Where Stories Grow Wild….
Story In the Forest
Story in the Forest is a nature-based learning experience designed for children who come alive outdoors. It is a place where little ones and growing readers alike are invited to wander, wonder, and weave stories into the world around them. We gather beneath the branches, along winding trails, and in small pockets of wild to explore the beauty of books, the spark of imagination, and the foundations of early learning.
Each gathering unfolds slowly and intentionally, grounded in play, curiosity, and child-led rhythms of discovery. Experiences are thoughtfully designed to support language, creativity, connection, and engagement while honoring each child’s unique way of approaching the world. Here, stories leap off the page and into the landscape, inviting children to build, question, create, and dream beneath the open sky.
Story in the Forest is not a school or therapeutic program. Rather, it is an enriching, literature-anchored experience that reflects a deep respect for early childhood development, inclusive practice, and the power of story to help children make meaning of the world around them.
“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage”
Story in the Forest is an educational enrichment experience designed to meet children where they are and invite them into deeper engagement through nature, literature, and meaningful shared experiences. It is a space where learning feels alive. Where it is woven into movement, conversation, observation, and imagination rather than confined to tables or worksheets.
Programs are intentionally flexible and developmentally responsive, offering opportunities for both emerging learners and older children to engage with stories in ways that feel relevant and empowering. Younger children may explore books through sensory play, dramatic expression, and hands-on discovery, while older children are invited into richer literary conversations, collaborative projects, and nature-based book clubs that encourage curiosity, connection, and reflection.
Story in the Forest is thoughtfully designed to be inclusive of diverse learners. The outdoor environment naturally supports regulation, focus, and engagement. It creates space for movement, quiet observation, repetition, creativity, and choice. Experiences unfold at an unhurried pace, honoring the many ways children process information and express understanding.
Rather than separating learning from play or imagination from academics, Story in the Forest blends them together. Literature becomes a doorway into inquiry, and nature becomes a partner in learning. Children are encouraged to follow their curiosity, collaborate with peers, and grow in confidence as thinkers, readers, and problem-solvers. They are always supported by gentle guidance and thoughtful structure.
Story in the Forest is not about accelerating childhood. It is about creating space for learning to grow naturally—rooted in story, supported by nature, and shaped by the unique strengths of each child. Story in the Forest exists to offer children an intentional, inclusive learning experience where story, nature, and curiosity meet.
What is Story In the Forest?
“Every youth should know something of the flowers of the field, the birds of the air, the stars in their courses.”
It really is the place where stories go to grow wild, and children come alive.
What Happens in the Forest?
Each Story in the Forest gathering brings this philosophy to life through thoughtfully designed experiences in nature. Story in the Forest is intentionally designed to meet children where they are, developmentally and emotionally, while gently inviting them to stretch, explore, and grow through meaningful experiences.
Each gathering is anchored in a carefully selected piece of children’s literature and unfolds through hands-on, open-ended invitations in nature. Experiences are adaptable across developmental stages, allowing younger children, emerging readers, and older learners to engage with the same story in ways that feel accessible, relevant, and age-appropriate.
Children may explore a book through movement, build scenes from a story using natural materials, reenact narratives through imaginative play, or extend their thinking through drawing, mapping, writing, or collaborative discussion. Older children may participate in literature-based nature clubs, outdoor book conversations, or themed explorations that deepen comprehension, reflection, and connection.
The forest serves as a flexible learning environment, supporting early literacy, problem-solving, self-regulation, and social learning without the pressure of traditional classroom expectations. Structure is present, but it is gentle and responsive, allowing learning to unfold through curiosity and engagement rather than compliance.
Story in the Forest is designed to be inclusive of a wide range of learners. The outdoor setting naturally offers space to move, opportunities for quiet observation, reduced sensory demands, and multiple pathways for participation. Children are not expected to conform to a single way of learning; instead, experiences are designed with flexibility so that each child can engage in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful.
Sessions are predictable yet playful, guided with care, and intentionally spacious. There is room for quiet observers, energetic explorers, deep thinkers, and imaginative storytellers alike.
Here, learning is not rushed or forced.
It is experienced through the body, the senses, relationships, and the living world.
Our Educational Approach
Story in the Forest is guided by the belief that children learn best when they feel safe, supported, and deeply engaged. Learning here is not rushed or standardized; it is responsive, relational, and rooted in respect for each child’s unique way of thinking and being in the world.
