Pinewood Trails Forest School offers a unique opportunity for children to develop crucial social-emotional and school-readiness skills in an inspiring outdoor environment. In today's world, where technology and indoor activities dominate, forest school provides a chance for young children to develop a deep and meaningful connection with nature.

Extensive research indicates that forest school programs offer numerous benefits. Enrolled children are more physically active, and form healthy habits that last a lifetime. Spending time in nature has many social, emotional, and physical benefits for children, including reduced anxiety, enhanced confidence, and self-efficacy. Forest school programs provide open-ended experiences that foster creative problem-solving skills, essential in today's modern world. And, remember, spending time outside, getting messy, and having fun is what childhood memories are made of.

Enrolling your child in a forest school program is a wise investment in their future. The program ensures that your child develops critical skills while having fun in a safe and supportive environment.

Pinewood Trails is a nature-connection recreation program designed by certified Michigan educators Abbi Collier & Michelle Laidler. Our programs are licensed through the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLeap).

At this time, we are not a school/preschool.* "Forest School" is a part of our name to indicate that our approach and values relate to how we guide children's experiences of learning, growth, exploration, and discovery. The children in our program are either not yet of age for kindergarten, or they are enrolled as an enrichment component to their home school education.

"Forest School is an inspirational process, that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees." -Forest School Association, https://www.forestschoolassociation.org/what-is-forest-school

As our vision states, our primary focus is "dedicated to working alongside families and their children to foster resilience, build relationships, enhance a connection to the natural world around us, and nurture social, emotional, physical, and stewardship growth.”

*Outdoor preschool/schools are a “gray area” in Michigan legislature. (Nature preschools/schools are licensed as indoor preschools/schools.) Pinewood Trails has committed to collaborating with state and national organizations such as the Child & Nature Network and the North American Association of Environmental Education to bring awareness, need, and space for programs like ours.

Our program is possible because of families like yours! And transparency about the cost of our Forest School programs are important. You will find no hidden fees at Pinewood Trails!

$30 Application Fee- This is a one-time cost for each child’s application. Each child’s application needs a submitted $30 fee, including sibling sets. This fee covers administrative fees associated with applying, enrollment, and camp tours. (Due at the time of the submitted application.)

$150 Enrollment Fee- The annual enrollment fee secures a place for your child on our roster. This fee covers the cost of a Pinewood Trails t-shirt and tie-dye supplies, an OAKI trail-suit rental, ‘1000 Hour Outside’ badges, and administrative costs associated with home visits. Sibling sets will receive a $50 discount on the second child and thereafter. If your family is interested in an OAKI trail-suit purchase add $50 per child. (Due July 1st for 2025/2026 applicants. Applications received after July 1st, 2025 will be due 10 days after submitted application or before your child’s first day, whichever comes first. Failure to provide the enrollment fee as outlined will result in your child being placed on our waitlist.)

$40 Supply Fee- A $40 annual supply fee will be added to February’s monthly fee. This is the cost per child. This allows us to restock items that have been well loved, or have run out. This is mostly used to replace art and craft items, but also supplements adding tools, some examples include microscopes, binoculars, and Michigan Field Guides.

You Child’s Program Monthly Fee- All monthly fees are due the last Thursday of each month before the next month’s session begins. September’s monthly fee is due the last Thursday in August. You can find the monthly fee schedule outlined in our school calendar. Prices for each program are linked here: Forest School Full-Time, Forest School Part-Time, Forest Homeschool Enichment. Siblings will receive a 25% discount on the lowest program rate for the second child and thereafter. Please refer to our Sibling Discount page for more information or contact Abbi Collier at (248) 763- 3504 or admin@pinewoodtrailsforestschool.com

*All fees are non-refundable. Application fee & Enrollment Fee are accepted through PayPal or Venmo only. Monthly Fees and our annual Supply Fee are accepted through PayPal, Venmo, or check. All returned checks will have a $30 service charge.

Follow the steps below to be added to our waitlist:

1.Submit an application and $30 application fee. Once both of these are received, this secures the spot on the waitlist.

2. When a spot opens up, we will reach out to the family who is next on the waitlist

3. If that family is still interested, we will schedule a visit day for the child and their family at that time to meet the instructors, experience the indoor classroom, and venture to our outdoor classroom areas.

4. Following the visit, the family and program directors will both determine whether it seems like a good fit for everyone, and if it does seem like a good fit, the family will pay our $150 enrollment fee, schedule their home visit. and secure their child’s start date.

For all programs your child will need:

• weather-appropriate clothing (Gear List located in our Forest Family Handbook)

• A change of clothes in a labeled bag that will be kept at Forest School.

• Water bottle labeled with child’s name (water only)

• Large waterproof bag to take items to and from school (think Marshall’s or ALDI bag). Backpacks are too small to fit wet/muddy gear.

• Bug spray or sunblock (season dependent).

• A lunch and snack, both peanut and nut free.

Please layer your child in all-weather gear for the appropriate season. The majority of our day, if not 100 percent, will be spent outdoors. A list of needed clothing items will be given to all students and families at time of enrollment. All children will be required to bring an extra set of dry clothing no matter the season in case clothing becomes too wet or too dirty. In winter, a second pair of mittens and 2 pair of wool socks are needed.

It is highly recommended to search for items second-hand. If at anytime Pinewood Trails has gently used items available, we will let enrolled parents know.

We strongly believe in the saying, “there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing choices”. Being an outdoor program, we will be embracing all the beautiful seasons that Michigan has to offer, including rain and snow.

Although we have indoor space & shelter, our program must be outdoors 51% of the time- or longer- to maintain compliance with the Michigan Camp Licensing Unit. To meet these requirements, we are only able to host sessions when the weather is safe enough to do so, especially in Michigan winters.

As a staff, we recognize that cancellations are inconvenient and we take these decisions seriously, based on the safety and welfare of our explorers, staff, and families.

Pinewood Trails Forest School will follow the Lapeer and Davison school districts for school cancellation decisions and will be closed on days where the temperature is 0* and below.

Refunds are not given when there are Forest School closures.

Ensuring the health and safety of our learners is our topmost priority. Our staff are well-trained in First Aid and CPR, and are equipped with walkie-talkies, cell phones, and first aid kits. With a low teacher-to-learner ratio, our teachers are able to keep a close watch on explorers at all times. In case of any accident, an incident report will be prepared, and caregivers will be notified as necessary.

Typically, children who spend more time playing outside are less prone to injuries compared to children who don't have the opportunity to engage in extended outdoor activities. This is because outdoor play provides children with the chance to learn real-life risk assessment, gain crucial gross motor skills, and understand their physical limits. These skills, when developed early in life, can help cultivate a lifelong sense of self-awareness and safety while enjoying the great outdoors!

We have access to indoor restrooms around camp. Our teachers are happy to help children with snaps and buttons, but we ask parents supply extra clothes in case of an accident! All Pinewood Trails Forest School attendees, for all programs, must be potty trained. This means that they must be able to let a teacher know that they have to go to the bathroom AND hold it until a teacher can help them get to the bathroom. If your child needs regular reminders to go to the bathroom to prevent an accident, they are not ready for forest school just yet!