Foragers and Wildlings
Family Forest SCHOOl

Alpine Village School partners with Rootwork Yoga & Herbs to bring you Foragers and WildLings Family Forest School! Our immersive family classes are designed to deepen your connection with nature as we invite you to explore our native plants, learn how to sustainably forage medicinal herbs, develop a KEEN sense of awareness on our trail heads, and introduce families to a wide set of survival skills.

Our intention is simple: encourage familles to explore the outdoors, learn together, and build a relationship with the abundantly beautiful area that surrounds us in the inland Pacific Northwest. Come join us as we meet every Friday at a different trailhead to learn about basic survival skills, identifying animal tracks, foraging for Medicinal plants, and more!  We can’t wait to connect and grow with our forest school families!

  • Foragers class (Ages 6 & Below)

    Miss Rachael's class will take "foragers" into nature's classroom- through the woods and meadows, alongside creeks and lakes in search of the plants, animals, and insects that we share our home with. We will learn how to identify specific wild plants and trees, explore medicinal properties of native plants and their common uses. All while enjoying time in community, connecting with mother Earth and her creatures while singing songs, looking for animals and animal tracks, and having tea time with the trees.

  • WILDLINGS CLASS (Ages 7 & Up)

    Kindle a deep connection with the wonders of the world and the art of survival with Tina’s 'Wildlings' wilderness curriculum. Become immersed in what the ground is made of, where the most useful plants are growing, and how to protect yourself from the elements of a largely unpredictable force called nature.

  • Rachael Krause

    FORAGERS TEACHER

    Rachael had the blessing of growing up on the Shiawasee River in Central Michigan.

    Her first classroom was the wild, her first teachers painted turtles and bullfrogs. Her childhood was spent amongst the woods and meadows foraging wild raspberries and autumn olives. Mending bug bites with jewel weed, and playing "spa" in the swamp clay.

    The love and appreciation for the land and its creatures imprinted and impacted every facet of her life, lovingly guiding her around and across the country and then to North Idaho where she has been fortunate to share this love with the students at Alpine Village School.

    Rachael is an herbalist and certified yoga instructor. Infusing her lived experience with nature and the teachings of our ancestors, in hopes of inspiring young minds to see the world for each magnificent bird, bee, and bulb that encompasses it, and us.

  • Tina Grinstead

    WILDLINGS TEACHER

    Tina has always asked two questions in life: " Can I make that?" and, " Can I eat that?"

    Now on hikes she stuffs her mouth with foraged edibles, and her pockets with wild medicines and materials.

    She has a background in Gardening and Herbalism, teaching arts and crafts, and has sojourned at the Rabbitstick Primitive Skills Gathering in southern Idaho. 

    In her spare time she enjoys dancing, singing, drawing, backpacking, and tanning animal hides.

    Inspired by the stories of our ancestors, Tina desires to reconnect with our land and community by living the old ways again, and is delighted to share what she has learned so far with the class!

Investment

Single day drop in price: $45 (families up to four people)
$10 per additional family member (per day)
Children 1 and below: free

Rhythm of the Day

10:00am-10:15am - Arrival
10:15am-10:30am - Whole group gather/check in
10:30am - Trail Blaze
11:30am-12:00pm - Lunch n’ Tea
12:20pm-12:50pm - Activity/Craft/Story-time
1:00pm - Head back
1:10pm-1:30pm - Closing circle

 FAQs

  • No. Parents are in attendance the whole time. We intentionally created a program that involves the whole family.

  • We will rotate between seven different trail heads in the Coeur D Alene and Hayden area. Upon enrollment we will send you the dates and locations of each trail.

  • Dressing appropriate for the weather will ensure a pleasurable learning experience. Upon enrollment we will send out a more detailed clothing list for the colder seasons. Please bring a packed lunch, water bottle, and (optional) a light blanket to sit on.

  • Families who have children in both age range can pick their preferred class, just know trails will be longer and activities more advanced in the Wildings class. Another option is to bring two adults so each child can be in their age preferred program.

  • Our Forest School program runs March-June and September-November (depending on the weather). Snow is fun but we avoid the trails when it’s icy.

  • Forgers and Wildings Family Forest School has the right to cancel class due to severe weather, smoke, or unsafe road/ trail conditions. While we do our best to reschedule class, it is not a guarantee. We do not offer make ups or refunds for missed classes. All payments are non-refundable.

Apply below

once your payment is received, your spot will be saved, and locations and itinerary will be sent. payment request will be sent after application is submitted. *PAYMENT MUST BE RECEIVED IN ORDER TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.