Basics
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Our Teachers
Christina McDowell, Director & Upper Elementary Teacher
Christina has a Bachelors of Arts in Education Studies. She has a unique background in both homeschool and public education. She taught elementary science for quite a few years before becoming licensed in secondary education as a Career and Technical Education teacher. She has 10 years experience homeschooling her children and she co-hosts the Cache Valley Homeschool Conference. She loves providing project based learning experiences. She believes that students should be taught relevant information in meaningful ways that can be taken outside of the classroom and into really life.
Philosophy
At Cache Valley Forest School we utilize place-based nature education. This allows us to nurture authentic real-life skills that can be taken beyond the “classroom” and applied to life. We believe in the importance of play and discovery for all ages as a means of learning and growing. We also promote age appropriate academic development and rigor through hands on projects and experiences that emphasize relevant and realistic skills. We believe in developing the whole child in a respectful and nurturing environment.
Location
Cache Valley Forest School is a 100% outdoor classroom located in Cache Valley, Utah. We do not have a physical address or building. Classes and camps will take place outdoors at local nature parks and hiking trails. Locations will be selected for amenities, ease of access, and close proximity to Logan.
Each quarter will have a location assigned to it. We may on rare occasion meet at a different location due to specific lesson needs and location amenities, but ample communication will be given in advance. Most of the classes will be held at Green Canyon or Kings Nature Park. When the trails are open (not covered in snow), we will walk into the first meadow. It is an easy, short walk/hike and it is easily accessible by the road, which is important for safety reasons.
Quarter three will be snowy and we have the option of continuing to meet at Kings Nature Park and utilizing the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. Other wintertime options are Von Baer Nature Park and Denzel Stewart Nature Park.
We anticipate most classes taking place at Green Canyon.
About our program
We support place based nature learning through hands-on exploration, play, and environmental awareness. We offer homeschool science courses for grades K-12. Our K-5 grade program is a complete science program that will cover all your science standards for the school year! Supplemental science courses are also offered for grades 6-12. We have a 100% outdoor classroom and we strive to develop a love of learning in all students.