A child-led, nature-based program for children ages 2.5 to 5 years
September - June (plus 2 summer camps)
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 AM - 12 PM
in and around Eliot, Maine
We are currently full for the 2024-25 school year. If you would like to be placed on our waitlist, please fill out this form and we will contact you shortly.
Emily lives in Eliot with her husband and three children. She has a master's in social work. Emily taught at a school for children with behavioral needs and taught theater and English in Antigua and India. She has also completed coursework in herbalism. Emily is CPR and First Aid certified.
Laurel lives in Eliot with her husband and four children. She has a bachelor's in elementary education with over 16 years of experience in a variety of classrooms, including Montessori and outdoor classrooms. Laurel is CPR and First Aid certified.
About Us
We are two mothers and educators living in Eliot, Maine. In the fall of 2020, we joined forces to meet the needs of our children and the children of our friends as a pandemic swept the globe. Combining our degrees in elementary education and social work, we found ourselves well-equipped to accompany young children as they developed relationships with the natural world and our small forest family. Our family of families. We are grateful to be able to continue to offer an outdoor program three mornings a week to our community. We look forward to welcoming you and your children into our forest family!
Hear what our Forest Friends alumni and parents have to say:
"I liked ice skating with my friends in the winter and pretending that the ferns were our umbrellas." -Avi, age 5
"Some of my best childhood memories are wildflower walks with my mom in the early spring and asparagus hunting with my dad in the late spring. I'm so happy my granddaughter was able to have similar experiences through the whole school year. She's hearty, happy, and very aware of the natural world." ~Lynda F.
"Thank you for seeing and working with our child's unique qualities, both the wonderful and the challenging. Thank you for giving her the space, patience, and love to develop in as natural a way and setting as possible. We are fortunate that our daughter was with a team of moms whose abilities cover all the bases in nurturing the whole child; intuitive, emotional, educational, spiritual, creative, and more. I am astounded that our daughter has become so adept at navigating trails, identifying so many types of plants, and having a deeper relationship with the natural environment. These experiences, abilities, and values will be with her for her entire life.
And again, thank you for documenting the moments that we couldn't be present for; this has meant the world to us!"
~Jessica & Devin
"Participating in Forest Friends, our children have gained a lot of knowledge about the natural world and a lot more confidence in their place in it. Laurel and Emily are such talented and nurturing educators. Beyond the educational opportunities provided, they have helped instill in our children a stronger sense of self through their unconditional love and dedication." ~Ben C.
"I have had the great pleasure of sending two of my children to Laurel and Emily since 2020. Their love for, and dedication to, my children was beyond all my expectations. They instilled a love of learning and nature in them and went above and beyond at all times in their educational efforts. I am so grateful to both of them." ~Leah C.
