Root & Bloom Forest School

Nuestros profesores

Leah Roberts-Combs | Co-Founder & Forest School Director-in-Training Leah is a passionate nature advocate, lifelong learner, and mother of three (ages 23, 18, and 4). With a background as a business owner, professional photographer, and marketing agency founder, Leah brings creativity, vision, and a deep love for child-led learning to Root & Bloom.

Currently completing her Level 3 Forest School Director certification, Leah has experienced firsthand the profound impact of nature-based learning with her own children. As a homeschooling mom, she understands the importance of nurturing curiosity, independence, and confidence through real-world experiences. When she’s not at home on her tiny homestead in Sweetser, she’s adventuring with her youngest in their Airstream, exploring nature and learning on the go. Leah is passionate about creating a space where children are free to explore, take risks, and grow at their own pace.

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Nikki Martin | Co-Founder & Certified Forest School Guide Nikki is a Certified Level 1 Forest School Guide and is currently working toward her Level 3 certification. She is a mother of three (ages 23, 16, and 6) and has spent the past year and a half guiding at a Montessori-based forest school in a neighboring community.

Nikki has a natural gift for leading joy-filled, meaningful outdoor experiences where kids feel safe to get muddy, take risks, and learn through play. Her passion for nature and education has fueled a long-held dream of bringing a forest school to her own community. Recognizing the lack of local options for older children, Nikki was inspired to take action and co-create Root & Bloom. Outside of forest school, you’ll find her hiking, exploring, and spending time outdoors with her family.

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Together, Leah and Nikki combine their experience, certifications, and personal passion to create a safe, nurturing, and curiosity-driven learning environment for children of all ages.

Filosofía

At Root & Bloom Forest School, our philosophy is simple: children are wired to learn through wonder, movement, and connection—especially when surrounded by the natural world.

We follow a child-led, play-based, and emergent curriculum rooted in the core principles of forest school. This means learning isn’t dictated by rigid lesson plans, but instead unfolds organically based on the children’s interests, discoveries, and the rhythms of nature. Whether it’s spotting a toad under a log, crafting a nature potion in the mud kitchen, or building a shelter with friends, each moment is a meaningful opportunity for growth.

We believe: • Children thrive when they are trusted and given time and space to explore. • Curiosity is the foundation of deep learning. • Emotional, physical, social, and cognitive growth are all equally important. • Risk-taking, resilience, and real-world problem-solving are learned through experience—not worksheets. • Nature is not just the backdrop for learning—it is the teacher.

We encourage creativity, imagination, and inclusive community. While some educational models minimize pretend play, we celebrate it—so yes, your Minecraft-loving child can tame wolves and build forest huts with us (and we’ll find the learning in it all).

We’re here to meet children where they are, honor who they are, and support who they’re becoming—one muddy boot and wide-eyed discovery at a time.

Ubicación

Root & Bloom Forest School is currently in the process of finalizing a long-term “basecamp” property in Grant County, Indiana. While we don’t have a permanent location set yet, we are committed to choosing a site that offers safe, accessible, and enriching natural spaces for children to explore and learn.

For our pilot program, we have access to three beautiful outdoor properties within a 25-minute drive of Marion, as well as a small homestead located in Sweetser. These locations offer a mix of woodlands, open spaces, and natural play areas that align with forest school principles.

As we grow, we are seeking a property that: • Provides a safe, dedicated outdoor learning environment • Is easily accessible to families in the Marion, Sweetser, and surrounding areas • Offers natural features like woods, trails, and open space for exploration • Has or can support seasonal shelters for inclement weather

We’ll continue to update families as we secure a more permanent home. Community input is important to us as we work to find a location that serves the needs of the families we hope to grow with.

Acerca de nuestro programa

At Root & Bloom Forest School, we believe children thrive when given the space to explore, wonder, and grow through real experiences in nature. Located in Grant County, Indiana, Root & Bloom offers a nature-immersive learning environment where curiosity leads the way. Through child-led play, hands-on discovery, and supported risk-taking, we help children build confidence, resilience, and a lifelong connection to the natural world.

Our approach follows an emergent curriculum, where learning unfolds organically from the children’s interests, seasonal changes, and daily discoveries. Rather than rigid lesson plans, our guides observe, respond, and gently scaffold meaningful learning experiences—trusting that the best learning happens when curiosity is in charge.

Root & Bloom is designed for children ages 2–13, providing age-appropriate opportunities for exploration, adventure, and growth in an outdoor setting. Every day is a chance to climb, build, create, question, and connect—with the land, with others, and with themselves.

Root & Bloom was founded by two passionate moms, Leah and Nikki, who experienced firsthand the transformative power of forest school with their own children. As certified (and soon-to-be certified) Forest School Guides, they are committed to nurturing a learning environment where children are seen, valued, and encouraged to bloom at their own pace.

Whether it’s balancing across a log, building fairy houses, studying animal tracks, or simply playing in the mud, every moment at Root & Bloom is an opportunity for growth.

Come grow with us.