Join us in the woods
Check out our programs, running almost year-round, and accommodating children ages 3 – 12.
Spring Programs
Registration is now open for Spring 2025! For the latest details visit the our programs page. Information below is based on our program offerings and is provided for planning purposes only. We normally must have 7 children registered to run each program.
Spring mornings in Jerry Lawrence Park
All ages are welcome to join 1 morning a week for the drop-off program. Thursday mornings 9-12 in Jerry Lawrence Provincial Park in Upper Tantallon/Lewis Lake. Children must be able to use the bathroom on their own. There are outhouses available if needed. Each pre-school program is led by 2 caring adults and has a focus on unstructured play.
Dates: May 22-June 26th Cost: $250 payable by credit card or online
Email: kellie@allen.net for more information
Forest Fledglings – Saturdays
We are once again offering a spring program for seasoned outdoorsy older children ages 6-12.
Are you ready to ignite your child’s sense of wonder and adventure? Look no further than Forest Fledglings, the exciting program designed to spark curiosity and deepen your child’s connection to nature, each other, and themselves.
Hard Skills: Our experienced instructors will guide your child through essential naturalist and survivalist skills, including learning bird calls, mushroom spore printing, shelter building, plant and tree identification, nature crafting, reading nature’s signs, whittling, orienteering, animal tracking, and forest safety.
Soft Skills: Beyond wilderness skills, Forest Fledglings focuses on fostering valuable life skills such as teamwork, resilience, independence, patience, and confidence. Through inquiry-based learning and immersive forest experiences, your child will develop the skills to navigate and thrive in the world around them.
Schedule: Forest Fledglings will run on Saturdays at Long Lake Provincial Park.
Who Can Join: Forest Fledglings welcomes young adventurers aged 6-12. Whether your child is a curious beginner or a seasoned explorer, our instructors tailor activities to suit individual interests and skill levels, ensuring an engaging and enriching experience for all.
Why Choose Forest Fledglings: With Forest Fledglings, your child will embark on a journey of discovery, connection, and growth in a supportive and nurturing environment. Whether they’re honing wilderness skills, making new friends, or simply soaking in the beauty of the great outdoors, Forest Fledglings promises an unforgettable adventure for your young explorer.
Cost: $250
Join us and watch your child flourish as they explore, learn, and thrive with Forest Fledglings!
Summer Programs
We offer 6 weeks of summer outdoor day camp in Jerry Lawrence Park Upper Tantallon and Fall River! Ages 5-10 for all 6 weeks, ages 11-13 for 2 weeks in Jerry Lawrence. Please see our Summer Camps page for more details.
Programs are catered to specific age and interests – please carefully read the program descriptions to ensure you are signing your Child up for the program that best suits their needs. Keep your child’s interests and comfort in mind when signing up for full day programs spent entirely in nature. In Fall River we have a compost toilet and at Jerry Lawrence we have Outhouses.
Roots and Boots believes in every child’s right to enjoy and benefit from nature. We do not however, currently have the resources to provide direct one-to-one support. If your child requires one-to-one support to be safe in an environment such as an unfenced, wooded area then please reach out to the resources below to see if they can provide financial assistance. If you’re able to secure financial assistance please contact us and we can discuss how to set your child up for a safe and successful experience at Roots and Boots Forest School.
1. Department of Community Services Direct Family Support –
https://novascotia.ca/coms/disabilities/DirectFamilySupportForChildren.html
2. Autism Nova Scotia Family Support –
3. Nova Scotia Early Childhood Development Intervention Services –
4. Or call 211.
We do cancel programs due to the weather; this includes thunder and lightning warnings, heavy rainfall warnings, flash flooding, high winds of 40km consistently or gusts of 65km, and extreme temperatures of +32 with the humidex and -15 with the windchill. We do not refund for weather cancellations.