Edson Forest School
A non-traditional private school in a forest-adjacent setting for grades K-8, just outside the city of Harrisonburg, VA
Our vision
We believe that all children benefit from greater connection to nature and the outdoors. We strive to encourage the natural playfulness and curiosity of our students as they build connections to each other and to the natural world, while using project-based activities to encourage learner engagement.
Our staff provide an enriching educational experience with a focus on outdoor and natural learning within a positive-minded community that also provides regular Spanish instruction.
A place for your child to learn
At Edson Forest School, we strive to provide a nurturing and supportive environment that strengthens social bonds and encourages academic growth. We believe in de-emphasizing rote learning and encourage deeper understanding of topics through hands-on activities and learner-directed projects.
Our students practice problem solving and self-reliance while also broadening their academic knowledge base; these skill not only provide a strong support for future growth and development, but each success will also help the child develop a love of learning.
A place for your child to grow
We know that every child carries a unique set of gifts and talents. We love to help those gifts to flower, and that’s one of the great joys of being an educator. We do not aim to pressure the students towards constant growth, but we do hope that the kids develop their own internal motivation.
Because we are a small and intimate group, instructors can focus on the most effective approach for each kid. We aim for a target called the zone of proximal development. That’s the “Goldilocks” approach to individualized learning; not so easy as to bore the child; not so hard as to cause the child to shut down or give up. Each student’s work should be a challenge that the child can solve or master, which gives that child increased confidence in his or her abilities.
A place for your child to be a kid
For every decision that we make about our school’s design, we ask ourselves:
- “What opportunities do we want our own child to have available?”;
- “How can we make our school a great place to be?”; and
- “What do we wish could be included in the educational experience of every child?”
We do not believe that it is natural for a child to hate or fear school, and it is our greatest hope that every student will be excited to come to our school every day to explore something new. Play, adventure, and exploration should be part of every child’s daily routine.