage with real materials, interact with other children, and express ideas inspired by nature.
Nature School is a gentle and joyful introduction to forest school principles. We meet every Wednesday from late September through early May for half-day sessions designed for fully potty-trained children ages 3–7. Our smaller group size gives each child time and space to feel seen, supported, and nurtured outdoors, and families often tell us how one day a week in nature becomes a treasured part of their school rhythm.
Registration opens each February, and families are welcome to reach out at any time. We are happy to share details about our interview process, tuition, and current availability. We do accept students throughout the year when openings are available, and we encourage interested families to contact us early, as spaces may be limited.
Please reach out for current tuition rates or to schedule a conversation with a member of our team. We would love to meet you, answer questions, and help you decide whether Nature School is the right fit for your child and family.
Please reach us at information@waymarkacademy.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
This class is for 3-7 year olds and is on Wednesdays from 930AM-12PM.
We go out in all weather! HH rain suit, Bogs rain boots and rain mittens are mandatory each day. Depending on the weather, layers are required to keep the children warm. A REI Tarn 18 backpack is required to bring snacks, drinks, extra clothing to and from the forest.
Yes, younger children cannot be out in extreme heat or cold, however older children, with the proper gear, usually can tolerate the temperatures better. We go out in rain or snow too! There are days when it is just too cold, too hot, or a storm is brewing and in this case we will cancel school.
Drop off is from 8:55AM-9AM - at 9AM we are off to the forest. Due to the nature of this program, we are unable to take late drop offs or early pick ups as we are in the forest. We recommend you arrive at least 15 minutes early to dress your child to check in. Pick up is at 12PM - anyone not at the school then will be considered late and a late fee will be applied. Please arrive for pick up at least 10 minutes early to be sure you are here on time.
All children must be fever, vomit, diarrhea free for at least 48 hours for this program and ready to fully learn and play. In addition, all other symptoms must be gone except for an occasional cough or nose wipe. When the children are outside symptoms usually flare up and it can be very uncomfortable for the children.
We use positive methods of discipline, and it is usually individualized to the child as we get to know them and what works best. Often this includes redirection, possibly sitting out, and if a child is not listening multiple times (in the forest this can be very dangerous) or hurting a friend or teacher, the child would need to go home for the day.
The Nature School NC meets at Rockfish Country Kids and Waymark Academy's nature spaces!
Rockfish Country Kids Learning Center, 2456 Lindsay Road, Raeford, NC 28376, US