vision
Seedkeepers’ Vision is to contribute to a local movement of restoring and fostering a lifelong relationship between young children and the natural world.
Purpose
Seedkeepers Forest School is a year around program founded with the purpose of providing nature-based education for the children of East Tennessee. We aim to offer learning experiences that support young children in cultivating inner resilience, forming a strong sense of belonging, and laying a foundation for lifelong learning. Being a place based nature connection program children are supported in critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving in their child led, open ended play. We learn together through inquiry, exploration, and wonder ~*
our program
Our program is centered on outdoor play and exploration, with a focus on allowing the children to follow their natural interests and curiosities. Our place based curriculum is tailored to be aligned with the changing seasons, helping children deepen their relationship to and awareness of their environment throughout the program years. We offer Waldorf-inspired teachings that are committed to connecting children to nature, learning through unstructured play while building self-confidence and community connections.
our belief
It is our belief that nature-play and exploration is foundational to a healthy early childhood development, and to the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being of children. Our program holds high the importance of natural play. Play is a child’s work and is the unfolding of the natural way for children to learn. We believe children learn best when allowed to be guided by their natural interests. The educators serve as a support to the children in discovering interests and is a “co-learner” through their discoveries.
Programs
Parent-Child Morning Glory
Program
-Session 1: Summer Session
-Session 2: Fall Session
-Session 3: Winter Session
-Session 4: Spring Session
Our Morning Glory program is mixed age, birth to 3 years old. Classes are designed in seasonal 6 week sessions that are one day a week for 1.5 hours. This program is designed to invite families to join with their children within nature to nurture their child’s curiosity and instill a love of the natural world.
Seeds Forest Kindergarten
Program
This program is designed for 3 to 6 year olds. It is designed to invite young children to immerse themselves in nature, to stimulate children’s innate curiosity, foster compassion and empathy for the earth and all living beings, and focuses on the whole-child in a holistic way.
Sprouts STEM enrichment
Program
This program is designed for children 6 through 9 years of age. It gently guides through deeper studies of our natural world while honoring the growth and transformation of each individual child. Our balanced educational approach addresses learning that occurs with the head, heart, and hands. We empower each child and allow their gifts to emerge and grow.
Homeschool Roots program
This program is designed for children 10 to 12 years of age. Throughout the year, our naturalist program offers a one day a week (Wednesdays) holistic approach to learning. We devote mornings to self-led academic studies of project-base learning. They are guided to study an area of interest and in culmination of each study, mentor/teach the subject matter to the program. The afternoons are devoted to naturalist skills and ways of living in relationship with our local environment.
