Programming Overview

While we consider all of our programs a way to bring the concept of Forest School to everyone, we hope to delineate which programs emphasize environmental education and well-being for our youth (crawling to 18) and which programs emphasize wellness and community building for ALL ages.

Our Forest School programs will focus on bolstering environmental literacy through education and hands-on learning in nature while also promoting physical and mental health for kids crawling to 18. We offer free programs as well as financial aid and scholarships for kids in need to increase access and equity to all the benefits of regular time in nature. Find these programs under the Forest School tab.

Our Community Connections calendar will help you get connected to nature with the main goal of spending regular and consistent time in nature with program offerings that feature a range of interests like hiking, climbing, camping, birding, art, nature play, and wellness practices. They also meet a demanding schedule by inviting you to choose your own weekly connection without the commitment of a semester program. They are all age-friendly, featuring adult-only programming, and are a great way to get to know people in the Red Oaks community. Several are also often free or low-cost to increase access to nature-based programming and play. Find these programs under the Community Connections tab.

Our mission is to foster a deep and lasting connection to nature and community through exploration, education, and play and this unifying theme connects all of our programmings. On this page, we have further provided an overview of all our programming divided up by where it is found, the age of the participant, and if it is weekday or weekend programming.

Frankfort - west sixth farm

Forest Friends** (5-10 year olds), caregiver on site, but not in session. Wednesdays during the Spring semester.
Homeschool STEAM** (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in session. Tuesdays during the Fall and Spring semester.
Mighty Acorns** (ages 3-6), drop-off program on Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

stanton - the wilds

Art Club* (all ages), caregiver-attended program offered the third Saturday of the month from 10 am - 12 pm.
Homeschool STEAM** (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in session. Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Homeschool Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Mighty Acorns (ages 3-6), drop-off program on Mondays and Fridays during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Trail Blazers** (ages 7-12), drop-off program on Fridays during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Weekend Wonderings (all ages), family program on the third Saturday of the month. Times vary sometimes, but mainly hosted 2-5 pm.

Lexington - various locations

Taking Flight Next Level* (teens), drop-off on Saturday mornings, 9 am - 12 pm, during the Fall and Spring semester. This program is located at the Ecological Research and Education Center at UK.
Forest Families** (ages crawling to 5 yrs old), caregiver attended on Tuesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters. Currently offered at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary.
Forest Friends** (5-10 year olds), caregiver on site, but not in session. Tuesdays Spring, Summer, and Fall. Currently offered at Hisle Farm Park.
Birding Club* (all ages) on the second Saturday of the month at the Lexington Cemetery and roaming to other locations. Beginner and kid-friendly.

roaming

Conservation Club* (teens), drop-off program on the second Saturday of the month. Times vary but typically 2-5 pm. Commonly hosted at the KY River Field School campuses in Clark and Madison Counties.
Adventures (all ages), We roam around Kentucky and beyond and include hiking, climbing, and camping.
Nature and Wellness Programs* now offered on the fourth Saturday of the month Jan - Oct. Adult only programming offered some months.

*Free or donation-based programming

**This program can support Spanish speakers, see program page for more details

Weekends

Adventures (all ages), we roam around Kentucky and beyond and include hiking, climbing, and camping.
Art Club* (all ages), caregiver-attended program offered the third Saturday of the month from 10 am - 12 pm.
Birding Club* (all ages) on the second Saturday of the month at the Lexington Cemetery and roaming to other locations. Beginner and kid-friendly.
Conservation Club* (teens), drop-off program on the second Saturday of the month. Times vary but typically 2-5 pm. Commonly hosted at the KY River Field School campuses in Clark and Madison Counties.
Nature and Wellness Programs* now offered on the fourth Saturday of the month Jan - Oct. Adult-only programming is offered some months. See the page for more details.
Taking Flight Next Level* (teens), drop-off on Saturday mornings, 9 am - 12 pm, during the Fall and Spring semesters. This program is located at the Ecological Research and Education Center at UK.
Weekend Wonderings (all ages), family program on the third Saturday of the month. Times vary sometimes, but mainly hosted 2-5 pm.

weekday (pre-k & homeschool friendly)

Forest Families** (ages crawling to 5 yrs old), caregiver attended on Tuesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Homeschool STEAM** (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Homeschool Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Mighty Acorns** (ages 3-6), drop-off program. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Trail Blazers** (ages 7-12), drop-off program. Fridays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

weekday (after-school friendly)

Forest Friends** (5-10 year olds), caregiver on site, but not in class. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

*Free or donation-based programming

**This program can support Spanish speakers, see program page for more details

early childhood (crawling to 6 yrs old)

Forest Families** (crawling to age 5), caregiver attended on Tuesdays during the Fall and Spring semester. Currently offered at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary.
Homeschool STEAM** (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semester.
Homeschool Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semester.
Mighty Acorns** (ages 3-6), drop-off program. Mondays and Fridays during the Fall and Spring semester.

Middle childhood (7-12 yrs old)

Forest Friends** (5-10 year olds), caregiver on site, but not in class. Tuesdays Spring and Fall. Currently offered at Hisle Farm Park from 3:30-5:30 pm.
Homeschool STEAM** (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semester.
Homeschool Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Trail Blazers** (ages 7-12), drop-off program. Fridays during the Fall and Spring semester.

teen (13+)

Conservation Club* (teens), drop-off program on the second Saturday of the month. Times vary but typically 2-5 pm. Commonly hosted at the KY River Field School campuses in Clark and Madison Counties.
Homeschool Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in session. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semester.
Homeschool STEAM** (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in session. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semester.
Taking Flight Next Level* (teens), drop-off on Saturday mornings, 9 am - 12 pm, during the Fall and Spring semester. This program is located at the Ecological Research and Education Center at UK.

All-ages programming (family and adult friendly)

Adventures (all ages), we roam around Kentucky and beyond and include hiking, climbing, and camping.

Art Club* (all ages), caregiver-attended program offered the third Saturday of the month from 10 am - 12 pm.
Birding Club*(all ages) on the second Saturday of the month at the Lexington Cemetery and roaming to other locations. Beginner and kid-friendly.
Nature and Wellness Programs* now offered on the fourth Saturday of the month Jan - Oct. Adult-only programming is offered some months. See the page for more details.
Weekend Wonderings (all ages), family program on the third Saturday of the month. Times vary sometimes, but mainly hosted 2-5 pm.
*Free or donation-based programming
**This program can support Spanish speakers, see program page for more details