Ann Arbor Forest School

Ann Arbor Forest School is a small, independently owned outdoor immersion learning and leadership program where children spend their time outside every day. Children climb trees, jump fences, roll down hills, run, walk, balance, climb, play, splash, and sled in fields, forests, and wetlands of local parks. They also spend time telling stories, reading books, singing, making art using natural materials, and exploring math and science by discovering the natural world through a play-based, place-based learning curriculum.

The program describes its mission as: “Give your child the gift of learning in a dynamic and natural setting: the world around us!” Ann Arbor Forest School identifies as Washtenaw County’s first forest school and as an outdoor education program in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The class size is intentionally small, and the program is led by Tara. The program also states that it offers opportunities for homeschoolers and children taking class online. Testimonials describe Tara’s atmosphere of cooperation, mutual respect, and caring, and mention children’s independence, problem-solving, imaginative play, familiarity with nature, and conflict resolution skills, as well as her “endless energy, patience, and kindness.”

Last updated January 5, 2026.