The Natural Leaders​ Program

Kids ages 7 - 17 build leadership, survival skills and community for 5 hours weekly from September to June.

"Because others depend on them too" - a Natural Leaders  parent testimonial 

Find your program!
Zoom in on the map for a closer look, and click a marker to see the name of any program location that you're interested in.  
 
2023-2024 PROGRAM DETAILS:
  • Ages: variable, see by location and day below
  • Gender: Co-ed unless specified otherwise
  • Time: 10 am - 3 pm, 1x per week
  • Cost: $63-$68/day before discounts, depending on payment option (monthly or year-in-full available)
  • Discounts: 5% per year available for Earlybird, Sibling and Military
  • Rolling admissions where spots are available.  Sign up for the waitlist if a group is currently full.

2023-2024 Homeschool Program Enrollment is open!

 
New to NL and want to try out a day before signing up for the current Homeschool Year?
Register for the trial day here.

Want to try out a Homeschool Day before enrolling for the Homeschool '23-'24 Year? 
Register for a Mock Day this Spring.

Request a New Location or Day!
We are expanding on an ongoing basis.  ​Most of our existing programs were created with the help of enthusiastic parents like you.​ 
Help start a new program here!

Have questions? Contact us: care@naturalleaders.com

Join the adventure: reserve your spot now!

Program Description
This is a nature-based LEADERSHIP program!  Students have a great time exploring and learning, while honing social and leadership skills each week. 

Each week the students meet for the day (10am - 3pm, 5 hrs), with a highly qualified lead facilitator who supports them in assigning, planning and performing leadership roles.
Each student is expected to review the relevant online resources in the LEARN! section of this website, and then lead his or her role in the field.  Leadership roles include:
​
A typical day features exploring, group games, story-telling and a skills challenge.  See also the Coordinator page for more on this topic.  

Technical skills we work on may include, but are not limited to:
  • Fire-making
  • ​Cooking on a fire
  • Survival shelter
  • Primitive pottery
  • Whittling
  • Group shelter
  • Tree and plant uses

It can take many years to master leadership and wilderness skills, so students are encouraged to attend long-term and grow through the program.

By attending for multiple years, students are able to develop proficiency in a wide suite of skills, and can then use the resulting confidence to tackle ambitious personal dreams and contribute to the world in a big way.  ​

FAQ

 
Is this just for homeschoolers?
Our program is open to anyone who can be reliably available on the scheduled program days!  If your child is in school part-time we are happy for him or her to join, or reach out to us about creating a program near you on a day that he or she is available.

What gear do I need?
Check out our gear list!

Do I need all the items on the gear list for my first day? 
 The most important gear you will need on your first day is weather appropriate clothing and footwear.  If you are unsure about other items, you can wait until you spend a day out in the field with your instructor to find out what will be most useful for you and your group. 

What knife should I get my child?
We recommend and sell the Bahco 2444 Carpenter Mora Multi-Purpose Knife.  See explanation here.

My child is younger than 7... Can they still participate? 
Students must be 7 or older to participate in the Homeschool Program. Students under 7 can signup for the program waitlist or join our Under 7 program (space limited).

Considerations for new students include:
  • stamina during long distance hikes over variable terrain (ranging 1 - 3 miles per day)
  • comfortability outside/getting dirty/facing adverse weather conditions
  • self-reliant/comfortable with back-country bathroom use
  • ability to follow the directions of an instructor
  • ability and awareness to stay with the group
  • ability to express emotions in a safe and helpful way
  • ability to work/play collaboratively and respectfully with others

Can my child attend half-day or every other week?
Due to the nature of our programs, our groups are out exploring! This means it is not possible to adjust for the logistics of recurring half-day attendance. Weekly attendance is an important piece of the curriculum. Irregular attendance or approaching days as a "drop-in" program is discouraged. More detailed registration terms can be found here. 

How do the mixed-age groups work? 
The natural world offers us the opportunity to hone our skills no matter our age. We work to scale content, skills, stories, projects, games, and topics to enable students of all skill levels to try new things, deepen their knowledge, and expand their practice of basic techniques. As older students grow confident in their abilities, they will be encouraged to take on greater leadership roles, share with newer/younger students, and challenge themselves to take their skills to the next level. 

What training do your staff have? 
Our talented instructors have a range of backgrounds in classroom instruction, backcountry experience, primitive skills, leadership development, naturalism, ecology, and more. Many work out in the field throughout the year and are familiar with the parks and region in which they work. They all are trained in First Aid/CPR and have completed background checks. To find out more about our staff you can checkout our staff bios.

Can parents join during the day? Do parents join on trial days? 
Typically no. We invite parents who would like to check out our locations and get to know our instructors to arrive to class a little bit early on the first day so you can ask any relevant questions you have.  Our instructors take time during pickup and drop off to discuss anything that's come up during the day with families and are available via email and phone after class time when necessary. 

Join the adventure: reserve your spot now!

Enroll Here Now!
If you have a question you don't find listed here, reach out to us! care@naturalleaders.com