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Nature Immersion & Forest School

Parent Handbook

EverWild is committed to engaging and mentoring children and families to develop a meaningful connection to the Earth.

Inc. 2016

Parent Handbook pg. 1

Table of Contents 1. Welcome pg. 3 a.

Letter from the Director

2. Introduction pg. 4-5

9. Safety, Policies, and Protocol pg. 15 a.

COVID-19 Policy & Protocol

Philosophy

Behavioral Expectations & Policy

Learning: The EverWild Way

Play, Foraging, Knife Safety Policy

Unplugged: Device & Screen Policy

Poison Oak Safety & Policy

Tick Policy & Protocol

Snake Safety & Protocol

Extreme Weather Protocol

Emergency & Injury Protocol

Bathroom, Shower, and Changing

3. EverWild Mentors & Administrators pg. 6 a.

Mentor Experience & Training

Meet the Team

4. Class Time pg. 7 - 9 a.

Rhythm of the Day

What to Pack

Snack & Lunch

Separation & Drop-off

5. Locations & Classes pg. 10 a.

Locations & Directions

EverWild Branches & Class Catalogs

6. Tuition & Billing pg. 11 - 12 a.

Class Cost

Billing policy

Cancellation Policy

Late Pick Up Policy

7. Holiday Calendar pg. 13 8. Homeschooling pg. 14 a.

Partnered Charter Schools

Homeschooling - Getting Started

Parent Handbook pg. 2

Policy

10.Resources for Parents pg.16 a. b. c. d. e. f.

Nature Improves Your Health and Wellbeing Nature Improves Academic Outcomes Nature Play Can Encourage Care for the Planet The Benefits of a Nature Based Education Physical Health Benefits of Nature Contact Mental and Emotional Health Benefits of Connecting with Nature

11. Through the Looking Glass pg. 17 a.

Private Facebook Page

Homeschooler’s Work Samples

12. Common FAQs pg. 18 - 19 13. Contact Us pg. 20

Welcome To EverWild Hello Families,

Welcome to EverWild! There is much to be excited about in this journey of connecting to nature. First and foremost we extend our gratitude to you for advocating for your child and their right to play, spend time outdoors, and direct their own adventures. We pride ourselves on EverWild’s experienced nature-based mentors who support your child during their adventures. EverWild mentors have a unique background of working with children and a passion for nature-based education. Read about their journey to EverWild here. Our program is designed to engage your child with the natural world so that they can develop a meaningful connection with the Earth. In the process of doing so there are many other areas in which your child is growing and developing. We encourage you to explore the research behind the many benefits your child will receive from spending time in nature: ● ● ● ● ● ●

Our mentors are providing this connection on a deeper level. They completely embody the Coyote’s Way of connecting to nature and the methods that Jon Young spoke to in the 8 shields method of mentoring (a training that all mentors have completed). Our mentors are a role model for your child, a trusted leader, and often looked up to as magical wizards that know how to capture your child’s curiosity and engage them with their natural gifts. EverWild mentors will challenge your child as they take the long way through Los Angeles’ wild spaces to experience a journey all their own. Your child will reach the end of their comfort zone, the edge of their awareness, and expand their understanding of the world around them. They will go deeper into their experiences, over and over again developing a deeper and deeper relationship with themselves, others, and the natural world. Your child will develop layers of attachment to our many nature based locations by revisiting them during the changing seasons and the many stages of their lives. We hope you will become inspired by your adventurer and will return to these locations outside of EverWild. Your child will be excited to lead the way and share their knowledge and experiences with you. Thank you for joining the EverWild community. We look forward to the many adventures ahead.

