​OUR TEACHERS
Our team of highly-skilled educators is here to help your child grow and reach their potential. We believe in supporting and engaging the whole child, inside and out, in this critical stage of their development.
Makenna was born in Massachusetts, but has lived half of her life in North Carolina. She went to college in Wilmington at the University of NC Wilmington, and received a BS in marine biology. She is currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Certificate Program at AB Tech Community College. She has interned and worked for many environmental nonprofits, specifically working with children, and on her first day teaching at a forest school, she knew right away that this is what she was meant to do. Combining her love of being outdoors and working with children just made perfect sense! Makenna spends her days off hiking, mountain biking, identifying plants and mushrooms, gardening, doing yoga, creating art, camping, and loving on her cat Petunia, bunny Walnut, and dog Ziggy! She enjoys learning about our native flora and fauna and strives to learn something new every day. She is passionate about our planet and taking care of it. Children are the future and it is our job to educate them on the importance of preserving and protecting this beautiful planet!
Shannon is an avid learner who discovered early on that the way to learn the most is by working with children. After getting her degree in art education in New York, Shannon found a home in the mountains of North Carolina where she was inspired to dive into self-led study of the natural world through drawing and painting. Shannon has found a deeper sense of meaning through the art of teaching, and creativity touches all aspects of her practice. She has experience working with children of all ages in a variety of settings, and uses this varied experience to inform a well rounded teaching practice. She uses compassionate communication to help children self-advocate and bring clarity and peace into their lives. Shannon views education as an opportunity to nurture the whole child, creating life-long learners who approach the world around them with curiosity and confidence.
Harvey has several years of experience in local nature conservation practices and finds great joy in sharing the forest's natural wonders with children. After earning his associate's through dual enrollment in high school, Harvey pushed toward natural resource management in many of our local parks! His experience includes leading volunteers of all ages in invasive plant removal, as well as educating elementary students on erosion's effects on river systems. On any given day at forest school, you can find Harvey one-on-one with the kids, encouraging them to fully explore the possibilities of their world.
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY & VALUES
Acorn Adventure's nature-based emergent curriculum allows for child-led free play interwoven with open-ended adult-guided activities. This strong foundation supports healthy development through all aspects of the growing child becoming more secure and balanced with an innate drive for stewardship and service.
EDUCATION:
From basic forest ecology and natural sciences to handcrafts and primitive skills, student's minds and imaginations are kindled with play, story, and song. Every day is infused with sensory exploration and wonder, ever-changing with each season. The curriculum also fosters a range of benefits through an emphasis on the social and emotional aspects of learning and learner-interest led approaches, the development of pre-reading and pre-STEAM skills.
DISCOVERY:
Kids are meant to move, not sit still in a classroom. We encourage their growing bodies to roam, ramble and run freely around variable and uneven surfaces, building essential motor skills and awareness. They are always given choices in their expression and encouraged to emote themselves physically with clear and loving boundaries.
CONNECTION:
In a mixed-age setting, young children’s innate fascination with the natural world is nurtured so that they can adopt an early appreciation for our planet and their role in it. Emotions and spirits are nourished by their developing relationships with both themselves and each other, so that they are supported and able to flourish and thrive into their best whole selves.
About Forest Schools
The forest school concept dates back over 60 years and recognizes the fundamental human need for connection to the Earth, as well as the growing body of research to support the benefits of outdoor free-play for young children. Forest schools are part of a rapidly growing global movement to combat modern symptoms of "nature deficit disorder." They also are a way to off-set the detriment caused by risk-averse parenting styles and the unrealistic academic expectations society has placed on early learners. By experiencing all seasons and weather, experimenting with creativity, mingling with local plants and animals, learning through mixed-age socialization, guided by their own pace of learning and supported by strong and loving boundaries, we ensure that each child will truly make the world a better place for themselves, and generations to come.
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To learn more about the history and guiding principles of forest school, as well as the specific benefits of forest school for your child, please visit our parent organization, The Forest School Foundation.