Fern Valley Forest School

It was wonderful building community at our Welcome & Wander on Saturday, we are so thankful to those who made it out, and we are hopeful those who missed will be able to attend our next event🩷
We are excited to announce enrollment for our Fall 2026 session of forest school is open! Check out our links in bio for Fiddehead’s (3-6), and Foxtail’s (7-12) enrollment forms. We have already begun planning some really exciting things for our upcoming school year, and we hope you’ll join us!
If you have any questions about forest school, feel free to DM or email us at [email protected] 🌿

Fiddleheads form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-edK3pI8nFhIP54tp4gXLmO9mvDtK5RAR9GACQv1MI93qkA/viewform?usp=header

Foxtails form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeP57-HPJ7K76fHG9GQBnu7aufw0WuViIe--gpR8zyPmtSWhw/viewform?pli=1

We’re SO excited for our new Spring Merch fundraiser! We have some really fun new items added to our store.
We have something for everyone- children & adults! Hats & Bags! Check out the link in our bio to shop & support! 😊

https://scholasticsportssales.chipply.com/FernValley/?action=viewall

Our fundraising goes toward improving all of our programming at Fern Valley. With funds raised we are able to provide more opportunities and experiences for all the children in our programs! This includes but isnt limited to things like arts & crafts supplies, building materials, play structures, books, professional development trainings for our teachers, community events, and so much more! We are also fundraising to find Fern Valley a new home in the near future. We have absolutely loved and greatly appreciated our time at “The Land” in Lafayette and plan to still be there for the 2026-2027 school year, but as we continue to grow we will be looking for a space that we can all comfortably grow into together 😊 thank you all so much for being part of the Fern Valley community! 💖

Come Wander With Us 🌿

Join us for our Welcome & Wander at Mill Run Park in Manlius
🗓️ May 9 |
⏰9:30-11:30

✨ Early Enrollment opens at this event— before it opens to the public on May 10 at 9:00 am. You can secure your child’s spot before general enrollment begins. ✨

Curious about forest school? Thinking about fall or spring enrollment? This is a perfect chance to connect with our teachers, ask questions, and get a real feel for what a day in our program looks like.

🌱 Hear about our new seasonal rhythm that’s all new this coming year (Fall & Spring semesters, with a January & February break).

Bring the whole family! We’ll have simple, nature-based activities and light refreshments for everyone to enjoy.

Currently enrolled families are warmly welcome too— we’d love to see you! 😊

🌿 Exciting News from Fern Valley! 🌿

We were so blown away by the incredible response to Little Fronds—thank you for all the love and enthusiasm! Because of the overwhelming interest, we’re excited to announce that we’ve opened a second class ✨

🗓 Tuesdays | 10:00–11:30 AM

We’ve been able to welcome many families from our waitlist, and we now have 6 spots still available in this new session!

If you’ve been hoping to join us for muddy feet, nature play, and magical outdoor learning, now is your chance 🌱

Spots are limited and expected to fill quickly—fill out the form in our bio to reserve yours!

Thank you SO very much to everyone that joined us for our Stay & Play event today!! It was such a beautiful morning in the woods together, meeting new friends, seeing old friends, and spending time building community relationships in nature. 🌲💚
thank you to everyone that donated!! We were able to raise $277 for Fern Valley!! We appreciate this community so much!!

We’re excited to announce the next session of
💐LITTLE FRONDS Spring Session 💐
This session of little fronds will take place on Wednesdays at 10:00-11:30 am from April 8 through May 27th in Lafayette. Tuition: $160

For those that might not be familiar, our Little Fronds class is for a child, 9 months to 3 years old and their parent or caregiver to attend together. This class is designed to allow for new opportunities to explore outdoors in all kinds of weather, with open-ended invitations, child led play, along with stories & songs. This class is also designed with the intention of giving parents/caregivers the chance to come together in community & lean on each other.

Registration will open Wednesday, April 1st at 9:00 am & we are expecting the 15 spots we have available to fill quickly!

* Little Fronds meets at a public park next to a picnic pavilion. For this class we do not meet at the main forest school land, as it is not as easily accessible. Our park location is chosen to be accessible and convenient for caregivers carrying little ones and any necessary bags or gear that often accompany little ones, from their vehicles.

🌷 Join Us for our STAY & PLAY fundraiser!🌷

Don’t miss this chance!! Come explore our forest school classroom on Monday, March 30th from 10am-12pm. Spend a beautiful morning exploring, playing, asking questions, and discovering what forest school is all about.

💚 $5 per child (suggested donation)
📋 Sign up required —Comment below and we’ll send you the details!
❗ Not a drop-off event

This fundraiser helps support our school and connect like-minded families in our community. Drop a comment below if you’d like to attend, and we’ll send you the sign-up form!

Meet our teachers, wander through our forest classrooms, and see firsthand why kids (and adults!) love it here. Don’t miss the chance— this special event only comes around a few times a year! 🌿✨

🌳 Learning starts with where we are.

Foxtails Forest School is a place-based homeschool enrichment program for ages 7–12, meeting Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30–12:30 in Lafayette, NY. We meet outdoors in all weather September-June following the local school calendar.

Our curriculum grows from the land, the season, and the community around us; using real tools, real local materials, and meaningful work to build skills and enhance critical thinking.

We’re guided by teachers who believe children learn best through hands-on experience, trust, and time.

We do have ONE opening currently available- enrollment request link can be found in our bio! 😊 feel free to reach out with any questions!

🌲We have a few openings available in our Fiddleheads program for kiddos ages 3-6!
🌱With Spring right around the corner it’s a great time for new beginnings.
🌳We have 3 spots available on Monday/Wednesday/Fridays & 2 spots available on Tuesday/Thursdays. We have some flexibility with 2-day or 1-day options if that works better for families.
❓If you have questions about Forest school, feel free to drop them below, or feel free to DM or email us!

*Link for enrollment requests can be found in our bio*

❄️ Come out and join us for our THIRD annual community hike on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 10:00 am at Woodchuck Hill Field & Forest Preserve!!
Now, more than ever, is a great time to be connecting with those in our communities 💖
We would love to see old friends, new friends, and current families alike! Please feel free to invite a friend or members from your family to join. It’s a great time to be together and get outside! 🌲❄️🪵
Share this post & Let us know below if you’re planning to come out! 🤍