See you in the Wild,

Amanda Caloia Executive Director

Parent Handbook pg. 3

2. Introduction a. Philosophy EverWild’s Forest School provides children with meaningful outdoor experiences and high-quality mentorship in Los Angeles' canyons, beaches, wetlands, and wild spaces. Encompassing forest-school and place-based learning philosophies, children spend 100% of their day outdoors, immersed in the local environment and alongside nature-based mentors. Children are guided by nature as they play, explore, discover, and create. EverWild Mentors support deeper learning through project-based learning. Mentors develop projects based on children's interests, naturally occurring events in nature, environmental stewardship skills, and Next Generation Science Standards. EverWild enhances children's social and emotional development, 21st-century skills, and ecological literacy. We believe in creating opportunities for children to become nature-connected, passionate, and innovative life-long learners with the desire to protect and care for all living things.

b. Learning: The EverWild Way Place-Based Learning Before we can ask a child to help the Earth they must first build a relationship with it. Place-based learning immerses children in their immediate environment. Placing children directly in nature supports their understanding of the local environment, knowledge of Earth’s living systems, and guides them to discover their place within it. As the child grows, the complexity and richness of their environment and knowledge of a particular place expands in breadth and depth. When a child has a meaningful relationship to nature they feel compelled and driven to care for it, protect it, and replenish it. We incorporate environmental conservation and stewardship skills into each class. We have organically led and have been led by the children to clean our streams and estuaries, to pick up trash from the beach and our canyons, and to support nature in the removal of invasive plants and regrowth of native plants. Aside from planned environmental conservation efforts led by our mentors and visiting community experts, children often utilize their autonomy in our program to create environmental projects and practice environmental stewardship skills in each of our classes. Project-Based Learning Project-based learning provides the opportunity for gaining more knowledge about the natural environment and supports the development of the child's 21st century skills. Projects are driven by the group's interests and naturally occurring events in nature in collaboration with group members and with the support of qualified

Parent Handbook pg. 4

mentors. Mentors provide materials and tools to guide the group towards the next step in their project and provide inquiry to encourage deeper thinking. Children collaborate and learn from one another in a mixed age group allowing for real world situations, social interactions, and the practice of 21st century skills. Projects are developed by qualified mentors and encompass the group’s interests, what is happening in our local environment, and are in alignment with age appropriate Next Generation Science Standards. When mentors develop projects they are including a hands-on and cross-curricular approach to learning. Many families utilize their child’s projects and work at EverWild to provide proof of academic learning in all subject areas. By nature, we find that children are organically learning about Science and ecology but credentialed teachers have identified children practicing and learning all academic subject criteria at EverWild’s Nature Immersion Program. To gain a better understanding of what this may look like and to view a few of the projects we have completed in our program please click here. 21st Century Skills Project Based Learning supports the growth of children's 21st Century Skills including: Collaboration and Teamwork, Creativity and Imagination, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills. Children at EverWild direct and manage their own learning while inspiring and learning from one another; experiencing all roles from leader, supporter, expert, apprentice, and friend. Mentors and parents provide support and resources that aid in supporting the child throughout this learning process.

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it. Perhaps this is what Thoreau had in mind when he said, “the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think the same is true of human beings.” — David Sobel- Beyond Ecophobia

Parent Handbook pg. 5

3. EverWild Mentors & Administrators a. Mentor Experience & Training Mentors receive background checks, Red Cross Pediatric/Child/Adult First Aid & CPR certifications and complete the Jon Young's Connecting Children to Nature course through the 8 Shields Institute. Mentors also receive training in EverWild policies and procedures, and have a background in as well as receive additional training in early childhood development. Mentors receive ongoing training from EverWild and are given opportunities to further their practice as Nature-Based Mentors. b. Meet the Team Visit our Meet the Team page to learn more about our Nature-Based Mentors, founders, and administrators, and their journey to EverWild.

