Summer Forest School @ the CNC

SUMMER FOREST SCHOOL AT THE CUMMING NATURE CENTER

Forest School at Cumming Nature Center recognizes the intrinsic relationship between children and nature. 

Our mission is to provide children ages 1-12 with the space to nurture this relationship through unstructured play, curiosity-driven exploratory learning, hands-on projects, and outdoor skills development; all within a physically safe and emotionally supportive environment. Through Forest School, students learn to be resilient, self-reliant, and confidently inquisitive. Children work together, using their strong imaginations and ideas to sort out all types of social situations!

FULL-DAY SUMMER FOREST SCHOOL

CNC Summer Forest School program condenses the school year experience into a once-weekly, summer adventure, for children ages 5-12. With nature as our classroom, guide and companion, our daily activities may consist of carving sticks, sawing wood, gathering acorns, building a shelter, building and cooking on a fire, creating natural art–the list is endless! We take time to observe the little ways the world changes, even in the course of one season. Outdoor play develops fine and gross motor skills, executive function, spatial awareness, kindness, empathy, balance, coordination and curiosity driven-learning. Children and guides work together as a community, using their strong imaginations and ideas to sort out all types of social situations. Individually they build resilience, and self reliance, while nurturing their relationships with the natural world.

In order to fully immerse ourselves in the environment, it is essential that children come prepared for the day’s weather and with the understanding that it is ok to get dirty! Comfortable and proper clothing are of the utmost importance.

full-day SUMMER SCHEDULE

Tuesdays 10am-3:30pm (WAITLIST ONLY)
June 30 through August 11, 2026 | 7 sessions

Wednesdays 10am-3:30pm (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 1 through August 12, 2026 | 7 sessions

Thursdays 10am-3:30pm (WAITLIST ONLY)
July 2 through August 13, 2026 | 7 sessions

First week of summer Forest School: June 30-July 2, 2026
Last week of summer Forest School: August 11-13, 2026

FULL-DAY SUMMER Forest school Fees

Member | $365 per child (7 sessions)
Non-Member | $375 per child (7 sessions)

*Plus a $5 discount for families registering more than one child.

Please note:These Forest School fees apply to one weekday of Forest School during the summer. You will need to pay this fee for each weekday of Forest School your child is registered for. 

FULL-DAY SUMMER Forest school registration

Register by creating an account in Campsite, our registration platform. Once your account is created, enroll your child and program options will appear.

Please call the Nature Center at 585.374.6160 with inquiries about the program.

TODDLER SUMMER FOREST SCHOOL

Toddler Forest School provides parents and children (ages 1-4) with a safe space to nurture their relationship with nature through unstructured play and curiosity-driven learning. The toddler program prepares students and their families for the adventures awaiting in the longer day of regular Forest School. Outdoor play allows the children to honor their strong developmental need to jump, twist, tug, pull, balance, roll, run, climb, dig, sort, build, weave and create. This play also develops fine and gross motor skills, executive function, spatial awareness, balance, coordination, kindness, and empathy. Forest School teaches students to be resilient, self-reliant and confidently inquisitive.
*Toddler Forest School is a parent & child program.

In order to fully immerse ourselves in the environment, it is essential that children come prepared for the day’s weather and with the understanding that it is ok to get dirty! Comfortable and proper clothing are of the utmost importance.

TODDLER SUMMER SCHEDULE

Tuesdays 10:15am-12:15pm (WAITLIST ONLY)
June 30 through August 11, 2026 | 7 sessions

Tuesdays 1:15pm-3:15pm (WAITLIST ONLY)
June 30 through August 11, 2026 | 7 sessions

toddler summer forest school Fees

Member | $150 per child (7 sessions)
Non-Member | $160 per child (7 sessions)

toddler summer forest school registration

Register by creating an account in Campsite, our registration platform. Once your account is created, enroll your child and program options will appear.

Please call the Nature Center at 585.374.6160 with inquiries about the program.

forest school HANDBOOK

It is critical that families review the parent handbook before registering a child for Forest School. The handbook provides detailed information about Forest School’s core values and guiding principles, along with logistical details regarding food, clothing, weather closures, registration, and more. Please take the time to read through the handbook, and feel free to reach out to our staff with any questions at 585.374.6160.