Trellis Nature School

Trellis Nature School We nurture capable, compassionate children through child-led, nature-rich education. Rooted in nature. Guided by curiosity.

Inspired by Montessori, Forest School, Waldorf, and Reggio Emilia philosophies, we provide a warm, beautiful environment. Trellis Nature School is a hands-on, completely outdoors program for children 5-17 to study ecology and the natural world around them. Located near the Jordan River in Bluffdale, UT

Click "Details and Pricing" in the featured images for detailed information about our curriculu

m and other basic information (such as schedule and pricing). Our Teachers:

Dr. Tommy Pettit is an award-winning professor and ecologist whose doctoral studies were up in the forests of Heber Valley. He has taught college and advanced high school courses for over a decade and is much loved by his students all over the world. Kambrya Pettit is also an award-winning teacher as well as children’s book author with a passion for creative and developmentally-appropriate learning for all ages. Both have lived all over the world, enjoying all types of nature and ecology with their eight fantastic kids.

(This is Kambrya) Just putting some feelers out there:As you know, we've been running Trellis Nature School near the Jor...
07/02/2023

(This is Kambrya) Just putting some feelers out there:

As you know, we've been running Trellis Nature School near the Jordan River in Bluffdale. It's a lovely, wild little area we have explored together.

An interesting opportunity has come up:

We have been in talks to possibly take over the lease of a little building near Corner Canyon High School (Draper). It has a lovely outdoor area with lots of opportunities for natural exploration as well as a garden.

You already know my husband is an award-winning ecology professor. And I am an award-winning preschool-8th grade teacher. I am also a children's book author to over 300,000 readers and am an expert in early childhood education.

I was wondering if there is even a market/interest in a preschool (ages 3-4) or microschool (ages 5-17) around this area.

My specialty is in Early Childhood and I have a solid history of preschool students who grow to excel in gifted programs. My older children/students regularly test out of high school courses early.

My (our) approach is gentle and nature-based, with heavy influences from Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia, and German Forest Nature schools (We moved here from Germany).

For older students, we have carefully curated the most helpful and effective digital resources, with help and tutoring from my husband and I if needed. If we did a microschool (with math and grammar and/or art accompanying our usual hands-on ecology studies), this little building we're considering would also be a fun place for kids to socialize.

So - a microschool (or preschool) in Draper. Any interest? What tuition feels reasonable for your needs (or your friends' needs)? Would taking over this lease be reasonable for us?

I thought putting everyone interested in one group would be the most helpful way to see what exactly you all are looking for time/day/course variety/tuition-wise. Here's the link to the group:

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093943598432

Check out the updated details for the 2023-2024 school year! Lots of great learning coming up! ❤ https://www.facebook.co...
03/18/2023

Check out the updated details for the 2023-2024 school year! Lots of great learning coming up! ❤

https://www.facebook.com/media/set?set=a.140429108959154&type=3

(If the link doesn't work for some reason (sometimes it doesn't work on phones), click "photos" then "albums" then "Trellis Nature School Details." Then you will see each of these pictures and will be able to see the details in their descriptions.)

Three cheers for our very own Dr. Tommy Pettit! Answering all the ecology questions with speed, depth...and dad jokes. :...
03/18/2023

Three cheers for our very own Dr. Tommy Pettit! Answering all the ecology questions with speed, depth...and dad jokes. :)

Typical Day in Class at Trellis Nature School:1. Students are dropped off. (Parents may not linger and participate in ...
03/18/2023

Typical Day in Class at Trellis Nature School:

1. Students are dropped off. (Parents may not linger and participate in the class, but are welcome to visit with each other in the parking lot.)
2. Opening activities. – see curriculum for specifics. Early class and late class will have DIFFERENT activities, though the same central subject.
3. Nature hike. – spotting subjects discussed at the beginning of class as well as observing and taking notes on whatever questions may arise.
4. Journaling and research. – getting warm while finalizing field notes and looking up species/questions that may have arisen during the nature hike.

Dr. Tommy Pettit is an award-winning professor and ecologist whose doctoral studies were up in the forests of Heber Vall...
03/18/2023

Dr. Tommy Pettit is an award-winning professor and ecologist whose doctoral studies were up in the forests of Heber Valley. He has taught college and advanced high school courses for over a decade and is much loved by his students all over the world.

Kambrya Pettit is also an award-winning teacher as well as children’s book author with a passion for creative and developmentally-appropriate learning for all ages.