Our approach draws from research-informed practices in early childhood education, inclusive education, and nature-based learning. We honor the understanding that development is not linear and that meaningful learning looks different for every child. By offering flexible entry points into stories and experiences, children are able to access learning in ways that align with their strengths while gently encouraging growth and exploration.
Nature plays a central role in this process. The outdoor environment offers space, movement, and sensory variety that naturally supports attention, emotional balance, and engagement. The rhythms of the forest, the light, sound, movement, and stillness, all create a learning context that feels calm and inviting. This allows children to participate more fully and authentically.
Literature serves as both an anchor and a bridge. Stories provide a shared language, emotional connection, and rich opportunities for comprehension, expression, and perspective-taking. When paired with hands-on exploration, literature invites children to deepen understanding, build meaning, and make personal connections that extend beyond the page.
Story in the Forest is intentionally inclusive and affirming of diverse ways of learning. Differences in communication, attention, and processing are viewed as natural variations in how children engage with the world. Thoughtful structure and environmental supports are woven into each experience, allowing children to participate with confidence and without being singled out or labeled.
This approach creates space for curiosity to deepen, confidence to grow, and learning to unfold at a pace that feels supported, meaningful, and empowering.
Why Learning in Nature Matters
Learning does not begin at a desk, and it does not look the same for every child. Story in the Forest is grounded in research and experience showing that children learn most deeply when their bodies, senses, and minds are engaged together. Nature offers a uniquely supportive learning environment, one that invites movement, curiosity, problem-solving, and sustained engagement.
In the forest, learning is not divided into isolated subjects. Literacy, math, science, and social learning emerge naturally through exploration, conversation, and play. A fallen branch becomes a tool for measuring and comparison. A winding path becomes a story map. A shared discovery becomes an opportunity for collaboration, language development, and perspective-taking.
This environment is particularly supportive for children who do not thrive in traditional classroom settings. Outdoor learning allows for flexible pacing, varied modes of participation, and multiple ways to engage with ideas. Children are free to think aloud, move while learning, revisit experiences, and approach challenges in ways that feel accessible and meaningful.
Story in the Forest is designed with the understanding that learning differences are a natural part of human development. Rather than asking children to adapt to a rigid structure, the environment is intentionally flexible; offering choice, space, and varied pathways for engagement. This approach allows children to participate fully while honoring individual strengths and needs. When children feel capable, respected, and supported, learning unfolds with greater confidence and joy.
Programs & Offerings
Forest Story Sessions
Small-group gatherings rooted in children’s literature, imaginative play, and hands-on exploration in nature.
Nature-Based Book Clubs
Literature circles for emerging and independent readers that blend outdoor discussion, creative response, and meaningful connection to text.
Seasonal Programs & Series
Short-term offerings inspired by the rhythms of the year, favorite stories, or thematic explorations of nature and place.
Pop-Up Learning Experiences
Occasional events, workshops, or community gatherings centered around story, wonder, and outdoor learning.
Inclusive Learning Groups
Thoughtfully designed experiences that welcome diverse learners and honor different ways of engaging with stories, materials, and environments.
Private or Small-Group Experiences
Customized enrichment sessions for families, homeschool groups, or small learning communities seeking a gentle, literature- and nature-based approach.
All programs are grounded in developmentally appropriate practice, inclusive design, and a deep respect for childhood. Learning unfolds through story, movement, conversation, play, and connection—supported by the natural world.
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Dream it.
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Build it.
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Grow it.
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Sell it.
The Educator & Foundations
Story in the Forest is guided by an educator whose work sits at the intersection of child development, special education, literature, and nature-based learning.
Ms. Tracy’s background is in early childhood care and education, as well as coursework in counseling, educational psychology, and special education. Each experience is thoughtfully designed to reflect how children learn best: through movement, connection, curiosity, and meaningful relationships.
The work is informed by a foundation that includes:
Child development and the learning sciences
Principles of special education and inclusive educational practice
Neurodiversity-affirming perspectives
Educational environments that prioritize emotional safety, predictability, and responsiveness
Play-based, inquiry-driven pedagogy
Nature as a meaningful context for learning
Rather than asking children to adapt to rigid systems, Story in the Forest emphasizes thoughtful design of the environment, materials, and pacing to support engagement and participation. This foundation allows children with a wide range of strengths, interests, and learning approaches to feel capable, safe, and connected.
Ongoing professional learning, reflective practice, and collaboration with families remain central to the work. As Story in the Forest grows, its offerings will continue to evolve. They will be grounded in research, guided by experience, and shaped by the children who step into the woods.
