About
Forest Explorers offers all outdoor after-school and homeschool enrichment programs and day camps where children take part in games, storytelling, mindfulness, journalling, drama, art, building, making and wilderness skills. The program focuses on what is happening in nature as the seasons change and explores basic elements of science through investigations sparked by children’s own observations, questions and interests. Sessions dedicate time for children to move, play and be creative outside, and participants are asked to come ready to explore in all weather.
• Ages: 4–11 years old
• Schedule: Afterschool Explorers run in Winter (January 5–February 26, 2026) and Spring (March 2–June 4, 2026) sessions with options Monday–Thursday 4:00pm–6:00pm, including M/W or T/Th cohorts and one-day-per-week spots; Homeschool Explorers meet Wednesdays 10:00am–1:00pm; additional day camps and summer camps are offered on select dates.
• Price: Day Camps are $125; June Explorers and August Explorers (ages 7–12) are $560 per week; Young Explorers (ages 5–8) sessions are $500 per week; price varies by program with a discount for registering for two days per week.
Forest Explorers offers Winter Explorers from January 5–February 26, 2026, and Spring Explorers from March 2–June 4, 2026. Afterschool sessions meet Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00pm–6:00pm, and families can choose either a Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday cohort, with one-day-per-week spots also available. Homeschool Explorers meets on Wednesdays from 10:00am–1:00pm. Roly Poly Pals Afterschool meets Wednesdays from 4:00pm–6:00pm, and Roly Poly Pals meets Fridays from 9:30am–12:30pm. Day camps run 9:30am–4:00pm, including a camp on January 26 (MCPS Teacher Workday). Summer 2026 offerings include June Explorers for ages 7–12 from June 22–26, 9:30am–4:00pm; Young Explorers for ages 5–8 from June 29–July 3, 9:30am–2:30pm; Young Explorers for ages 5–8 from August 10–14, 9:30am–2:30pm; and August Explorers for ages 7–12 from August 17–21, 9:30am–4:00pm. Need-based scholarships are offered.
Director Shannon Earle has an MS in Natural Resources and Environment with a focus on Environmental Education and has been developing and teaching environmental education programs for over 25 years. Before starting Forest Explorers, she taught the Forest Kindergarten class outdoors year-round at the Audubon Nature Preschool, managed an education and training program for Conservation International for eight years, created an environmental education program for the Monte Alto Forest Reserve in Costa Rica for three years, and worked a season as a park ranger in Canyonlands National Park in Utah; she is also a children’s author and the winner of the 2022 Takoma Foundation Azalea Award for Youth Leader. Teacher Amelia McLaughlin holds a B.A. in history and political science from Guilford College, a teaching certificate in early childhood education from Montgomery College, and a 200-hour RYT from Radiant Child Yoga; she has spent seventeen summers at a play-based, anti-oppression, outdoor summer camp as camper, counselor and co-director, and has spent the last seven years as a Nature Preschool teacher and On-Site Director at Audubon Nature Preschool. Guest Teacher Scott Abernethy has an MFA in Acting, has been a Teaching Artist in the greater DMV and in Seattle, is the Director of the Shakespeare in Schools program for the Educational Theatre Company, and is a resident teacher at Ford’s Theatre. Guest Teacher Patrick Earle teaches AP Environmental Science and Bio 2 – Ecology at Alexandria City High School, holds an MEd from George Washington University and a BA in Engineering from Tufts University, and started his teaching career as an environmental educator with the US Peace Corps in Costa Rica. Shannon’s community work includes managing an education and training program for Conservation International and creating an environmental education program for the Monte Alto Forest Reserve in Costa Rica, and Amelia continues to work with Audubon Nature Preschool and her former camp on committees that examine DEAI practices.
Parents describe Forest Explorers as “amazing” and “the best,” and say their children “love it so much,” “look forward to it every week,” and “have had a wonderful time.” Parent feedback notes a “combo of Den days and exploring,” a “blend of free play and environmental education lessons,” and comments that children are “learning and growing so much because of Forest Explorers.” One parent calls Director Shannon Earle “a magical teacher.”