“The very skilled educator knows when to offer an insight, a question or materials to support a child’s learning, but more importantly knows when to get out of the way.” — Jon Cree, UK Forest School Association

Parent Handbook pg. 6

4. Class Time a. Rhythm of the Day Take a look at our rhythm of the day. (Times may vary based on class) 10am-10:30 Drop off & Sign In 10:30am Hike to Basecamp 10:40 Welcome Circle & Snack Children bring their own snacks. The group creates boundaries near base camp. The project of the day will be introduced and materials will be provided (this project will reflect the group’s interest in past classes. Materials and projects are open-ended). 10:50am Exploration & Project We believe in the power of nature to provide the environment for deep place-based exploration. Children build relationships with their peers, mentors, and environment. Project ideas organically surface through unencumbered play and experimenting with new tools and materials. Mentors observe and document strong group interests while providing supporting questions, materials, and tools to encourage deeper learning. Projects organically surface and mentors support the depth of the project by revisiting the same location and providing tools and materials. 12pm Lunch 12:30pm Expedition Choice The group has the option to explore outside of the boundaries to a further destination or to continue to explore and discover projects close to basecamp. 1:45pm Nature Journaling Students find a quiet space or “sit spot” in nature for reflection and creative expression. This may take the form of written word, sketches, paintings, videography, photography, or group discussions. Nature journaling is organically incorporated and is never forced. Nature journaling may happen at any time of the day but we typically find that children are looking for more down time toward the end of the day and our mentors use this as an opportunity to incorporate journaling with prompts and reflection. 2pm Gratitude Circle The group honors the work done for the day and gives gratitude and thanks to the Earth, animals, and one another. 2:10pm Pack up & Hike Out 2:30pm Pick Up & Sign Out

Parent Handbook pg. 7

b. What to Pack Children must be able to carry all of their items on their own for up to 10 minutes. It is required that all required items fit into your child’s backpack (the backpack must have two over the shoulder straps). Our list below has everything we require and everything we recommend adding to your child’s adventure pack. Looking for some tried and true items and brands? Take a look at this blog post by EverWild Board Member, Emily Hart Roth. Looking for some adventure gear? Take a look at the Lil Bellies shop for little explorers.

Parent Handbook pg. 8

c. Snack & Lunch Children are not permitted to share food at EverWild. There are no restrictions on the food that children are allowed to bring. Please be mindful of packing lunches with several wrappers to avoid the chance of losing trash in the wilderness. Please do your best to pack a healthy lunch and snack for your child. d. Separation & Drop-off We are unable to accommodate parents joining the class but many families have found it helpful to arrive at the start of the drop-off window and stay until 10:30am. When the group hikes to basecamp we recommend trailing behind until they reach basecamp. At this time, please let your child know that you are going to go for a walk/hike of your own and will stop in to say hi in a little bit. After a brief walk parents often return to give a hug/say hi. Based on how your child is doing you may repeat the process or take off for the day and return at pick up. When taking these steps to transition your child we do ask that you respect the group by not staying with your child or impeding on the mentor’s time as their primary focus during class time is on the children. We hope you find this helpful! This transitional technique should be temporary. Should you find yourself continuing this process beyond the first couple of weeks we may need to reassess whether or not our drop-off classes are a good fit for your child and perhaps pause their enrollment until they are ready to be dropped-off.

Parent Handbook pg. 9

5. Locations & Classes a. Locations & Directions Classes take place in various nature destinations throughout the canyons, beaches, wetlands, high desert, green-spaces, and wetlands of Los Angeles. EverWild branches include Topanga/Palisades, Culver-West (Culver City/Westside), Santa Clarita Valley, Pasadena/Glendale, and Thousand Oaks. We recommend enrolling with the branch you reside closest to. Our locations are scheduled by our mentors and shared with currently enrolled families by Fridays at 6pm. We plan our adventures based on naturally occurring events in nature, tides, weather, and group interests. For these reasons our schedule and locations are subject to change. Any changes made to the schedule will be emailed to families enrolled. Our classes continue rain or shine but will relocate or cancel if there is extreme weather in the forecast (as specified in our Extreme Weather Protocol) during class time. b. EverWild Branches & Class Catalogs EverWild’s Nature Immersion Programming offers a variety of classes in several different areas of Los Angeles. Please click on the area in which you live closest to, to discover classes near you: Topanga Canyon / Pacific Palisades Santa Clarita Valley Pasadena / Glendale Culver-West Thousand Oaks

