FAQ

What do you do when it rains?​

Rain is a natural part of nature school in the PNW. While winter days are often dark and wet, there are very few days with significant amounts of rain. There will always be access to dry spaces, whether that is a park shelter or a 20x40 tarp set up in the woods. A second dry fleece and a second pair of gloves in the backpack also help the students have a positive experience on wet days.

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Are there free trial days? Can I join halfway through the season?

Yes and yes! Please email robby@mountainsidenatureschool.org to set up a free trial day at one of the ongoing classes. If it goes well and there is room in the program, you may join for the remainder of the season at a prorated rate.

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How does Mountainside fit into the larger homeschooling curriculum I need to provide for my child?

At Mountainside, your child will be moving, playing, learning, making friends, and exploring the natural world for the entire day. These formative experiences don’t always fit neatly into curricular boxes, but are nonetheless so valuable as part of a schooling regimen. That said, Mountainside recognizes the need for reporting to districts about what was learned in each month. Families will receive a weekly write-up to use for homeschool reporting detailing what the group did each day.

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Do you teach science?

Students will regularly be moving through the scientific process asking questions such as “Why is this here? How did this happen? What can I expect in the future?” Every encounter with a bug, bone, or mushroom opens up countless opportunities for engaging with the scientific process. Nature journaling is a more concrete time where we use drawing and note-taking to synthesize our thoughts.

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