Fall 25 – Spring 26
Tuesdays & Wednesdays enrolling now
Daily opportunities to build social, emotional, academic, and wilderness skills. Mentors offer engaging projects each day, with a wide variety of choices for different ages and abilities. Projects range from nature based crafts, to wild food processing and cooking on the fire, learning math through games and Montessori inspired lessons, science experiments, wilderness and naturalist skills including shelter building, knot tying, bird language, tracking, and more.
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What is Self Directed Learning
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Just a few of the benefits of a self-directed, nature-based learning environment:
• Whole child development
• Increased fine and gross motor skills
• Increased language and communication skills
• Integrative approach to incorporating academic subjects
• Self-directed: based on participant interests and observations
• Practice regulating one’s own behavior
• Increase competence in social interactions and collaborative skills
• Development of problem solving skills and independent thinking
• Curriculum is not pre-scripted but instead inspired through nature-based play and skill building
• Deepening relationship with the more than human world
The project based learning activities are amazing there is no traditional school that will teach him how to tan a deer hide or build a fire with just a flint and steel. He is not restricted to sitting at a desk and is allowed to explore his environment with guidance from his mentors.
Our children have experienced interactions with other children of all ages that would not have been possible for us outside of White Ash. They have learned healthy boundaries and the importance of communicating with their peers.
We love the Deer Isle summer camp, the kids love camping out and attending the program during the day. This past summer they really enjoyed bringing a pot and a bunch of ramen and cooking lunch over the fire for everyone in the program!
It’s amazing and is helping my child blossom, hands down.
My daughter LOVES “Forest school” it’s her favorite thing and my favorite thing for her. She gets more benefits than I can name but most noticeably she’s happier calmer and more grounded, it gives her confidence and such a strong sense of self and connected to her natural world. I’m beyond grateful for this incredible resource, it’s all I ever wanted for her.
I have noticed beautiful expansion of Birch’s personality and self autonomy since starting this program. The container you all create for him and his peers to gather together outdoors and play and learn and support one another has brought him so much joy and built his confidence. I am so thankful for finding this program. Thank you deeply.
I really can’t even measure how meaningful Clover’s experience has been with White Ash Learning! It’s super awesome. Keep being your wonderful selves. Clover is so happy.
White Ash provides an environment where my children can express themselves in a healthy and safe way.
My 10 yr old LOVES these camps. Only organized program that he has ever unequivocally LOVED and thrived in like this.
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Notes from the Field
White Ash Learning Organizational Updates
Registration is open for the 2025 – 2026 Wild Discovery Semester Program Summer Sessions still have some spaces open Sign in to Amilia for registration options. We are grateful for many accomplishments this year! The introduction... Read More
Fostering Independence, Freedom, and Autonomy
Essential to Youth Development and Well-Being Parents and educators try to provide what’s best for young people and their development. As the world becomes increasingly complex, we face the challenging task of balancing children’s safety... Read More