Monongalia Forest School

Come join us in Morgantown on January 24, 2024 for the annual school fair!

We will be giving a way a free spot in our Thursday or Saturday program this spring (your choice!).

Morgantown School Fair Come celebrate National School Choice Week at the Morgantown School Fair on January 27th hosted by the Cardinal Institute

Rain or shine, today's fundraiser is on!!!

Come help out local foster kids while having some forest fun.

We've got fall crafts, s'mores, snacks, tie-dye your own mushroom logo shirts and newts... All happening in the dining hall near feather lake at Chestnut Ridge Park from noon to two today!

Bring gently used children's items, personal care items or a small donation for the kids that need it the most. 💞

Be there or waste this beautiful rainy day being lame and boring. 😉

Monongalia Forest School starts in two weeks! Get signed up today to discover...

🗺️ 8 Different Locations/Hikes in the greater Morgantown area
🍄 Fall scavenger hunts that are not to be missed
🍂 Fabulous fall foliage
🏃‍♀️ Get your kid(s) out in nature for physical fun
👪 Quality time together in the forest!

You can choose Thursdays or Saturdays from 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. We start up right after Labor Day.

Come join us for a fall of fun!

Forest School Sign-Up Page Sign up for Monongalia Family Forest School Here

For a few years Aaron has headed up putting bags together that contains warm items for the community members we serve food to. We’re going to start collecting items for this. The first thing we need are either 100 backpacks, or drawstring bags. If anyone has any leads on where we may be able to get some donated I’d appreciate it. You can also help by sharing this post, so maybe someone will see it that can help.

Other items needed to fill the bags:
Hand warmers
Socks ✅ Thank you LiveAbility
Baby wipes
Hats & Gloves - Dollar Tree had some nice ones last year ✅
Any personal hygiene products
Snacks
Water
Bags: ✅ Thank You Middle Mohigans Football and Jeremy Blizard at Free Bikes 4 Kidz WV

We can pick up donations. Thank you

Amazon list is mainly for ideas and anyone that wants to help that doesn’t live locally.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2G7Y9IF2B0IC1?ref_=wl_share

Fall Forest School registrations are LIVE!

https://monforestschool.org/pages/forest-school-sign-up

Please put Saturday, Sept 9th on your calendar for a PARTY, open to the the public. We will be fundraising and collecting donations for Aaron’s Joy Box, a local foster closet. There will be marshmallow roasting, snacks and nature based activities. Join us, rain or shine, at Chestnut Ridge State Park near Feather Lake at noon!

We call Dryad's Saddle a Pheasant Back.

Morel season is winding down but chicken season is coming soon... 🍄

How many different types of wildflower can you find in this picture from Mason-Dixon Historical Park? Look closely!

Something special about woodland wildflowers is that they become fully dormant by the time all the tree leaves are out, so you only get a short window to enjoy them!

These spring ephemeral wildflowers pack a huge punch to get nature up and moving again in early spring. They provide early nourishment to pollinators by tapping into stored energy from the previous year. Ephemeral wildflowers usually have underground energy storage from the previous year in the form of taproots, bulbs, rhizomes or other nifty mechanisms that allows them to bloom early and quickly.

Go visit Mason-Dixon Historical Park, West Virginia Botanic Garden or WVU Core Arboretum today to enjoy the beauty nature offers us during this brief time.

We weren't expecting the snow at Chestnut Ridge Park and Campground for our first spring forest school session, but it was a beautiful surprise!

It was the perfect day for a campfire, s'mores, and getting to know each other.

Newt catching was also successful! A fun time was had by all.

Looking forward to what Saturday has in store for us... windy day activities can be lovely!

We have also decided to delay our foster closet fundraiser party to Saturday, May 20th. Please put it on your calendar, at Chestnut Ridge Park around noon that day. We will have kids activities, newt catching, and campfire for cooking hot dogs, s'mores and mountain pies!

Tomorrow is our first Thursday Forest School Session!

Every year, I try and introduce new activities so we can try new things! Sometimes they are great, and sometimes it flops. 🤷‍♀️

The flexibility and adaptability of outdoor education makes it so easy to turn on a dime to meet emergent interests, needs or replace activities that just aren't working.

Each session, each group, every child is unique and it's a pleasure to get to be a part of igniting their enthusiasm for nature!

We have only one Thursday spot and two Saturday spots available for the spring. Come join us!

https://monforestschool.org/pages/forest-school-sign-up

Forest School starts this Thursday and Saturday. Our first week we're going to be enjoying a camping adventure complete with campfire, toasty treats, and some great nature-based activities.

There are only a couple spots left for each day... come join us!

https://monforestschool.org/pages/forest-school-sign-up

We are just two weeks away from the start of Spring Forest School! I'd like to tell you some more about our forest school sessions.

🧭 Each week we meet in a different local forest on Thursday or Saturday (you pick the day of the week when you sign up.)

The day begins with a hike! We explore the new area, look for interesting plants or animals, and enjoy all that nature has to offer. 🦝🍄🐍

Once we reach our destination, three activity invitations are set up for the children. These might be art, science, math, reading, or other skills practiced with natural materials. 🍂

Kids get to choose - what would they like to do? Some kids just want to explore - that's okay! Forest School helps to facilitate the flow without pressure.

