We believe nature is one of our greatest teachers.
About Camano Forest School
Who We Are.
Camano Forest School is an outdoor, nature-based school located on Camano Island in Washington State. We are an all-weather outdoor education program that utilizes nature immersion and place-based curriculum to develop cognitive, physical and social-emotional skills in children.
What We Do.
We offer outdoor education programming for preschool and school age children. Children enrolled in Camano Forest School are permitted a play-and-place-bonded experience where they can observe the dynamics of the seasons through time. In addition, our community-focused pedagogy elevates peer-to-peer relationships through stories, cooperative learning, and shared experiences.
Our Mission.
Our mission is to nurture the essential connection between nature and child. In doing so, we aim to raise children who are resilient, confident, creative and stewards of their community and the environment. We believe that providing children with a safe foundation to explore, discover and learn freely is essential to this development. Through our outdoor education programs, we strive to provide families in the Camano/Stanwood community with access to immersive play-and-place based learning.
Our Cooperative Style.
We are a community of children and parents learning together with the talented educators we employ. As a parent-run cooperative preschool our goal is to provide our children with a quality school experience. Families of enrolled students manage the school’s administration and maintenance, assist professional educators in the classroom on a rotating basis and participate in educating the whole student body.
Our Partners.
Our school is overseen and supported by Camano Outdoor Education Association (COEA), a non-profit dedicated to helping outdoor education thrive in the Camano/Stanwood community. Additionally we operate in partnership with Skagit Valley College’s Family Life program, utilizing a cooperative model in which parents are actively involved in learning and working at our school.
About Forest Schools.
Forest schools, or Outdoor Nature-Based (ONB) programs are nature-based educational programs that nurture student-led exploration while promoting the child’s physical, cognitive and social development. In 2021 Washington became the first state to license ONB programs. Learn more here.