Parent Handbook pg. 10

6. Tuition & Billing a. Class Cost Please view the class catalogs to see the cost of our classes. Topanga Canyon / Pacific Palisades Santa Clarita Valley Pasadena / Glendale Culver-West Thousand Oaks b. Billing policy Enrolling with the monthly enrollment option tentatively holds your child’s spot in the class for all months of the school year. Payment or certificate of funds is due upon enrollment and continues on a monthly basis. Our HiSawyer registration system will automatically bill the default card on file on the first of each month. If payment is not received by the 1st of the month we will be unable to reserve your child’s spot in the class for all months beginning with the 1st of the current month. Please make sure you have a credit card on file (in your HiSawyer account). Enrolling with the drop-in option requires an immediate payment or proof of approved funds for all classes selected. c. Paying with Charter Funds We accept charter school funds from students enrolled in our partnered charter schools. To pay with funds we require a certificate of funds to be sent to our office by the 1st of the month (please send all certificates to haley@everwildla.com).

1) Enroll your child through HiSawyer (our online registration system) and use your charter promo code at checkout (blueridgefunds, ileadfunds, sageoakfunds, heartlandfunds, goldenvalleyfunds). 2) Submit a purchase order to your charter school for the cost of your child’s scheduled drop-in/monthly enrollment (if you aren’t sure of the cost please email our office haley@everwildla.com). If you would like to plan ahead by submitting a Purchase Order for more than the current month, you are welcome to do so. We will apply the funds to your scheduled payments. If you need help submitting a purchase order for funds please contact your charter school teacher. 3) To ensure we receive your certificate of funds on time, please submit a purchase order 30 days prior to the 1st of the month as it may take up to 30 days for EverWild to receive the certificate. 4) Email our office (haley@everwildla.com) your certificate of funds by the 1st of each month. Failure to provide a certificate of funds by the 1st of each calendar month will result in out-of-pocket payment or removal from the class.

Parent Handbook pg. 11

d. Cancellation Policy We do not offer refunds when withdrawing mid-month. Should you choose to withdraw your child from the class, your monthly payments will be stopped beginning with the first of the upcoming month. Please email our office info@everwildla.com to cancel your child’s enrollment. EverWild is unable to provide refunds or makeups for cancellations. If EverWild cancels a class for any reason families who pay out of pocket will receive a full refund for the missed class(es). We will do our best to work with our partnered charter schools to provide refunds for families utilizing charter school funds. EverWild is unable to provide refunds for any cancelations for any events or workshops. e. Late Pick Up Policy The fee for late arrivals is $5 for every 5 minutes after the designated pick-up time. Minutes will be rounded up to the nearest 5 minutes. We will charge the default card on file in your HiSawyer account before your child's next scheduled class. If we are unable to charge for the late pick-up your child may not be dropped off at the next class until payment is received.

Parent Handbook pg. 12

7. Holiday Calendar The monthly cost of all classes has already factored in the holidays and breaks listed below. We do not provide any make-ups or refunds for classes that fall on a holiday/break. June 7th 2021 FIrst Day of Summer Classes Aug. 30th - Sept. 6th Fall Break Sept. 7th First Day of Class Nov. 22nd - 26th Thanksgiving Break Dec. 27th - 31st Winter Break Mar. 28th - April 1st Spring Break May 27th Last Day of Class May 30th - June 3rd Summer Break June 6th 2022 First Day of Summer Classes

“(I’m) excited for the kids to have a great day in the rain. My child looked out the window this morning and said, ‘Mom...the trees must be SO happy’. Every single day when I ask my child what the best part of their day was they say, EVERYTHING!” — -Mother of an EverWild Explorer

Parent Handbook pg. 13

8. Homeschooling a. Partnered Charter Schools EverWild accepts charter school funds as payment for our Nature Immersion Program. We accept partial and full payment using funds. EverWild is a vendor for various charter schools. You must be enrolled in one of our partnered charters to receive charter funds. Please review the list below. If you do not see the charter school that your child is enrolled with, let us know! We would love to apply to become a vendor for them. Please note that EverWild’s programming and all classes are non-religious.

