Why I Built a Nature School: A Journey into Alternative Education

Why I Built a Nature School: A Journey into Alternative Education

Our school began with a simple idea: we wanted a different kind of education for our children. Public school never felt like the right fit for our family, and while alternative education had given our kids amazing experiences, we knew we wanted something even more immersive. Homeschooling wasn’t an option either—our children love being around other kids, and we needed a balance between our work, family life, and their education.

So, we created our own school, right on our land. What started as a small learning space for our own children quickly grew into a thriving community of like-minded families. Without a rigid agenda, but with a deep desire to cultivate curiosity and meaningful learning, I found myself leading a school built on exploration, flexibility, and joy.

Finding Our Educational Path

I don’t have a formal teaching background, but I am familiar with various educational philosophies—Waldorf, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, nature-based education, and even mainstream academic methods. I also have a long-held vision of education in the form of unit or project learning.

I ask myself every day: What do I truly want for children?

The answer is my guiding principle:

• Teach them how to learn by themselves so they can acquire any knowledge they need.

• Foster curiosity and excitement about learning itself.

• Encourage hands-on experiences that bring education to life and help them gain practical skills.

• Support emotional intelligence so they can navigate relationships and challenges in their current and future lives.

• Help them recognize their passions, discover what excites them, and understand what makes them feel good.

• Instill a deep respect for nature, people, and themselves.

• Teach them how to observe, trust their intuition, and develop a strong sense of right and wrong.

• Encourage self-expression, active listening, and the ability to speak up for themselves.

The Importance of Holistic Learning

Our education goes far beyond reading, writing, and math. In our school, children learn how to observe the world, move through deep emotional experiences, respect others, and respect themselves. We guide them in listening to their intuition, recognizing what feels right for them, and speaking up for themselves when necessary.

True learning happens when children feel safe to explore, make mistakes, and express their thoughts and emotions. They develop resilience, independence, and a lifelong love of discovery. By embracing a holistic approach, we ensure that our children are not just academically capable, but also emotionally intelligent, self-aware, and prepared to face the complexities of life with confidence.

Trial, Error, and a Flexible Approach

With these goals in mind, I experiment with different learning structures. It’s not always smooth—there are plenty of trial-and-error moments—but eventually, we develop a framework that works beautifully. A lot of this trial and error comes directly from the children themselves. I let them suggest the topics they want to explore, making them active participants in shaping their own education. The topics can be anything—from nature to emotions, the human body, or even conventional subjects like science and math. By following their interests, learning becomes deeply meaningful and exciting.

Our Daily Schedule: A Balance of Structure and Freedom

The school has grown to include 10 children and one teacher, and we have created a dynamic weekly learning structure that provides both consistency and flexibility:

• Each week focuses on a different theme.

• Daily schedule ensures predictability and flow:

  • Morning Circle: We start the day together, setting intentions and connecting.

  • Breakfast: A communal meal to nourish the body and mind.

  • Academic Learning (1 hour): Since we have mixed ages, each child receives personal worksheets tailored to their level and interests, covering reading, writing, and math.

  • Thematic Activity (Up to 2 hours): Hands-on experiences related to the weekly theme. This could include cooking, science experiments, storytelling, creating a theatrical show, or guided nature exploration.

  • Lunch & Free Play: Children recharge with unstructured time outdoors, where they play, explore, and build friendships.

• Minimal materials, mostly sourced from nature.

• A new song each week to support language learning.

• Once-a-month field trips and school picnics.

  
  

A Learning Week in Action: Bird Week

Here’s an example of how we structure activities throughout the week based on a theme—in this case, Bird Week:

• Monday – Listening to Birdsong: We go on nature walks, learning to identify different birds by their calls.

• Tuesday – Feather Art: The children collect fallen feathers and use them in creative art projects.

• Wednesday – Nest Building: We observe birds constructing their nests and try replicating their techniques using natural materials.

• Thursday – Building Birdhouses: The children design and build wooden birdhouses, which we place around the school. Later, they watch in amazement as birds make them their homes.

• Friday – Field Trip: At the end of the week, we visit a large bird park where we observe nesting eagles and explore the park’s museum.

The result? The children rush to school every morning, eager to begin the day, and never want to miss a moment. They aren’t just learning—they are thriving. Learning is a joyful adventure, seamlessly blending academics, creativity, and nature exploration.

The children aren’t just memorizing facts; they are living their education. They are learning in a way that makes sense to them—through play, exploration, and doing. Most importantly, they are developing into curious, confident, and emotionally intelligent individuals.

Building this school has taught me that education doesn’t have to fit into a predefined box. It can be flexible, responsive, and deeply connected to the natural world. And when children are given the space to explore and grow in a meaningful way, they run toward learning rather than away from it.

This journey is only the beginning. In future blog posts, I’ll dive deeper into the specific challenges, solutions, and unforgettable moments we experience along the way. Stay tuned for more insights from our nature school adventure!