We often return with a new appreciation for nature, what our children are capable of, and maybe some souvenirs! 🍁🪨🌼🦋

Ready to adventure in the forest with us? Click to get more information!

https://monforestschool.org/pages/forest-school-sign-up

Two years ago I had an adventure-loving 5 year old with a deep love of the outdoors and nature. 🍂🏃‍♂️🌻

The only local outdoor school at the time didn't start programming until the 2nd grade. 😭

I just didn't want to wait two years for him to be able to begin a forest school type program. Some of my friends were saying the same thing! They wanted forest school, and the community that comes with it.

It wasn't long before I realized - if I wanted it, I needed to create it!

I didn't do it all myself. Your Natural Learner - Leah McDermott helped me with our initial curriculum, which we have since expanded and adapted to our locations here in West Virginia.

Our first session we had 13 families join. It was scary, I had to set aside social anxiety, worry that I'd pick the wrong locations or that people who hate it, and just try!

Since then, our program has grown to serve over 100 children in 2022. 😱

We are looking forward to serving even more families and explorers this year. Will your family be one?

I'm opening up Spring 2023 registrations today! Right now we are offering Thursday mornings and Saturday mornings.

If there is enough interest to open Wednesdays I will add a third day. Please let me know with a comment below, FB message, or email katie at monforestschool.org to let me know!

Register today!

https://monforestschool.org/pages/forest-school-sign-up

Great opportunity for kids here in West Virginia to get out in nature, grow their confidence and independence, and discover all the incredible things our beautiful state has to offer!

Experience Learning Providing educational outdoor programming and events with relevant and meaningful experiences

We are VERY happy to announce that the Sledding Hill will be OPEN Saturday from 11am to 4pm!
Help spread the word and please share. Thanks, and see you on the Hill!

Mason-Dixon Historical Park
Camp Muffly Park
Monongalia County Parks & Recreation
MonCountyParks.com

Come meet us tomorrow and put your name in our raffle to get a chance to win a free spot in the spring session of Monongalia Forest School!

We will be at the 2023 West Virginia School Fair on Saturday, January 27th from 10 AM - 2 PM at the Marriott Waterfront. Join us and many other educational providers for a day of fun, face painting, balloon art, giveaways and incredible kid performances.

You can just show up any time - but it helps if you register here: https://cardinalinstitute.com/2023-west-virginia-school-choice-fair

See you there!

Free local STEM event that is open to both male and female participants. Get registered today!

GIRLS’ STEM DAY 2023!!!

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Date: Saturday February 25, 2023
Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (check-in starts at 8:30 AM)
Location: WVU Engineering Sciences Building (395 Evansdale Drive, Morgantown, WV)

Girls’ STEM Day is a free event for students grades K-5 to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math. The participants will be separated into age groups (K-1, 2-3, 4-5) and engage in four different engineering activities throughout the day. The theme for the event is "Tools for your Future" where we will answer the question "What's in your toolbox?"
Breakfast (assorted pastries) and lunch (pizza) will be provided for all participants.

Registration is now open: https://tinyurl.com/69u2uzcb. Please register by February 19. The link to register is also in our Instagram bio .

Please text Kayna Anderson (304-771-9771) or Taylor Brown (304-619-6264) with any further questions.

FOREST SCHOOL THURSDAY NOV 3 IS CANCELLED

I have a very sick child and our other leaders are not available.

So sorry for the inconvenience, please check your email for a Saturday invite or we will reschedule for next week if families wish.

Fall coloring matching boards were a major hit the last two weeks at Family Forest School!

One of our incredible family forest school moms REALLY gets the purpose of our program.

Check out this beautiful fairy house creation!

It took:
👩‍👦‍👦 Teamwork within and between families.
🏗️ Planning and executing a building project.
🍂 Artistic expression with natural materials.
🌟 Pride in our work.

🥰 The joy of being out in nature together is the gift that keeps on giving. 🌳

Get your Free AllTrails Pro Membership just for loving our West Virginia Forests!!!

The West Virginia Department of Tourism is providing a FREE AllTrails Pro membership for all West Virginia hikers.

Go exploring any of WV’s 1,500+ world-class hiking trails. Whether you're looking for an easy stroll on your lunch break or a multi-day backpacking adventure, hiking in the Mountain State is accessible, adventurous, free and uncrowded.

With the help of the #1 global hiking trails app All Trails, you just may find your new favorite place to explore, connect with nature and discover all that West Virginia has to offer.

Simply visit WVtourism.com/alltrails now through the end of November 2022 to claim your FREE one-year membership.

When your mom runs forest school and insists on making you a leaf crown, so you roll your eyes and just go with it. 😂🥰

Lauren Webster Photography never disappoints. ❤️❤️❤️

Rainy days don't stop us from enjoying Coopers Rock State Forest.

Family Forest School is still out taking hikes, finding some caves to shelter in, and enjoying the incredible fall foliage!