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Learning In, From, and Through Nature
Welcome Wild Heroes
Nice to Meet You!
At Wild Journey Forest School, we believe
in the transformative power of immersive nature-play.
Wild Journey Forest School is a nature-connection enrichment program. We offer place-based learning experiences and immersive nature-play opportunities for children ages 2-5 with a low child to adult ratio for highly individualized attention. Located in Southwest Atlanta, we border the Bush Mountain Outdoor Activity Center, a 26-acre nature preserve hosting an old-growth forest, hiking trails, and a nature center stewarded by The West Atlanta Watershed Alliance.
Our program has been intentionally created for young learners to meaningfully connect with the land, each other, and themselves. Our approach is centered around the belief that children are highly capable individuals and an integral part of the transactional process of learning. Our days are co-created by the interests and experiences of the children, the cycles of the seasons, and the natural processes of our planet. We believe this creates a space where children can connect with the land, while they take ownership of their learning journey, and above all have fun outside!
We are driven to promote environmental literacy, while prioritizing open-ended, child-led play, experiential exploration and hands-on learning. We also take our commitment to ethical land stewardship, and teaching children and their families about the importance protecting Mother Earth seriously. We firmly believe that by fostering a relationship with the natural world and promoting an understanding of the land, we can inspire the next generation to become responsible caretakers of our planet. We encourage everyone to embrace and enjoy the outdoors, be it rain or sunshine, through all weather nature-play. We have spaces that provide opportunities for artistic expression, socio-dramatic play, loose parts building and construction, and movement play, with literacy, science and emerging math skill development woven into every aspect of our nature exploration. Children can also cook in the mud kitchen, grow their own food in the children's garden, hike through the old-growth forest and meet the Grandfather Beech, and enjoy onsite field trips that allow them to get to know our resident chickens. Our educators act as guides who are passionate about facilitating a relationship between children and Mother Earth. We are trained in CPR, Wilderness First Aid, as well as outdoor risk/benefit assessment and safety management. We offer a supportive and heart-centered space for children to learn and play, while they hone their independent thinking, risk-awareness, and problem solving abilities. We also value and celebrate individuality and creativity, giving children the time and freedom to express themselves in their own unique way. We strive to provide our children with the tools they need to make a positive impact on the world around them. We offer a safe, nurturing and engaging place where they are free to develop their social, emotional, cognitive and physical skills through outdoor play, while learning in, from, and through their experiences in nature. ​We look forward to coming together as a community to help connect children with the land in order to change the world!
The Wild Hero's Journey
At Wild Journey Forest School, every child embarks
on their own Wild Hero’s Journey of growth and learning.​​
Inspired by Joseph Campbell's theoretical framework of the monomyth known as The Hero's Journey, our program invites children to undertake a transformative journey of holistic growth, discovery, and self-realization. Through immersive outdoor play and nature-connection experiences, children venture through stages akin to Campbell's Hero's Journey. They learn to navigate ambiguity, build resilience and teamwork, and cultivate a deep respect for Mother Earth.
Here, amidst towering trees and dappled sunlight, young adventurers step into a realm where nature itself becomes the mentor, guiding them through challenges and discoveries that shape their personal story. Through exploration, play, connection, and reflection in the heart of the forest, we empower young minds to embrace challenges with courage, to grow through adversity, to embody empathy and a deep reverence for the natural world, and to discover the hero within.​
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The Call to Adventure: At the edge of the forest, children hear the whisper of adventure calling to them. It's in the rustle of the wind through the trees, the song of birds, and the mysterious paths that beckon exploration. They leave behind the familiar, stepping into the unknown wild that holds treasures waiting to be unearthed.
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Trials and Revelation: As they venture deeper, they encounter trials that test their courage, resilience, and creativity. Climbing a steep hill becomes a quest to conquer fear. Identifying animal signs weaves itself into deciphering ancient messages. Through these challenges, they discover hidden strengths and forge bonds with their fellow travelers, learning the value of teamwork, kindness and empathy.
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Transformation and Sharing: Emerging from the wild and changed by their experiences, the children bring back treasures not of gold or silver, but of wisdom and growth. They intertwine tales of the journey into their life narrative, sharing with peers and mentors alike. Each story is a testament to their newfound confidence, self-efficacy, compassion for all living things, and understanding of their place in the world.
Nature as the Wise Mentor: Throughout their journey, the forest itself embodies archetypal figures from Campbell's mythological framework. The towering tree becomes the wise elder offering shelter and counsel. The rustling wind is the playful trickster, teaching lessons through riddles and laughter. In communing with these natural archetypes, children learn to respect and harmonize with the environment, fostering a deep connection to the land.
Rituals and Reflections: Under the canopy of leaves we gather around the stump circle as one, where stories are shared and dreams take flight. Here, rituals of gratitude and reflection echo ancient rites of passage, marking each child's growth and accomplishments. As they listen to tales that reflect their experiences, and the symphony of Mother Earth’s creatures, they understand that their journey is part of a larger, timeless story.
Guardians of the Wild: Armed with newfound knowledge and a sense of stewardship, graduates of Wild Journey Forest School become guardians of the wild. They advocate for conservation, inspire others to embrace Mother Earth's wonders, and carry forward the spirit of adventure and discovery instilled during their time immersed in nature .
Land Acknowledgement
As a community, it is important to us at Wild Journey to acknowledge the land on which we are learning and exploring. We respect and honor the ancestral lands of the Muscogee people upon which we gather. We commit ourselves to learning about their culture and incorporating it into our teachings to inspire a deeper appreciation for the natural world. We pay honor and respect towards their ancestors past and present while committing to building a more equitable and inclusive space for all who cross our path. We acknowledge the rich Indigenous history of the land and act as responsible stewards of the environment, working to ensure that the land remains vibrant and healthy for future generations.
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​More information: Land Acknowledgment Native Land
Our Mission
To connect children with the land by providing access to self-directed, play-focused, place-based learning in, from, and through nature.
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​We believe that building an early relationship with the natural world helps children understand, and ultimately protect the land. Our goal is to facilitate immersive nature-connection opportunities by providing outdoor play experiences to children in the surrounding community.
Our Vision
To save our planet one child at a time by promoting environmental literacy, and fostering social, emotional, cognitive and physical growth through immersive all-weather nature-play.
We seek to cultivate an active, and eager community of families who are inspired by time spent learning, working, protecting, and playing in nature, and who want to share that with future generations.