Blue Ridge Academy Heartland Charter School iLead Exploration Charter School Sage Oak Charter School Golden Valley Charter School

b. Homeschooling - Getting Started We recommend visiting California’s HSLDA (CA Homeschool Legal Defense Association) web page for helpful articles on how to homeschool and many commonly asked questions. For specific questions we recommend reaching out to a long-time homeschooling mother, teacher, and founder of Open Minded Learning, Heather Palatucci. Heather is offering new homeschooling families a free 10 minute consultation, learning resources, and custom tailored support throughout your homeschooling journey. Contact her today! Compulsory school age for children in the state of California is 6 years by September 1st of the coming school year. If turning 6 after September 1st, it is not legally obligated that they be enrolled in school. If your child does turn 6 by September 1st then you are required to either enroll your child in a school, or homeschool through a private school affidavit (PSA), a private satellite program (PSP), or an online charter school. https://hslda.org/post/compulsory-school-age-in-california View more EverWild tips on getting started with homeschooling.

Parent Handbook pg. 14

9. Safety, Policies, and Protocol At EverWild our number one priority is your child’s safety. There are several policies that we have put in place to support your child in safe exploration and risk-taking in a group setting. Our mentors have received in-depth training of these policies and protocols. All policies are subject to change at any time. We will update you should these policies change. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the following:

COVID-19 Policy & Protocol Masks are only required for children and mentors while in the van (for classes utilizing a van for transportation). Masks are optional for all other classes at this time (9/01/2021). EverWild follows the LA County reopening guidelines and protocol for Day Camps. This policy is fluid and will change to be in compliance with LA County’s policies and protocol.

Behavioral Expectations & Policy

Play, Foraging, Knife Safety Policy

Unplugged: Device & Screen Policy

Poison Oak Safety & Policy

Tick Policy & Protocol

Snake Safety & Protocol

Extreme Weather Protocol

Emergency & Injury Protocol

Bathroom, Shower, and Changing Policy

10. Resources for Parents

Parent Handbook pg. 15

11. Through the Looking Glass

Parent Handbook pg. 16

a. Private Facebook Page Enrolled families are encouraged to join our private Facebook page where mentors post photos and a short blog post of the children’s day together. These posts are meant for you and your child to review together. We encourage you to ask your child questions such as, “tell me more about this”, or “what is happening here”, or “I notice…what did you notice?”. These questions will help your child recall what they discovered and learned about during their EverWild day. These questions also support the Coyotes way of mentoring and encourage your child to participate in storytelling with more detail. This encourages them to really focus on discoveries made during their next adventure, knowing you may ask them to retell the stories about their discoveries later. Click here to request to join our private Facebook page. b. Homeschooler’s Work Samples Many homeschoolers utilize the photos of their child found in our private Facebook page to show proof of academic learning. We encourage you to utilize the questions above when going through these photos with your child. Most of the time you will easily find proof of academic learning for Science, however, we have identified all four core academic subject areas during EverWild class time (including Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies). The subject material can better be defined by looking through the Next Generation Science Standards or Blue Ridge’s I Can Statements. Simply ask your child what they were doing in the photo and together, on a separate Google document or piece of paper, record the description below the photo and insert any other information required by the Charter School.

