EdenAcres Environmental Education
Education · Environment · Community
440-479-4813
Welcome to EdenAcres
Our Mission
At EdenAcres, we create inclusive, nature-based educational experiences that center equity, diversity, and inclusion while fostering a deep connection to the natural world. We build resilient communities by providing hands-on learning opportunities, empowering underserved populations, and promoting environmental stewardship.
Our Vision
We envision a world that cares for the Earth and its people, one that is equitable and exists within the limits of the ecosystems that sustain us. At EdenAcres, we believe fostering environmental literacy and a deep connection to place are key components to building resilient, inclusive communities and creating a sustainable future for all. Through nature-based education, we aim to empower individuals—especially those from historically marginalized communities—to lead in the stewardship of their natural surroundings. Education is our focal point because it is the means by which we pass culture, knowledge, and stewardship from one generation to the next.
WildRoots Nature School
At EdenAcres' WildRoots Nature School, we're on a mission to create curious, confident, and compassionate young learners. Our nature-centered philosophy encourages children to explore, inquire, and discover the wonders of the world around them. With experienced educators who share a deep love for nature, we provide a nurturing space where children flourish.
Nature Is Our Classroom
Fostering the development of the whole child through emergent and child-centered learning, play, exploration, and discovery in the natural world.
At EdenAcres, we empower learners through experiential and
environmental education.
We envision a world that cares for the Earth and its people, is equitable, and exists within the limits of the ecosystems that provide for our needs. We understand that fostering environmental literacy will help us to realize that vision. Ecological literacy and having a connection to place will be key components to creating a sustainable future for all. There are many access points to addressing a changing climate, to increasing academic achievement, and improving the lives of children and families. We have chosen education as our focal point because we believe that education is the means by which we pass culture from one generation to the next.
Nature Preschool for children ages 3 - 5
We believe that nature is the best classroom—a place where children can explore, create, and learn through hands-on discovery. Rooted in the Reggio Emilia philosophy, we see children as capable, curious, and full of potential, allowing them to take an active role in their learning journey.
Through play-based exploration, children engage in science, math, literacy, and art in ways that feel natural and joyful. Whether caring for farm animals, wandering through the forest, watching seedlings sprout in the garden, or using real tools, every day is filled with opportunities for curiosity, confidence, and deep connection to the world around them.
With programs at both our Forest and Farm Campuses, families can choose the setting that best fits their child.
Forest School for children ages 5 - 7
Children are intrinsically motivated to learn. They do so though play and exploring the world around them. At EdenAcres, we foster a child’s natural sense of wonder as we gently move between instructor-led and child-driven play and activities. We celebrate that children learn through hands-on and minds-on experiences. Each day our educators provide opportunities for your child to select, explore, and practice skills. Academic concepts of numeracy, literacy, culture, and science are seamlessly integrated into our daily rhythms. Through a balance of play, exploration, and instructor-led games and activities, children develop problem-solving skills, self-regulation, social-emotional and motor skills.
Forest School for children 8-12
A holistic learning community using 40 acres of native forest land as our classroom. Each day children move between instructor-directed activities and self-directed play and exploration, both of which contribute to the holistic development of a child’s hands, heart, and mind. Our place-based and seasonal curriculum integrates reading, writing, math, social studies, and the arts through hands-on projects, games, and activities. We have chosen the forest as our classroom because research shows that experiences in nature are essential for the healthy growth and development of children. Abundant time in natural settings yields long term benefits in children’s cognitive, emotional, and social development. On top of all that, nature is the perfect place to learn about the world we live in. The natural world provides the living context in which to learn about cycles, interdependence, energy and resources, scale and limits, diversity, succession, sustainability, and community.
Farm School for children 6-12
In our Farm Days program, children experience the gentle rhythms of farm life, where each day is guided by the seasons, the needs of the land, and the cycles of care for plants and animals. This fully outdoor, mixed-age program offers a rich, hands-on education, fostering confidence, leadership, and a deep connection to nature. Through seasonal farm projects, animal care, and gardening, children develop practical skills while deepening their understanding of sustainability, ecology, and traditional craftsmanship.
Inspired by traditional agrarian learning, our multi-age community nurtures peer mentorship, skill progression, and collaboration, creating a sense of belonging and shared responsibility. Whether tending to miniature cows, heritage pigs, and chickens, planting and harvesting in the garden, or exploring traditional food preservation and herbalism, children engage in meaningful, real-world learning. Each day brings opportunities to observe pollinators, study soil health, weave with natural fibers, or practice old-world skills like threshing and dye-making. By working with the land, children not only gain practical knowledge and confidence but also cultivate a lifelong connection to the natural world—learning not just how to care for the farm, but how to be stewards of the earth.
For teens and tweens 12-16
Venture into the mythical world of Hollowcroft Nest with the Forest Keepers Guilds! Embark on a thrilling adventure where you create your character and choose your path—become a Mage, Adventurer, or Creator. Unite with fellow guild members, guided by skilled Guild Masters, as you explore enchanted forests, craft magical tools, and solve the mysteries of this magical realm. Level up by mastering real outdoor skills like wilderness survival, animal tracking, herbal crafting, and woodworking. Discover new powers, grow your talents, and face fantastic challenges as you journey through Hollowcroft Nest and beyond!
At the Forest Keepers Guild, students dive into specialized skills and hands-on projects led by experienced Guild Masters. Each guild offers a unique path of exploration, discovery, and mastery!
Connect with Us
We're always eager to connect with parents and prospective families who share our enthusiasm for nature-based education. If you have questions or would like to learn more about EdenAcres Nature School, please reach out. We look forward to welcoming you to our nature-loving community.
440-479-4813
EdenAcres Land Acknowledgment
At EdenAcres, we honor the land upon which we gather, learn, and grow. We acknowledge that this land is the ancestral territory of the Tualatin Kalapuya people, who were the original stewards of this place for countless generations. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855, the Tualatin Kalapuya were forcibly removed to the Grand Ronde Reservation, where their descendants remain as part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
We recognize their enduring connection to this land and the resilience of Indigenous communities across the region. As we work in nature-based education and restoration, we are reminded of the deep and reciprocal relationship between people and the earth.
In our commitment to fostering curious, confident, and compassionate young learners, we strive to honor Indigenous ways of knowing and to engage in practices that restore and sustain the land. We invite our community to join us in this effort by listening, learning, and respecting the stories and stewardship of those who came before us.
We give thanks to the Tualatin Kalapuya and all Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, whose traditions and care for the land inspire our work toward a more equitable and sustainable future.
