Forest Lake Nature School

Forest Lake Nature School 🌱 We are a homeschool enrichment community where children and youth ages 3-13 grow through nature, creativity, and connection.

08/24/2026

Cutting buckthorn, hanging hand-painted signs, cotton prayer flags + bandanas. Moving logs, rocks and stumps all by hand. And mostly, letting the land tell us what it needs.

The goldenrod is glowing!! The native plantings have grown tall, and the landscape feels full and alive.

Soon, the Chickadee Explorers, Fox Walkers and Coyote Ninjas families will gather here for the Open House, and then the children will begin adding their own special stories to this place .

What a gift. What a beautiful prayer. We can’t wait.

Whether your child already comes alive outside, or needs more opportunities to be outdoors, move their body, and build r...
08/18/2026

Whether your child already comes alive outside, or needs more opportunities to be outdoors, move their body, and build resilience in all kinds of weather, Forest School (and our extraordinary team of Guides) offer a beautiful place to do just that.

🌱Two spaces are available for the 2026–2027 school year.

☀️The Open House for enrolled Forest School families is in 3 weeks, and we would love to welcome you!

🦊Details + enrollment located on our website (Link in Bio!)

Meet one of our lovely Guides, Mikae!! 1. 5 years of experience in Waldorf-inspired early childhood education2. Led Pr...
08/03/2026

Meet one of our lovely Guides, Mikae!!

1. 5 years of experience in Waldorf-inspired early childhood education

2. Led Pre-K summer camps and supported both Early Childhood and 1st Grade classrooms

3. Certified in Forest School Education through the Forest School Teacher Institute

4. Trained in Children’s Yoga & Mindfulness

5. Over a decade of studying child development, developmental psychology, and communication

6. Bachelor of Fine Arts in English Literature & Associate of Arts degree

7. Loves storytelling, writing, handcrafts, and bringing imagination to life

8. Deeply inspired by Waldorf education, developmental psychology, and relationship-centered learning

9. Passionate about creating warm, steady spaces where children feel safe, seen, and free to wonder, play, and grow alongside the natural world

🌱🪺🦊🪵🐝🪻
07/30/2026

🌱🪺🦊🪵🐝🪻

Hey there! I thought we’d introduce ourselves on here: 1. We met in 2013, and have been together ever since. It really w...
07/28/2026

Hey there! I thought we’d introduce ourselves on here:

1. We met in 2013, and have been together ever since. It really was a “love at first sight” kind of thing.

2. We both took unconventional paths that eventually led us to creating Forest Lake Nature School.

3. Melissa left the corporate world in 2020 to stay home with our first child. Not long after, she discovered Waldorf education and nature-based learning.

4. Anthony worked as a product manager for two of MN’s Top 10 tech startups. After being laid off during the pandemic in 2020, he followed his heart instead, immersing himself in regenerative farming, permaculture, wilderness skills, and the nature connection mentoring philosophy inspired by Jon Young.

5. Some of our favorite adventures have been sailing the Adriatic Sea along the coast of Croatia and mountain biking through Colorado and the Arizona desert.

6. Our greatest adventure has been becoming parents to our two children!! Always learning, always growing.

7. We officially started FLNS in 2024 to create the kind of childhood we wanted for our own children.

8. We opened with just nine enrolled families. Watching this community grow has been a great joy and blessing.

9. Our favorite time of year is late August/early September when we head out together to harvest wild rice.

10. We love animal tracking, foraging, and seeing which birds stop by the feeders on our deck.

11. We love coffee, spending time outside (preferably near water), and having meaningful conversations.

12. Administrative work? We’d rather be in the woods. 😅

13. Having a deep relationship with the natural world has helped us reconnect to our truest self and to each other.

14. We’re so grateful you’re here!!

When we slow down enough to listen, the land becomes one of our greatest teachers. That’s the kind of learning we’re cul...
07/24/2026

When we slow down enough to listen, the land becomes one of our greatest teachers. That’s the kind of learning we’re cultivating. 💛

For this child, nature is a dear friend. Owen will be entering his 3rd year of Forest School this Fall & 1st year of Fox...
07/16/2026

For this child, nature is a dear friend. Owen will be entering his 3rd year of Forest School this Fall & 1st year of Fox Walkers.

FLNS program benefits and outcomes:

⭐️Comfort - Feel safe, at home in the wild, and a calmed nervous system

⭐️Gratitude - Find joy and reverence in the
everyday

⭐️Curiosity - Explore with ease, ask questions

⭐️Independence - Build confidence through hands-on learning opportunities

⭐️Awareness - Notice animal tracks and sign, sounds, and seasonal changes

⭐️Confidence - Step into new challenges and
adventures with caring and experienced Instructors/ Guides

⭐️Empathy - Care for the Earth and connect with others

⭐️Resilience - Grow through challenge and embrace discomfort

⭐️Compassion - Nurture kindness for one another, nature, and ones self

Join us this Fall for an 11- week Semester at our Stillwater Site.
We have a few remaining spots in our Coyote Ninjas Program (ages 9-13). Your child will experience Carpentry, Nature Art, Animal Tracking, Foraging, and more - Link in Bio!

We had a new family member join us at Parent-Child Class this morning! 🐾Sweet little Willa spent the morning hiking, pla...
07/15/2026

We had a new family member join us at Parent-Child Class this morning! 🐾

Sweet little Willa spent the morning hiking, playing, snacking, and exploring alongside us. The children loved helping care for her, and she quickly won all of our hearts 💛

Meet B E T H A N Y! We’re so excited to welcome Bethany to the Forest Lake Nature School team this Fall!Bethany feels mo...
07/13/2026

Meet B E T H A N Y!

We’re so excited to welcome Bethany to the Forest Lake Nature School team this Fall!

Bethany feels most at home in nature. whether she’s caring for her animals, tending her gardens and native prairie, baking fresh sourdough, or creating seasonal recipes inspired by her harvest. She’s also a professional photographer of more than 10+ years and a trained opera singer!

During Fall Semester, children in our Monday Fox Walkers & Coyote Ninjas program will have the opportunity to learn alongside Bethany during our weekly cooking class. We can’t wait to see (and taste 😋) the delicious creations and seasonal dishes….yummmm! 🍂🍎🥖🍴🍄‍🟫🥕🌽🍏🍅

Meet Co-Founder and Guide, M E L I S S A! Melissa grew up in MN, where many of her favorite childhood memories were spen...
07/06/2026

Meet Co-Founder and Guide, M E L I S S A!
Melissa grew up in MN, where many of her favorite childhood memories were spent outdoors. Becoming a mother in 2020 deepened her love for nature and strengthened her calling to create meaningful childhood experiences rooted in the natural world.

Melissa is passionate about helping children experience wonder, belonging, and a lifelong connection with nature. She especially loves sharing the magic, art, and science of animal tracking and believes that slowing down to observe helps us become more present, curious, and connected.
Melissa enjoys maple syruping in Spring, black cap raspberry picking in Mid- Summer, wild ricing in Fall, and bird watching year round. These seasonal traditions and rhythms help ground and guide her family.

Want to learn more about our guide team? Sign up for our newsletter to receive in-depth instructor spotlights, updates on our work on the land, continued education opportunities, seasonal noticings, and more. 🌿

Address

Forest Lake, MN
55025

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 12pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+19522397608

Website

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