July 13 - 17, 2026
Learn Through Nature Immersion:
5 day intensive for parents and teachers
Description:Key OutcomesWho this is for: Date, LocationProgram FeesWhat's Included:The Learn Through Nature Immersion is a 5-day nature-based teaching intensive for parents and educators. In a small group setting, on our 30-acre forested campus near Nevada City, you'll learn how to bring academics alive for child, co-op or outdoor program.
You’ll be guided step by step through the unique Learn Through Nature methodology I created over 13 years in the field. We will prepare you to teach academics outdoors with clarity and ease through stories, songs, games, and hands-on nature skills. Leave with a practical outdoor learning plan and the confidence to help kids learn through nature while in nature.
Participants walk away with:
A repeatable approach for teaching core academics (literacy, math, science, art) outside using stories, songs, games, and activities.
A toolbox of nature skills (tracking, bird language, plant ID, shelter building, whittling, etc.) they can safely pass on to children.
A draft “Outdoor Learning Plan” they can implement at home, in co-ops, or in schools when they return.
Ideal for:
Parents, homeschoolers, and outdoor educators working with grades 1–8.
People who value small groups, hands-on learning, and time in nature more than a big “conference” feel.
When and Where
Monday–Friday, July 13–17
Nevada City, CA (Sierra Nevada foothills) on our 30-acre forested campus.
Early Bird Price: $950
Standard Price, after July 1: $1075
Supporter Price: $1350 Support scholarship access for another participant. Ideal for those who want to contribute a little extra while attending the intensive.
5 days of hands-on sessions, 8am - 5pm
Evening Activities and Entertainment each night
Camping (There are also several lodging options nearby, within 6 miles.)
Meals: Light breakfast provided each morning. Catered Lunch provided daily. Dinners are collaborative (cook and eat together, potluck-style or simple group meals).
Together, the mornings and afternoons give you both the “how to teach”
and the “who you are on the land,” so you can bring children outside with
confidence, depth, and joy.
Mornings: Academics in nature
Mornings will focus on how to weave core academics into nature experiences. You’ll explore how to teach reading, writing, science, history, art, and more using the forest as your classroom.
You’ll practice:
Stories and storytelling circles: Learn to write or source rich, nature-based stories to introduce concepts in literacy, science, and history. Learn story-telling skill and how guide children to retell, summarize, or illustrate them.
Songs, rhythm, and movement: Learn simple songs, chants, and movement games that build language skills, numeracy, coordination, and memory while keeping kids warm, engaged, and regulated outside.
Games: Discover field-tested games that quietly teach observation, math, ecology, teamwork, and self-regulation through play.
Hands-on activities: Design activities where children measure, build, draw, map, and experiment with natural materials so academic ideas become tangible and memorable.
Documentation (main lesson books): Learn gentle, age-appropriate ways for children to document their learning through nature journals, main lesson books and writing.
Afternoons
Afternoons are dedicated to your own nature skills so you feel grounded, competent, and at home leading groups outdoors. You’ll build practical, transferable skills while also learning how to teach them safely to children.
You’ll explore:
Tracking – Practice slowing down, reading animal tracks and signs, and turning the landscape into a story you can share with kids.
Bird observation and bird language – Learn to notice patterns in bird behavior and calls, and how to use birds as “teachers” for attention, awareness, and storytelling.
Plant identification and simple herbal uses – Get to know local plants by sight, touch, and smell, and learn simple, safe ways to share them with children (respecting boundaries and safety).
Whittling and safe knife use – Develop your own comfort with knives, learn safety language and routines, and practice simple projects kids can do with supervision.
Shelter building and other core skills – Work with stick shelters, tarps, and natural materials to create simple, functional shelters, and explore other foundational skills like fire awareness, sit spots, and moving safely through the forest.
Evenings
Monday: Evening with Ohmapi teaching staff
Enjoy a relaxed, home-style dinner with practiced teachers where you can ask anything about nature-based teaching, program design, and working with mixed-age groups. Each evening will include a short, focused presentation (15–20 minutes) on a core topic—such as creating rhythm and routines outdoors or guiding academic learning in all weather—followed by lots of open Q&A so you can get support for your specific context.
Tuesday: Evening with parents of enrolled students
Share a meal with local parents whose children have experienced Learn Through Nature in action. Hear real stories about how outdoor academics have impacted their kids’ learning, confidence, and connection to the natural world. This is a chance to ask candid questions about what works, what’s challenging, and how families integrate this approach at home.
Wednesday: Hob Nob with the locals at Nevada City Nights Street Fair
Thursday: Shared dinner with alumni or currently enrolled kids. Gather around the table with alumni or currently enrolled kids who have learned through this methodology. You’ll see and hear directly from the children—how they experience learning outside, what they remember, and what they love most. This evening gives you a living example of the kind of confidence, curiosity, and connection you can help foster in the children you work with.
Friday: Sunset on the Hill: A special evening with a storyteller and musician
Close a full day in the forest with an evening of live storytelling and music inspired by the land. A guest storyteller and musician will lead you through tales, songs, and simple participatory activities you can adapt for your own groups. This night is both nourishing for you and a rich source of inspiration for how to weave story and song into your teaching.