Our Story
When our boys were young we embarked on an ambitious dream of starting a Waldorf-Inspired, full time, Forest School Program for kids aged 3-5 in Riverview, NB. Every Saturday morning we ventured into the forest to meet up with some incredible children and their families with our Waldweg Forest School preschool programs. During that time we branched out to offer Parent & Child, homeschool, March Break, and Summer Camp programs too. Those days in the forest were some of the best we ever had, but ultimately we closed that chapter of our lives.
Since then, we moved from our suburban home to 80 acres of field and forest. We have grown our little homestead and our agricultural knowledge and feel called to provide the experiential education that children thrive with.
What is Farm & Forest School?
Many people may have heard of forest school, waldkindergarten, or nature school. But what exactly is farm and forest school? Farm and forest school here at Hazel Creek is a 100% outdoor immersion program, where children learn through experience, exploration and play. Children will have the opportunity , each week, to learn to care for the animals, the gardens, the pastures and the forests, through up-close interaction. They are guided by experienced educators, and with repeated visits to the same spaces, the students connect to the creatures, the plants. the land, and themselves.
We follow a curriculum inspired by Waldorf Education. The programs are planned for a variety of age groups, based on the developmental stages of the philosophies Rudolf Steiner. Although exceptions can be made if necessary, please know that our programs are set up and planned in an intentional way to reflect the developmental phases of childhood.
Ages 0-5--> We focus on goodness, nurturing the child, and supporting their will.
Age 5-7 --> Where we focus on supporting the child through the 6-year transformation, and the beauty of letting their imaginations soar.
Age 8-12--> We focus on supporting the child leading up to, and through the 9-year transformation and beyond, guiding them to find their place and purpose in the grander world.
Our Educators
Laura Martin
founder & lead teacher
Qualifications:
B.A., B.Ed., Certified Teacher in NB, Waldorf Teacher's Certificate, LifeWays Graduate
Laura has taught in the public education system for 4 years. She founded and ran Waldweg Forest School, and Hawthorn Hill Academy's programs. Laura has experience teaching baby sign language, and piano classes throughout the greater Moncton area, and ESL online.
Laura's passion for preserving childhood, honouring each child's unique developmental stage, and connecting children to themselves through nature has been a guiding light in her roles as both a parent and a teacher. She brings a warm and inviting presence to our school. Along with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and ability, Laura brings an infectious energy to the "classroom" each day.
Katie O'Brien
co-teacher for our Foxes programs
Qualifications:
Early childhood Education (ECE).
Katie ran Enlightened Souls Daycare for 10 years and now homeschools her two children.
Katie has a passion for learning in nature and keeping the childhood magic alive by encouraging their imaginative play and expanding off of their budding ideas.
Her belief is that a child’s learning experience builds their framework for their social , intellectual , emotional and creative development .