The Living Earth School - Nature Homeschool Program (Afton, Ages 8-17)
Outdoors · Afton, VA · Ages 8–17
Schedule
2026-2027 School Year: Sep 1, 2026 – May 14, 2027
- Thursdays · 9:30 AM–3:30 PM · Afton Homeschool · Ages 8–17
About
At the Living Earth School, Nature is your classroom, and skilled nature mentors are your guides.
Our outdoor classroom experience makes learning REAL. We follow our curiosity through the woods and across creeks as we explore the fundamental connections hidden throughout the natural world. Our students learn what it means to live connected to the land around them through a wide array of earth crafts, nature awareness practices, and survival skills. The curriculum itself rotates with the seasons and year to year, just as nature itself is changing; but at every step we teach our students to think creatively, adapt, and nurture their passions.
Fundamentally, we foster a caring community where every child is accepted for who they are, where they are. We don’t use tests or grades; rather our students learn to be accountable and true to themselves as they take on challenges at their own pace. LES staff take mentoring seriously and are patient, caring, and supportive. At LES, we prioritize connection, exploration, and play!
We offer our Nature Studies Homeschool Programs in Charlottesville, Goochland, and Staunton for ages 8-17. Students meet one day a week during the school year. Scroll to the bottom of the page for details. Groups are divided according to age and experience level, and all are guided by skilled mentors.
The Homeschool curriculum often includes:
• Learning about wild plants that are edible or medicinal, where to find them, and how they can be responsibly harvested.
• How to safely build fires – with matches, flint/steel, and even bow drills (efficiently rubbing sticks together).
• Bird identification, including understanding their behavior and language.
• Learning about community ecology – how do different species interact to create a healthy ecosystem?
• Awareness, observation, and reflection.
• Movement and stillness.
• How to build and make all kinds of useful or beautiful things with our own hands using found natural materials.
• Storytelling, songs, and games.
• Peacemaker Principles, including the whys and hows of respect and positive communication strategies.
• Techniques to track animals and understand their behavior and relationships.
