Nature School - Summer Program

Raising the next generation of land stewards

Summer Programming is now open for enrollment!

About

Nature school is an educational offering that is designed to be an exciting journey of discovery and exploration, where children can learn about the natural world, develop outdoor skills and cultivate a sense of wonder and curiosity through hands-on experiences and play based learning.

During our Nature School Summer Program, children will spend their days outdoors exploring The Mother’s Land through hands-on learning, guided nature play, and farm-based activities. Campers will meet and care for animals, tend the land, harvest seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs, walk forest trails, visit nearby river spaces, and cook simple meals together using what they gather. Throughout the program, youth will build environmental literacy by learning about plant life cycles, soil health, water systems, and how ecosystems work together. Through activities like foraging, seed exploration, nature art, herbal preparations, and gardening, campers will gain practical skills while engaging with historical and traditional agricultural practices. They will also learn about Black and Indigenous leaders in agriculture and environmental stewardship, helping foster cultural pride and a deeper understanding of land based knowledge. By the end of the program, children will not only have built friendships and confidence, but will also see themselves as active stewards of the land—leaving with a strong sense of belonging, curiosity, and connection to nature, food, and community.

Meet Your Educators

Kale (Keila)

Kale has been an outdoor educator for the past 5 years. They started their career in Marine and Environmental Science at Goshen College, where they realized that there was a huge need for science communication. They went on to earn their Masters in Environmental Education, and have been teaching ever since. Kale is passionate about cultivating connections between people and land, with social justice at the center of all their work. She encourages exploration, self expression, and creativity through modeling that behavior herself. Kale can often be found in the mud looking for critters alongside their students, or making up silly songs for the group to sing as they hike or work in the garden. They previously worked at an urban educational farm in Portland, and are excited to continue their work in food systems education at BOLT.

Akasha

Graduated from Eckerd College in 2024 with a degree in Biology, they bring experience in restoration ecology and genetics lab research. They have worked with children their whole life as a nanny, camp counselor, and teacher, and are passionate about education that connects people to land and community. Guided by Afrofuturist thinking, the Seven Generation Principle, and their work with the Society of Scientists, they also created an independent education initiative for peers ages 18+ focused on cultivating right relationship with the world around us.

Program Details

Location: Corbett, OR - 30 mins East of Portland at the Black Oregon Land Trust Headquarters - The Mother’s Land Please note: Address will be sent in a welcome email after registration.

Dates: June 15-18th, July 6-9th, Aug 10-13th

Time: 9:15 AM - 2:30 PM (5.25hrs per day)

City transportation provided: Pick up 8:30am and drop off 3:30pm