Colorado mom chooses forest school and homeschooling for her children
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Caitlin Conway, a mother of two in Colorado, sends her children, ages 8 and 5, to forest school and supplements their education with homeschooling.
Conway and her husband were inspired by outdoor schooling programs in Nordic countries and found a forest school near their home. Her oldest child began attending at age 4.5, and the experience became his primary education through first grade.
The forest school operates daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the temperature is 15 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer, teaching children to regulate their own body temperatures and navigate challenges with minimal intervention from instructors. The program emphasizes social and emotional development, allowing children to resolve conflicts and build resilience. Conway’s family extends the outdoor learning experience at home, prioritizing exposure to nature alongside art, music, and traditional academic subjects.
She collaborates with two other families in a homeschool co-op to organize outdoor “adventure days.” Conway notes that while she lacks a formal education background, she works as a real estate agent, she continues this approach because she observes a positive impact on her children’s adaptability and confidence.
