Supporting families seeking a different model of education for their children.
At Field to Forest, we believe in the power of child-led learning and imaginative play. We provide a space where children can follow their curiosity, develop a deep appreciation for nature, and build meaningful connections with the world around them. Our program is guided by experienced facilitators who are passionate about fostering a love of learning in each child.
Our Educational Approach
We draw learning elements from Waldorf, Forest School, Montessori, and Charlotte Mason's work. We utilize the Blossom & Root and the Lavender Blue Homeschool Curriculums. Small cohorts give our facilitators the ability to connect with each learner individually and allows each child’s learning style & pace to be honored. The mixed-ages of the cohort offer younger children the opportunity to learn from their peers and older children the opportunity to hone their skills by practicing leadership and sharing their mastery.
Our Living Learning Environment
Hosted on the Brunner Family Farm, a small family farm inspired by permaculture design and committed to organic farming practices.
Located on the scenic valley floor of Fieldbrook, CA and surrounded by endless acres of redwood forest, the farm is a productive and sustainable landscape that nourishes mind, body, and spirit.
Their plant and animal community vary from year to year, but consistently includes dairy and fiber goats, pastured pork and poultry, produce, and specialty cut flowers. This living classroom provides a safe and enriching environment for children to learn and play.
Our daily rhythm flows with the cycles of nature.
We support the developmental needs of young children by balancing quieter, reflective “in-breath” activities with bolder, active “out-breath” activities.
We offer a variety of engaging activities including:
Nature & Handcrafts: Children will explore the natural world and create beautiful crafts using natural materials.
Sustainable Gardening: Learn about planting, growing, and harvesting in our sustainable garden.
Animal Husbandry: Interact with and learn about our farm animals, including sheep, goats, cows, chickens, and ducks.
Plant Identification: Discover the diverse plant life on the farm and learn to identify native, edible and medicinal species.
Child-led Learning & Imaginative Play: Encourage creativity and self-directed exploration through play.
Music, Movement, Mindfulness: Engage in activities that promote physical and emotional well-being.
Program Highlights
Our Facilitators
Katrina Salinas (Ms. Kat)
For over 5 years, Katrina has been leading arts & play based outdoor programs for young children. She is an experienced environmental educator, certified herbalist and naturalist. She is passionate about creating meaningful, hands-on experiences with the natural world. She leads Edible and Medicinal Plant Walks for Friends of the Dunes, where she shares her knowledge and respect for native plants. With her awareness of child development and training in nonviolent communication, Katrina thoughtfully guides children through story and song, inspiring curiosity, encouraging empathy, and a lifelong love of nature.
Erica Lena
A born teacher, Erica masterfully blends her many years of experience as a private tutor & teacher in traditional classrooms with her expertise of the ancestral arts & nature skills. She is a joyful, nurturing leader and thoughtfully guides children of all ages to discover the wonders of the world around them. She brings her whole heart to everything she does and skillfully weaves academic education into each day’s play in surprising & delightful ways.
Hours, Schedule and Participation Fees
Our on-site program hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
The program runs from September through mid-June.
You may enroll your child for 2, 3 or 4 days per week.
Field to Forest is private pay at $40 per day.
Monthly participation fees are due the first week of each month and there is an additional $200 materials fee for the year, paid in two $100 installments at the start of the Fall & Winter/Spring term. A deposit equal to one month’s participation fee is due at registration to hold your child’s space and is applied to your final month of the program.
There are very limited work trade opportunities for parents with a background in early childhood education. Please contact us directly if you are interested in this position. We are not able to offer scholarships at this time but are working to develop a program to offer financial assistance to families for the 2026-2027 program.
In order to cultivate a strong community and best fulfill the needs of each child in our program, we aim to admit learners and families who are a good fit for our program rather than admitting participants on a first come, first served basis.
Balance, harmony and our community values of respect, compassion & kindness are important to us.
To apply for enrollment in our Homeschool Enrichment Program, please complete & submit the Enrollment Application form by clicking the link below.
Our administrative team is small but dedicated, and applications take about a week to be processed. Once we have processed your application and determined if our program is a good fit, we will schedule an interview to get know your family and schedule a site visit to give your child & family the opportunity to visit our learning center, meet our facilitators & gain familiarity with the space. To finalize your child’s acceptance the registration paperwork must be completed and deposit submitted prior to your child’s first day.
If you have questions prior to submitting your enrollment application please reach out using our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.