Both have lived all over the world, enjoying all types of nature and ecology with their eight fantastic kids.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp8ck6cv1R7/

Trellis Nature School's expectations of their students:Junior Ecologist – Ages 5-13, expected to come to class prepared ...
03/18/2023

Trellis Nature School's expectations of their students:

Junior Ecologist – Ages 5-13, expected to come to class prepared to pay close attention to their surroundings, including safety

Senior Ecologist – Ages 14-17, expected to come to class having read their assigned reading and be prepared to answer questions (as best as they can) from junior ecologists while on our nature hike and during activities.

Daily Requirements:
• Dressed appropriately, healthy, and rested.
• Optional: binoculars – Student is responsible for keeping track of them.
• If staying for both classes in a day, must bring a snack and warm drink for the time between.

(Updated Each School Year)2023-2024Trellis Nature School Session DatesFall (Oct 23 – Nov 16, 2023)Winter 1 (Jan 15 – Feb...
03/18/2023

(Updated Each School Year)

2023-2024
Trellis Nature School Session Dates

Fall (Oct 23 – Nov 16, 2023)
Winter 1 (Jan 15 – Feb 8, 2024)
Winter 2 (Feb 12 - Mar 7, 2024)
Spring (Mar 11 – Apr 4, 2024)

Trellis Nature School Days, Times, & Prices:Each 4-week session,MW 8:30-10:15 (early) $225MW 10:30-12:15 (late) $225...
03/18/2023

Trellis Nature School Days, Times, & Prices:

Each 4-week session,

MW 8:30-10:15 (early) $225
MW 10:30-12:15 (late) $225
MW 8:30-12:15 (early & late) $430

TTh 8:30-10:15 (early) $225
TTh 10:30-12:15 (late) $225
TTh 8:30-12:15 (early & late) $430

Discounts:
• $10 off per kid if a sibling is also joining us for the selected session.
• $10 off per session if you purchase multiple sessions at once.

Makeup days (due to teachers’ health or severe weather) will be on Fridays and Saturdays per text and email notification.

*Families are welcome to register for two classes in a day. If their student(s) remain for both classes, they will need to bring a snack and a warm drink to have during the 15 minutes between classes.

Fall Session • How to write in a field journal, getting to know classmates, choosing an “indicator plant”• Camouflage –...
03/18/2023

Fall Session
• How to write in a field journal, getting to know classmates, choosing an “indicator plant”
• Camouflage – Animal’s “costumes” to blend in (week of Halloween ;) ) & Adaptations
• Landforms, tectonics, resources
• Measuring biodiversity
• Photosynthesis, Getting ready for Winter – plants
• Invasive species versus Native
• Plant defense, Plant decomposition
• Getting ready for winter – animals and bugs

Winter Session 1
• How to write in a field journal, getting to know classmates, choosing an “indicator plant”
• Rock types & rock cycle
• Weather patterns in general, clouds and atmosphere
• Signs of animals (tracks, nibbling, dung, etc)
• Hydrology – the snow pack, water phases
• Stream ecology in the winter
• Winter survival skills – getting warm , finding food in the wild, finding and purifying water – people, animals, and plants
• Local birds and how they winterize

Winter Session 2
• How to write in a field journal, getting to know classmates, choosing an “indicator plant”
• Evergreen winter behavior and deciduous winter behavior challenges and interactions with animals, etc
• Wasatch food pyramids/webs
• Natural selection – Wasatch
• Energy cycle (why are you cold?)
• Soil – composition, etc
• Erosion
• Disease (plant/animal/people/etc)

Spring Session
• How to write in a field journal, getting to know classmates, choosing an “indicator plant”
• Plant & fungus reproduction
• Water cycle and surface water features
• Signs of life – plants preparing for spring (& types of plants) (life cycles)
• Rock chemistry and colors
• Signs of life – animals and bugs preparing for spring (life cycles)
• Deciduous versus Evergreen plants and tree life cycle
• Succession and Layers of Forest

Modular Additional Studies
(depending on weather and animals we spot)
Sun, rain, snow, wind, deer, bats (signs, if any), rabbits, bobcats (signs, if any), coyotes (signs, if any), frogs, toads, squirrels, raccoons (signs, if any)

Address

14000 Honeyfield Drive
Draper, UT
84020

Opening Hours

Monday 12:30pm - 3:30pm
Tuesday 12:30pm - 3:30pm
Wednesday 2pm - 3:30pm
Thursday 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Website

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