Ages, schedules, tuition, weather, gear, homeschooling in Tennessee, and how to enroll.
Good to Know
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A forest school is an outdoor, nature-based program where children learn through child-led play and exploration rather than inside a classroom. At Foothills Forest School, we spend almost all of our time outside every day, rain or shine, cold or hot. Time in nature builds coordination, balance, and motor skills, and open-ended exploration of plants, insects, and weather supports curiosity, problem solving, and early scientific thinking. Read more on our Nature Based Education page.
Forest Preschool is a mixed-age class for children ages 3 to 5. Students who are toilet proficient and ready for the environment may be accepted at 2.5 at the discretion of the teaching staff and director. Forest K/1 blends kindergarten and 1st grade; students must be 5 for kindergarten or 6 for 1st grade by August 15 of the year they enroll. Homeschool Enrichment 1 is for ages roughly 6 to 9. Classes for ages 10 to 12 and 13 and up will be offered if we receive enough enrollment.
All classes run 9:00 to 2:00. Forest Preschool meets two days a week, either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. Forest K/1 meets Monday through Thursday. Homeschool Enrichment meets Tuesday and Thursday, and families can choose one or both days.
Forest Preschool is $350 per month. Forest K/1 is $950 per month. Homeschool Enrichment is $350 per month for two days a week or $175 per month for one day a week. There is a non-refundable $100 enrollment fee when your application is approved. See Classes for full details.
Forest Preschool and Homeschool Enrichment classes each have two lead teachers and up to 12 students. Forest K/1 has one lead teacher certified by the State of Tennessee plus an assistant, with up to 15 students.
Yes. This is an outdoor-based program and we spend almost all our time outside every day, rain or shine, cold or hot. Children learn that by dressing for the weather, the outdoors can be enjoyed year-round. Our Gear page lists what to wear and pack for each season.
Dress for the weather in layers, and please label everything. Each child needs one full change of clothes in a daypack or bag. Our Gear page has a base list plus seasonal lists for spring, summer, fall, and winter. Second-hand stores often have most of what you need.
Yes. Our Forest K/1 academic program is aligned with the Tennessee State Standards, which we treat as a guide to where each student is and how to support their growth. Teaching blends structured learning with project-based learning, hands-on exploration, playful learning, and social-emotional learning, led by a Tennessee-certified teacher.
Tennessee families have two common options. You can register as a homeschool through the county where you live by submitting a Declaration of Intent and keeping attendance and academic records, which Foothills Forest School provides through Brightwheel. Or you can register through a homeschool umbrella school, which compiles those records into a formal transcript. Our Homeschool Enrichment class supports either path. Details are on our Classes page.
Read our website and parent handbook, then submit the application form through Brightwheel. Applications are reviewed within two weeks. If space is not available, students are placed on a waiting list. Once approved, you complete enrollment paperwork in Brightwheel, pay the $100 enrollment fee, and make your first tuition payment by the deadline. Current openings are listed on our Enrollment page.
Yes. Preview Days are our version of an open house. You tour Montvale Springs, meet the teachers, and see the outdoor classroom while the kids play. Dates and sign-up are on our Preview Days page, and sign-ups are managed through Brightwheel.
We are at Montvale Springs, 4901 Montvale Rd, Maryville, TN 37803, in Blount County at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and a short drive south of Knoxville.