Coaching children to be joyful creators, building their future through the magic of being in nature.
Just Imagine: 👨👧 Children board a bus 🚌, and receive a lesson 📖 about the life cycle of 🦋butterflies while traveling to a beautiful forest 🌳 where the children explore 🔎 to find butterflies and then work on a math 🔢 lesson.
Monticello
Blanding
School will be in forests near Blanding, Utah
and
Monticello, Utah.
Pickup locations will be in Monticello, UT and Blanding, UT for camps and school and will soon expand to more locations.
Who are we?
A nature-immersion program serving grades K-12.
A daily school, where the lessons are taught in the forest, and indoor locations in serious inclement weather.
Class sizes are 8-10 students
What do we do?
We use project based learning, play based explorative learning, classical books, educational materials from Scout merit badge books, and Easy Peasy printed curriculum.
Grab your backpacks and come explore with us!
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide a transformative, educational, forest experience that instills a creator mindset and strengthens family bonds, allowing students to become architects of their own futures, equipped with tools to navigate the complexities of the real world.
Value Statement
We believe that strong connections between individuals and their loved ones lay the foundation for success. That's why we are dedicated to fostering these bonds through a school that promotes connection to family. We value connections to family, joy, student owned education, empowerment through a creator mindset, nature, healthy engagement with risk, and we trust in God.
Our Vision
Our vision is a school where students are in the forest every day of school, which will boost their emotional, social and physical health while still meeting high standards for academics and strengthening family bonds.
Project Plans
To achieve this, we will offer a range of innovative solutions including, localized forest schools and summer camps.
Strengthen Families
Everyone’s included
With the expansive forest as our classroom and a flexible curriculum, entire families can join us at their convenience, creating a unique learning experience.
Enrollment options include, full time and part time.
Strengthen Families
Flexible Schedules
Our flexible curriculum accommodates students to align with family schedules, enabling them to prioritize family commitments without compromising their education.
Strengthen Families
Parent - Teacher Connection
To pass the baton of authority, our teachers meet with parents and students a few weeks before school begins.
Also, teachers are at the drop off location and pick up location, which facilitates much more communication between school and family.
Our School's Story
In 2013 Miriam Peterson created a private school called Mission Discovery School in Monticello, UT for K-12.
- 6 graduated High School from this program with high honors
- a student attended kindergarten with us and then tested into 2nd grade
- hundreds of students enjoyed their time at our school
In 2019 this program was closed down.
In 2024 a new program was begun, a FOREST SCHOOL.
Now we are embarking on a mission to revolutionize the way we educate students.
Fueled 🔥 by a deep passion for student empowerment 🚀 and a burning desire to make a difference ✨, we set out to create a school that would not only equip students with practical real-world skills 🎓🌍 and prepare them to be active creators in the community 👥🏙️, but also tackle the issue of 🎯🏫 poor school attendance head-on .
The school founder, Miriam Peterson, said, "I can see a vision of the ultimate solution for education. The thought of providing a transformative educational experience that instills a creator mindset within young minds fills me with boundless joy. I envision a place where students could unleash their true potential, cultivate a love for learning, and become amazing contributors to our future."
Driven by this vision, I have poured my heart 💖 and soul into crafting an educational method that inspires 🌈 and empowers 🌟. I believe that true education goes beyond textbooks and exams, extending into
- the realms of creativity 🎨
- critical thinking 🤔
- and problem-solving 🧩.
By embracing a creator mindset, students become architects of their own futures, equipped with the tools to navigate the complexities of the real world. 🌎
Miriam Peterson has a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. She holds a current Utah teaching license. She has coached world winning high school robotics teams, taught private school for 8 years, tutored, homeschooled 3 children, operated a preschool, taught violin and orchestrated many educational activities.
What does the school offer?
The school offers a variety of programs and resources to support students' academic and personal growth.
- experienced faculty
- access to the wilderness
Additionally, the school provides opportunities for community service and leadership development, as well as career preparation through internship placement programs.
Our school provides connection, happiness, and superior education for real world skills.
How can I help?
We are a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable school. Donations offered are claimable on taxes.
We are looking for those with experience in these things:
- Outdoor Education
- Scouting
- Native American Education
- Business Management
- Finance Management
- Donor Funding
- Curriculum Development
- Special Education
- Legal skills
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Social Worker
- Mental Health
Get in touch
with Heartwood Forest School
Contact Hours
Tuesday: 9am – 7pm
Wednesday: 9am – 5pm
Thursday: 9am – 5pm
Friday: 9am – 5pm
HC 63 Box 57
Monticello, UT
Text or Call:
Mobile: (435) 459-9796
miriam.heartwood@gmail.com
Heartwood Forest School will admit students of any race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, and ethnic origin in hiring, administration of our educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, and other school-administered programs. We expect our students and parents to follow our lead in our nondiscrimination policy.
© 2024 Heartwood Forest School
