Where community, academics, and nature come together
A private school in Portland, OR with small class sizes where Kindergarten - 8th grade students journey outside & into nature every day.
We are Portland Forest School!
Welcome to Portland Forest School where education meets nature in a thriving community dedicated to creating lifelong learners built on the strength of our relationships and our diversity.
With a nature-first, earth-skills based, education approach, we cultivate resilience and grit with a focus on our holistic curriculum. The familial relationships we foster prioritize academics, students, parents/guardians, staff, plants, animals, and places.
We cherish the many backgrounds, perspectives, and values each member contributes, recognizing that our interconnectedness fosters our growth and ability to flourish.
Upcoming events:
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November Forest School Open House K-8
11/12 @6-7pm
Discover our private elementary and middle school for Kindergarten-8th grade, located in the heart of Portland, OR, where students explore outdoor forest settings daily. Our nature-first approach to education, with small class sizes, fosters curiosity, creativity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning. Visit us to see how our unique program nurtures growth for students and families.
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December Forest School Open House K-8
12/10 @6-7pm
Discover our private elementary and middle school for Kindergarten-8th grade, located in the heart of Portland, OR, where students explore outdoor forest settings daily. Our nature-first approach to education, with small class sizes, fosters curiosity, creativity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning. Visit us to see how our unique program nurtures growth for students and families.
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January Forest School Open House K-8th
01/14 @6-7pm
Discover our private elementary and middle school for Kindergarten-8th grade, located in the heart of Portland, OR, where students explore outdoor forest settings daily. Our nature-first approach to education, with small class sizes, fosters curiosity, creativity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning. Visit us to see how our unique program nurtures growth for students and families.
What we do differently
Our nature first education approach cultivates lifelong learning and resiliency. We are an outdoor forest school (a private, independent, nontraditional, alternative K-8 school) in the city of Portland, OR. Our students are in combined classes (“pods”) and spend time together, inter-grade interactions is part of the culture of our school. Younger children benefit from modeling by older children, who are our leaders and helpers (read more about this below). Each class grouping has a 1/10 staff/student ratio, at the most. Below is the current 2023-24 class “Pods”:
Kinder-2nd
3rd-5th
6th-8th
Benefits of multiage education
Provides more stability, children form solid relationships and a sense of community with both their peers and their teachers.
Children are able to spend longer periods of time with the same teacher, allowing the teacher to develop a deeper understanding of a child’s strengths and needs, and can better support the child’s learning.
Students learn at their own pace and not limited by grade level curriculum. All learners can be challenged.
When each child is working at their own pace, they can focus on their own learning goals and progress which creates less competition and comparing. Children are able to relax and enjoy the learning process without anxiety about their academics.
Students can organically learn about leadership, mentoring and collaboration.
Stronger social and emotional skills where children can learn from each other.
Intergenerational communication and reinforced learning of the fundamentals.
Older children can feel empowered with leadership roles increasing independence, competence and confidence. They are role models and younger kids can pick things up faster watching and learning from the older students.
Younger children watch and can seek guidance from the older students which enriches their learning experience and allows them to develop independence and to feel secure in their capabilities.
Offers a real world experience and better prepares children for interactions with people of age ranges, experiences and abilities.
Multi-age education cultivates a child-led learning environment where students can develop a lifelong love of learning.
