Parent Testimonials

"Friends of the Woods Nature School exceeded all expectations I had for a forest school. Enrolling my daughter last year was the best decision I could have ever made for her. Aside from learning so many amazing skills like identify mushrooms,fire starting, etc. she gained so many social skills and became such a nature enthusiast! Kira and Jen are kindest and most loving teachers. They make everyday so special for the kids. Everyday is a new adventure with endless memories and stories. I will forever be grateful to them for adding so much magic to my daughter’s childhood. From playing in the rain and jumping in muddy puddles to sledding down snowy hills, everyday was filled with fun and laughter!"

"The outdoor learning that this nature school provides is so creative and so unique. My son’s time in the forest is his favorite time of the week. He loves exploring, getting dirty, playing, foraging for berries and making friends with the creatures he finds. I tell anyone who will listen about our fondness with Friend of the Woods!!!"

"Our son is currently in his second year of nature school at Friend of the Woods and we have completely loved and appreciated this experience for him. He has made so many close friends that all look out for one another, and it is so heartwarming to see. Our son has learned so much about nature and has developed an even stronger love for it! We feel so much gratitude for Ms. Jen and Ms. Kira, especially in seeing how kind, patient, and respectful they are to the kids. Our son has grown in so many ways over the past year, and we know that nature school has had a strong role in this growth!"

“Friend of the Woods is an incredible program that allows kids to step out of their comfort zone and explore the world around them with the support and guidance of experts. Jen and Kira are able to connect with kids so honestly and wholeheartedly, it’s no wonder my boys talked about them as if they were life long friends after just a week. We very much enjoyed our three weeks of camps last summer. 

From a nervous parent’s perspective, here’s a few thoughts to encourage you to give this program a try! 

Jen and Kira have incredible backgrounds, just read their website to learn more. You’ll feel instantly better. 

The communication they provide is best of the best. From a well thought out questionnaire about your child before starting, to a thoughtful and informative email before camp started laying out the plan, location, tips and reminders, to daily text messages with pictures and discussion of what the kids explored or learned that day. We never felt in the dark.

Kira and Jen know the area like the back of their hands. They’re trained in risk assessment and I doubt there is a single thing (or creature!) they could run into they haven’t seen before. Their kindness and compassion towards nature certainly has had lasting effecting on the way my kids view their world too.”

"My 9 year old daughter has loved her time with Friends of The Woods Nature School. She asks if she can stay outdoors all day after class to continue learning about what was done in class that day. As a mom who is always trying to get more outdoor time in for all of my kiddos, this makes my heart happy! In the few weeks she has been going she has leaned about metamorphosis of different creatures in the woods, life cycles of plants, and so much more! We highly recommend to any nature loving family to join the positive welcoming  community Kira and Jen have started with Friends of The Woods. "

"Hi Kira and Jen,

I just wanted to thank you for being such awesome teachers for forest school. Vivien, Jude, and Marigold all LOVE going to forest school each week. I’m so impressed by all the things they are learning and doing! We are big into hiking and camping as a family so I love that they are gaining all these wonderful outdoor skills and a love of nature from your class. Marigold told me after class yesterday that she wants to be a forest school teacher when she grows up <3

Thanks again for all you do!"