12. Common FAQs

Parent Handbook pg. 17

How do I enroll? https://everwildla.com/online-enrollment To best view the online registration system we recommend using a mac or desktop. To view the registration page in calendar format, please click the calendar icon in the top right-hand corner of the enrollment bar. Select your child's first class of the month. How do I log into my HiSawyer Account? https://www.hisawyer.com/everwild-la/schedules Who attends EverWild? Charter School students, Homeschoolers, Unschoolers, Distance-learners, and children who just need a breather from their current institutions. Since 2020 we have developed programming to Diversify the Outdoors and are dedicated to providing scholarships to connect children from low-income households to nature. Support the diversify the outdoors fund today Do you offer scholarships? We are not offering scholarships to the public at this time. When we are able to provide them we will make this known on our website and will notify the community via our mailing list. Can I observe a class? We are unable to accommodate parents and visitors at this time. You can take a glimpse into our day by viewing EverWild’s short film! When is EverWild in-session? We offer several classes during the school year (September through May) in the following locations: Topanga/Palisades, Culver-West, Glendale/Pasadena, Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita Valley serving children 4.5-9 years old. We have three specialty classes during the school year serving youth ages 8-12. Our classes are closed during holidays and breaks (similar to that of a traditional school schedule). During the summer we provide select classes to support our currently enrolled families and to support families who are considering homeschooling and attending EverWild in the upcoming school year. What does EverWild do during the Summer? We are offering summer classes to support families transitioning into a Forest School environment come Fall. The summer classes will have the same schedule as the school year with monthly enrollment. We will open enrollment for currently enrolled families by April 1st and will open enrollment to the public on April 15th. For week-week local summer camps, we recommend reaching out to our sister-forest school, LA Nature Kids. Do you still offer Family Adventures? Due to covid, we have put our Family Adventures on pause. Please let us know if you would like to be added to the mailing list and you will receive all updates and information as it becomes available. We hope to cross trails with you and your family soon.

Parent Handbook pg. 18

Where do the Classes Meet? Our classes visit various nature destinations including but not limited to (some of the further drives): Topanga/Palisades Red Rock (in Topanga), Sullivan Canyon (Palisades), Tuna Canyon Trailhead (Topanga), Malibu Lagoon Culver-West Kenneth Hahn, Marina Del Rey, Santa Monica and Playa del Rey areas. Pasadena/Glendale Elysian Park, Deukmejian Wilderness Park, Griffith Observatory, and Millard Falls. Thousand Oaks Lynn Oaks Park, Wildwood Regional Park, and Rancho Sierra Vista areas.

I am interested in enrolling my child next school year (but EverWild hasn’t opened enrollment yet) We will open enrollment for the 21-22 School Year on May 1st 2022. Enroll your child for a drop-in class to see what EverWild is all about! How do I “fill-out” my child’s schedule when EverWild only offers part-time programming. We recommend checking out other homeschool enrichment programs including Urban Homeschoolers, Learn Beyond the Book, and The Realm. Additionally, we recommend joining as many local Facebook groups as possible as homeschoolers tend to share info/programs and connect primarily in this way. Also, if you are homeschooling through an online charter school, take a look at their vendor list. This is a long list of partnered programs and businesses that you can use your educational funds for!

13. Contact Us

Parent Handbook pg. 19

Our Office is open Mondays-Fridays 9am-5pm. The office is open during holiday breaks. If one of our administrators are on vacation you will receive a vacation response from them and they will get back to you upon their return. Otherwise, please contact another one of our administrative assistants. Email is the best way to reach us but we’d be happy to connect with you over the phone too! We may be out in nature when you call. Please leave a voicemail with your name and number and we will get back to you within 7 business days. General Inquiries: info@everwildla.com - (323)-374-3982 Forest School Program Assistant: Lindsay Carron - lindsay@everwildla.com - (424)-341-3174 SCV Forest School Program Assistant: Valentina Knopf - valentina@everwildla.com - (661)-234-7962 Enrollment & Billing: Haley Terpenny - haley@everwildla.com - (323)-374-3982 Executive Director: Amanda Caloia - amanda@everwildla.com - (424)-229-1537

Send us some snail mail! EverWild 11901 Santa Monica Blvd. STE.459 Los Angeles, CA 90025 EverWild is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit organization. Your contributions are tax deductible. EIN 81-3577278

Parent Handbook pg. 20