Pinewood Trails Forest School

10/16/2026

There's nothing quite like the simple joy of playing in a pile of fall leaves!
Crunching, tossing, rolling, and laughing our way through autumn 🍁💛

Skills explored (ages 3-5)
- Naming colors and textures
- Sorting leaves by one feature
- Practicing grasp and placement
- Exploring colors freely
- Completing a crown with support

Skills explored (ages 6-10)
- Comparing leave structures and seasonal changes
- Sorting by features (more than one)
- Using more precise cutting and arranging techniques
- Planning symmetry and design

10/15/2026

Nature is full of treasures when you know where to look! 🔍🍁
Our explorers headed out on a nature scavenger hunt, searching the forest floor for autumn treasures, unique leaves, and all the little details that make this season so special! 🌲🍄

Skills Practiced (ages 3-5):
- Naming colors and shapes
- Counting objects (1-10)
- Following simple directions
- Describing what they see
- Exploring with adult support

Skills Practiced (ages 6-10)
- Comparing characteristics of like objects
- Counting, grouping, and recording finds to others
- Following multi-step clues and instructions
- Explaining observations and asking why
- Planning searches and solving problems more independently

10/01/2026

🌲WE'RE EXPLORING EXTENDED FOREST SCHOOL HOURS!🌲

One of the questions we've been hearing from families is whether Pinewood Trails could offer a longer Forest School day- and we're listening!

We're exploring the possibility of extending our current day to:

8:55 a.m. - 4 p.m.

This would give children even more time for outdoor exploration, nature-based learning, projects, free play, and the slower pace that makes Forest School so special.🍂🔥🌿

Proposed full-day tuition:
2-days/week: $700 per month
4-days/week: $1,100 per month

This would be an optional program change- our goal isn't to make every family choose a longer day. We know that different families have different schedules and needs.

This is one important piece we need to determine first:
🌲We need a minimum of 8 families interested in the extended day for us to make it possible.🌲

So, we're asking our Pinewood Trails community- and families who have been considering joining us-

Would 8:55-4 Forest School be a good fit for your family?

If you're interested, we'd love for you to submit an interest form so we can get an accurate picture of demand.
https://forms.gle/1begZroPjVEjgG8v5

Submitting an interest form at this stage is simply a way for us to gauge interest and plan appropriately. We'll communicate clearly with families before making the final decision to offer the extended schedule.

09/23/2026

🍁Three weeks into Forest School, and we've been busy!🍂

The beginning of a new Forest School year is always a special time. New friendships are forming, familiar faces are settling back into our rhythm, and there is so much to discover outside.

Over the past few weeks, our explorers have been creating, observing, collecting, and getting their hands wonderfully messy. We've been:

🎨Creating watercolor frames to display our classroom photos
🌳Sculpting tree masks from clay and bringinng our imaginations to life
🍄Going on mushroom hunts and learning to slow down and look closely at the forest floor
🍃Practicing leaf stiching, turning fallen leaves into beautiful little works of art

These projects are more than just crafts. They give our children opportunities to build fine-motor skills, observe the natural world, experiment with materials, express their creativity, and- perhaps most importantly- spend time simply being children outdoors.

Three weeks down, and we're just getting started. 🌲💚

08/20/2026

This is why we do what we do. 🌱

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/power-of-play/Pages/playing-outside-why-its-important-for-kids.aspx

​No matter what the weather brings, playing outside is good for kids. There is scientific evidence that playing outside improves health, and children of all ages love it. Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, outdoor time and nature exploration are safe for most kids. And we know that the more ...

08/18/2026

🌲 What if school looked a little more like childhood?

More time outside. More room to move, wonder, build, create, take healthy risks, ask questions, get muddy, solve problems, and discover just how capable they are.

At Pinewood Trails Forest School, we believe some of the most meaningful learning happens when children are given the time and space to experience the world around them, not just learn about it.

Forest school offers children of all ages opportunities to build confidence, independence, resilience, creativity, problem-solving skills, and a meaningful connection with nature. But one of our favorite parts of what we do is something a little harder to measure: community. 🫶🏼

Our children aren’t simply placed in a class together. They become part of a community where different ages learn alongside one another, friendships grow through shared experiences, and children are encouraged to contribute, collaborate, help one another, and truly belong.

And as we prepare to begin our third year at Pinewood Trails, we’re excited to share that we still have a limited number of enrollment opportunities available! 🌿

Pinewood Trails is a licensed and insured forest school program offering families a unique, nature-based approach to learning and childhood. Whether your child thrives outdoors already or you’re simply looking for something different from a traditional learning environment, we’d love for you to discover what makes our program special.

🌲 Nature-based, child-led learning
🪵 Hands-on exploration and meaningful play
🐛 Small-group experiences and strong relationships
🌻 Mixed-age community and connection
🥾 Outdoor adventure in every season
💚 A place for children to learn, grow, and belong

Limited spaces remain for the upcoming school year.

Visit our website to learn more about Pinewood Trails and apply today! 🌲

www.pinewoodtrailsforestschool.com

We can’t wait to welcome another incredible group of children and families into our forest school community!

Applications for 2026-2027 Now Open Note: Applicants will not be added to our roster until payment of the $50 application fee* has been received. Failure to pay the enrollment fee* of $200 at the time of acceptance will forfeit your child’s reserved spot, and they will be moved to our waitlist. *A...

08/14/2026

🌲We're Just 4 Weeks Away from Forest School!🌲

The countdown is on, and we are getting SO excited to welcome our Explorers back to the trails!🍂

As we prepare for another amazing year at Pinewood Trails Forest School, we'd love to invite our families, friends, and community members to help us stock out Forest School supplies through our Amazon Wishlist. 💚

Every item on our list has a purpose. These materials will be used by our Explorers throughout the year to creat, build, imagine, experiment, explore, and learn. From art supplies to tools for hands-on discovery, these donations help us turn curiosity into meaningful experiences in the outdoors.🍃🪵🎨

If you'd like to support Pinewood Trails, simply choose an item from our wishlist and it will be sent our way. Every single donation makes a difference and directly supports the children who spend their days learning through nature and play.

✨4 weeks. A whole new year of adventures. So many possibilities.✨

Thank you for believing in what we're building and for helping us give our Explorers the most creative, curious, wonder-filled Forest School experience. 🌲💚

Shop our Amazon Wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1NMBX7U1IYBXA?ref_=wl_share

08/04/2026

Our backpacks are an important part of every Forest School adventure! They travel with us throughout camp each day, giving Explorers easy access to their water, meals, and extra clothing whenever they need them. Being prepared helps children stay comfortable, confident, and ready to enjoy every adventure nature brings. 🌲☔️❄️

07/31/2026

🌲Current Pinewood Trails Families🌲

Be sure to check your email!📩
Home visit sign-up links have officially been sent out!

We can't wait to see everyone soon and begin another incredible year of adventure together!✨

These visits are one of our favorite traditions because they give us the opportunity to meet children in a place where they feel comfortable, begin bulding a connection before the first day, and help make the transition into forest school feel exciting and familiar. 💚

07/13/2026

Pinewood Trails Forest School in Lapeer, MI offers preschool-age and homeschool enrichment programs where learning and play happen outdoors! Join us for our 2026-2027 school year🌲
Visit: www.pinewoodtrailsforestschool.com to enroll!