Last updated January 22, 2026.
• Ages: 4–11 years old
• Schedule: Afterschool Explorers run in Winter (January 5–February 26, 2026) and Spring (March 2–June 4, 2026) sessions with options Monday–Thursday 4:00pm–6:00pm, including M/W or T/Th cohorts and one-day-per-week spots; Homeschool Explorers meet Wednesdays 10:00am–1:00pm; additional day camps and summer camps are offered on select dates.
• Price: Day Camps are $125; June Explorers and August Explorers (ages 7–12) are $560 per week; Young Explorers (ages 5–8) sessions are $500 per week; price varies by program with a discount for registering for two days per week.
Forest Explorers offers Winter Explorers from January 5–February 26, 2026, and Spring Explorers from March 2–June 4, 2026. Afterschool sessions meet Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00pm–6:00pm, and families can choose either a Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday cohort, with one-day-per-week spots also available. Homeschool Explorers meets on Wednesdays from 10:00am–1:00pm. Roly Poly Pals Afterschool meets Wednesdays from 4:00pm–6:00pm, and Roly Poly Pals meets Fridays from 9:30am–12:30pm. Day camps run 9:30am–4:00pm, including a camp on January 26 (MCPS Teacher Workday). Summer 2026 offerings include June Explorers for ages 7–12 from June 22–26, 9:30am–4:00pm; Young Explorers for ages 5–8 from June 29–July 3, 9:30am–2:30pm; Young Explorers for ages 5–8 from August 10–14, 9:30am–2:30pm; and August Explorers for ages 7–12 from August 17–21, 9:30am–4:00pm. Need-based scholarships are offered.
Director Shannon Earle has an MS in Natural Resources and Environment with a focus on Environmental Education and has been developing and teaching environmental education programs for over 25 years. Before starting Forest Explorers, she taught the Forest Kindergarten class outdoors year-round at the Audubon Nature Preschool, managed an education and training program for Conservation International for eight years, created an environmental education program for the Monte Alto Forest Reserve in Costa Rica for three years, and worked a season as a park ranger in Canyonlands National Park in Utah; she is also a children’s author and the winner of the 2022 Takoma Foundation Azalea Award for Youth Leader. Teacher Amelia McLaughlin holds a B.A. in history and political science from Guilford College, a teaching certificate in early childhood education from Montgomery College, and a 200-hour RYT from Radiant Child Yoga; she has spent seventeen summers at a play-based, anti-oppression, outdoor summer camp as camper, counselor and co-director, and has spent the last seven years as a Nature Preschool teacher and On-Site Director at Audubon Nature Preschool. Guest Teacher Scott Abernethy has an MFA in Acting, has been a Teaching Artist in the greater DMV and in Seattle, is the Director of the Shakespeare in Schools program for the Educational Theatre Company, and is a resident teacher at Ford’s Theatre. Guest Teacher Patrick Earle teaches AP Environmental Science and Bio 2 – Ecology at Alexandria City High School, holds an MEd from George Washington University and a BA in Engineering from Tufts University, and started his teaching career as an environmental educator with the US Peace Corps in Costa Rica. Shannon’s community work includes managing an education and training program for Conservation International and creating an environmental education program for the Monte Alto Forest Reserve in Costa Rica, and Amelia continues to work with Audubon Nature Preschool and her former camp on committees that examine DEAI practices.
Parents describe Forest Explorers as “amazing” and “the best,” and say their children “love it so much,” “look forward to it every week,” and “have had a wonderful time.” Parent feedback notes a “combo of Den days and exploring,” a “blend of free play and environmental education lessons,” and comments that children are “learning and growing so much because of Forest Explorers.” One parent calls Director Shannon Earle “a magical teacher.”
Last updated January 22, 2026.
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