Our Education Model

The cornerstone of our program, Mountain Run Forest School believes that everything is better outside— especially childhood. Especially education.

Research shows that kids who spend more time outside are happier and less anxious, and perform better at school. There is a tremendous mental health crises facing young people today, and it is affecting children younger and younger. Time in nature, especially active play time in nature, is incredibly grounding and calming. And spending time outdoors in all weather promotes resilience and confidence in the face of challenges.

When we say “outdoors in all seasons and all weather,” we mean it. We’re out there in the rain, the fog, the cold, the hot, the windy, the gorgeous. If the weather becomes dangerous (lightning, high winds in the woods, flash flooding, etc), we will immediately seek shelter. We have an indoor classroom (currently at Culpeper United Methodist Church) which we use for our academic block during the winter months.

In our experience, children are far stronger and more resilient than we sometimes give them credit for– especially if they have appropriate weather gear. Just be forewarned: Forest School kids learn not to mind the rain and the cold, and they will insist on going out in it when they are home with you, too. :)

Mountain Run Forest School is grounded in the philosophy of Charlotte Mason, a 19th century British educator. Charlotte Mason’s key beliefs about education, which we firmly agree with:

1. A child is a person, and we must educate the whole person, not just their mind.

2. Children are wildly capable. They can make sense of information and ideas, and do not need teachers to act as the “middlemen” to give them watered-down ideas. We do not use workbooks/worksheets for most subjects, but instead read great books and discuss them.

3. Education depends on “living books”— that is, books that stir the soul, ignite the imagination, and represent the best and highest thinking on a subject. Boring textbooks will not do. Children need access to the highest quality literature, right from the beginning.

4. Time outdoors, and a knowledge of the natural world, are an important part of a child’s education.

At Mountain Run Forest School, we use a Charlotte Mason style curriculum to cover our core academic subjects. We read living books and discuss big ideas in literature, history, and science, and learn math through a hands-on exploratory program.

Interested in learning more, and seeing what books your child will be reading this year? Schedule a meeting and request an introductory packet!

What do we study in our full time program? In addition to a robust nature study (of course!), we dive into the following subjects:

• History

• Science

• Artist and Composer Studies

• Handwriting

• Literature, including novels, folk/fairy tales, Shakespeare, and historical legends

• Individual subjects: each student received individual or small group instruction in math and reading/phonics

This is important: we follow the research-backed philosophy that when it comes to reading and math, it's better late than early. We do not force structured reading and math lessons at the kindergarten level, but use play-based lessons to introduce number and letter sense. When a student is about 6, we begin gentle, individual lessons in math and reading, always moving at the child's own pace. Our goal is that each child feels confident and successful, and never rushed or like they are "behind."

Got a late bloomer who is just starting to be interested in reading at 7? We are your people. Feel pressured to have your child reading by the age of 4 or 5? We may not be the right fit for you. We carefully monitor each child's progress to ensure they are moving forward, but we are in no rush.

We use the Life of Fred mathematics curriculum, working with each child at their own level. If you’ve never heard of it, Life of Fred is a madcap literary math curriculum. We also use math games and manipulatives to build solid mathematical thinking. Math is our favorite subject. <3

We use a variety of curricula for teaching reading, depending on the needs of the individual student. For many of our students, we use an Orton Gillingham approach, which is the gold standard model for students with dyslexia.

Your child is more than a standardized test score. But we get it— you want to make sure your child’s learning is on track! We work one-on-one with each child in reading and math, so we always know exactly where they are, and we love to talk about it with parents!

Mountain Run Forest School does not use grades. If we have concerns about a student’s progress, or feel a student would benefit from additional support in any subject, we collaborate with parents to ensure success.

Got questions about your child’s progress? We’re happy to sit down with you and discuss it, at any point in the year— no need to wait for report cards!

At the end of the year, a qualified evaluator will meet with the child and family to evaluate the child's progress and write a proof of progress letter if required.

Research shows that something special happens when children of different ages play together— younger kids learn from the big kids and develop their interpersonal skills, and big kids step into the role of mentor and leader and develop confidence and gentleness. Our mixed-age adventure days give students plenty of time and space to form these relationships and experience this growth.

In our micro school classroom, a mixed age group lets students work at their own perfect pace, faster in some subjects or slower in others, without the pressure to stay in lock-step with 30 other students who just happen to share a birth year. They experience the same mentorship and support, and opportunities for leadership, in the classroom as they do in play.

No one knows (or loves) your child as much as you do. Mountain Run Forest School comes alongside families to support them on their educational journey. Instead of meeting your child’s teacher a few times a year for parent-teacher conferences, you will know them closely, talk to them every day, and be able to partner in the process.