The Forest School at Burrow Nature Center

Forest School prioritizes both structured activities and unstructured play time, fostering creativity, self-expression, and problem-solving skills. The program at the Burrow Nature Center builds confidence, resilience, and independence while emphasizing collaboration, good decision making, and effective communication. Children learn practical outdoor and survival skills alongside natural sciences and practical engineering concepts.

Nature-Based Learning

Through each season, students connect with the rhythms of the seasons and develop a deep appreciation for the environment. We encourage storytelling, arts and crafts, and local cultural history exploration to nurture creativity and self-expression. Our child-led learning approach empowers kids to follow their curiosity and take responsibility for their discoveries.

We also focus on emotional and cognitive development, helping children build strong relational skills and a practice of gratitude. By learning to steward natural resources, our students become responsible caretakers of the environment. Our Forest School creates lasting memories, new friendships, and instills a lifelong love for nature, preparing children to be confident, capable, and environmentally conscious individuals.

‘25-’26 Program Details

  • Spores Program
    Children with caregiver
    Monthly, Saturdays
    9:30am - 12:00pm

    The Spores program is for early learners to discover and gain confidence in nature alongside their caregivers. Activities will engage the five senses and include activities like planting seeds , harvesting berries, or playing with clay and other natural objects. 

    All You Need Institute Partnership
    Caregivers and children may enjoy time on the land before and after their child’s forest school class thanks to partnership with our sister organization, All You Need Institute. Wifi, picnic tables, and other day-use accommodations are available from 8am-8pm. Visit the https://allyouneedinstitute.com/ to learn about day-use and overnight accommodations available. 

    Pricing

    • Single class: $10

    • Half season (4 classes): $32

    • Full season (8 classes): $60

    Seasonal Advance Discounts
    We encourage families to register for our October - May sessions in advance. We offer a 25% discount for full season package purchases and a 20% discount for half season package purchases. 

    Partial Scholarships
    Thanks to our generous community of donors, we're proud to offer financial aid for both our half-season and full-season packages to make our Forest School program accessible to more families. We encourage families who lack financial stability or are members of marginalized groups to apply. While support isn't guaranteed, we're committed to distributing all available funds to families who need it most. Apply HERE.

    Scholarship applications are open now until September 15, 2025 for the ‘25 - ‘26 Forest School Season. Recipients will be announced by September 19, 2025.

    Full Season Schedule
    Full season registration will close on October 1. Half season registration will re-open in advance to the February - May session, space permitting. 

    Spores Saturdays:

    • October 11, 2025

    • November 15, 2025

    • December 6, 2025

    • January 6, 2026

    • February 21, 2026

    • March 14, 2026

    • April 18, 2026

    • May 19, 2026

    To Register
    Click on our “registration” page, complete the form, then select your preferred session package. Your purchase can be processed via PayPal on our secure registration website.

  • Sprouts *

    **Weekly Fridays 3:00pm - 5:30pm &/or Monthly Saturdays 9:30am - 12:00pm 

    With their peers and forest school teachers, the Sprouts program participants build a strong connection to the great outdoors through hands-on games, challenges, and explorations like map-making, plant and tree ID, and shelter building. 

    *students must be potty trained and ready for independent learning.
    **schedule includes holiday breaks in November and December 

    All You Need Institute Partnership
    Caregivers may enjoy time on the land before, during, and after their child’s forest school session thanks to partnership with our sister organization, All You Need Institute. Wifi, picnic tables, and other day-use accommodations are available from 8am-8pm. Visit the https://allyouneedinstitute.com/ to learn about day-use and overnight accommodations available. 

    Pricing

    Single class, space permitting: $45

    Fridays and Saturday Packages

    • Full season (36 classes): $1,100

    • Half season (18 classes): $600

    Friday Packages

    • Full season (28 classes): $900

    • Half season (14 classes): $500

    Saturday Packages

    • Full season (8 classes): $270

    • Half season (4 classes): $150

    Seasonal Advance Discounts
    We encourage families to register for our October - May season in advance. We offer a 25% discount for full season package purchases and a 20% discount for half season package purchases. 

    Sibling Discounts
    To support siblings learning and growing together, we offer 5% off each additional child after the first. Just enter SIBLING5 at checkout when purchasing a Seasonal Advance Package before the ‘25 - ‘26 season begins. 

    Partial Scholarships
    Thanks to our generous community of donors, we're proud to offer financial aid for both our half-season and full-season packages to make our Forest School program accessible to more families. We encourage families who lack financial stability or are members of marginalized groups to apply. While support isn't guaranteed, we're committed to distributing all available funds to families who need it most. Apply HERE.

    Scholarship applications are open now until September 15, 2025 for the ‘25 - ‘26 Forest School Season. Recipients will be announced by September 19, 2025.

    To Register
    Click on our “registration” page, complete the form, then select your preferred session package. Your purchase can be processed via PayPal on our secure registration website.

    Full Season Schedule*

    Full season registration will close on October 1. Half season registration will re-open in advance to the February - May session, space permitting. 

    *Please note that due to holiday conflicts, there are 4 classes across November and December. 

    Fridays

    • October 3, 2025

    • October 10, 2025

    • October 17, 2025

    • October 24, 2025

    • November 7, 2025

    • November 14, 2025

    • November 21, 2025

    • December 5, 2025

    • January 2, 2026

    • January 9, 2026

    • January 16, 2026

    • January 23, 2026

    • February 6, 2026

    • February 13, 2026

    • February 20, 2026

    • February 27, 2026

    • March 6, 2026

    • March 13, 2026

    • March 20, 2026

    • March 27, 2027

    • April 3, 2026

    • April 10, 2026

    • April 17, 2026

    • April 25, 2026

    • May 1, 2026

    • May 8, 2026

    • May 15, 2026

    • May 29, 2026

    Saturdays

    • October 11, 2025

    • November 15, 2025

    • December 6, 2026

    • January 10, 2026

    • February 21, 2026

    • March 14, 2026

    • April 18, 2026

    • May 16, 2026

'25 - '26 Forest School Registration
from $0.00

We are so looking forward to getting to know your child this year, or keep growing with them if they are a a returning student!

If you are registering multiple children, then each will need a separate registration.

Please don't hesitate to email hello@burrownature.org or call 601-980-1830 if you have any questions.

Our Vision

Many parents strive to give their children the life they never had. Jordan Bantuelle, lead Forest School teacher and Executive Director of Burrow Nature Center, is inspired to give his students the education he always yearned for as a child growing up in New Orleans. Even as early as third grade, Jordan remembers thinking, "There has got to be a better way of doing this." Perhaps you've asked similar questions: "Why can't learning be more relevant to life and the problems we face? Or more hands-on? More fun? Why are we stuck inside all day?"

As Toni Morrison wisely said, "If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it." Jordan always envisioned more than just a book; he dreamed of an education center deeply connected to the natural world. In 2024, that dream fully materialized as the Burrow Nature Center, building on the conservation and education work begun by the All You Need Institute in 2017. When Jordan first saw this land—particularly the abundant gopher tortoise burrows and the extraordinary, lichen-covered sandhill—he knew this was the perfect place to bring his vision to life. He could not have done it without the dedicated support of a committed Board of Directors and innumerable volunteers and community members along the way.

The Forest School at Burrow Nature Center evolved out of the All You Need Institute program, which began operating in 2021 as part of the LLC campground and event venue. As the interest grew among the local community, volunteer board members joined the effort of transitioning the forest school to be a program of the nonprofit Burrow Nature Center. This allows us to raise funding for the programs through both grant applications and campaigns to raise charitable contributions from our supporters.

Thank you for your interest!