Ohmapi
/ōˈməˈpī/
The name “Ohmapi” is derived from the dominant local tree species in our area: Oak (Oh), Madrone (ma) and Pine (pi).
It all started with…
The Ohmapi Nature Project (formerly Camino De Santiago Nature School) began in January 2013 as a grassroots effort by parents who wanted more than a nature walk with their toddlers. Over the past 12 years, it has blossomed: meeting times grew longer and more frequent, and our adventures expanded beyond casual walks to include hands-on study of the natural world and playful integration of academic learning.
Today, The Ohmapi Nature Project offers parents in Nevada County a truly unique educational experience. Students are in nature every day, which is a rare opportunity itself. What makes it even more special is our innovative approach to academics, seamlessly weaving learning into hands-on nature experiences. The result is a day filled with inspiration and joy, helping children connect learning with play and nurturing a lifelong love of discovery.
In 2020, Camino De Santiago Nature School purchased land in Nevada City, CA. A year later, in 2021, we became The Ohmapi Nature Project, a name that better reflects both our place and our mission.
What Makes Us Different
The Ohmapi Nature Project is more than a nature-school or curriculum, it's a movement redefining education by rooting it in the rhythms of nature. Ohmapi is dedicated to creating a world where learning feels joyful and connected to the natural world.
Every day, students enjoy at least one uninterrupted hour to play, explore, build, create, and dream. This unstructured time is at the heart of what makes our school unique. Here, play and work blend seamlessly, because we know that play is the work of childhood. Students follow their curiosity, whether it leads them to a new experiment, a creative project, or an imaginative adventure outdoors.
On a typical morning at The Ohmapi Nature Project, students explore concepts and ideas through main lessons that integrate language arts, science, math, and history. For younger students, stories take center stage, speaking directly to the heart and imagination. These lessons are magical and engaging, nurturing a love of learning from the start. As students grow, stories continue to inspire, now enriched with factual content that deepens understanding. From these stories emerge hands-on, developmentally appropriate projects that build skills in math, language arts, science, and history. Each year, a nature topics provide the foundation for the lessons. Click here to see an example of how we weave nature, stories, and academics together.
Low Student-to-Instructor Ratio
With a 10:1 student-to-instructor ratio, every child is supported. This closeness allows us to form genuine relationships and nurture each child’s unique path. We know that information is everywhere, but true learning happens through connection to the world around them.
Academic & Nature Time Combined
At Ohmapi, academics don’t live inside four walls. They come alive in the forest, the meadow, and under the open sky. Lessons in language arts, math, science, and history unfold alongside bird calls and rustling leaves. Our Monday through Wednesday program ensures students meet essential academic requirements, while Thursdays and Fridays open space for them to chase their own curiosities and passions.
Embracing Nature Naturally
Children thrive when they can climb, dig, build, and explore. These simple joys of childhood become the foundation for powerful, memorable learning. Through play and adventure, students build not only skills but also a deep and lasting bond with the natural world.
Nature is the Norm
Because students meet regularly outdoors, learning in nature becomes second nature. Instead of adjusting to a new environment, they step easily into growth. The outdoors isn’t a field trip; it’s the rhythm of their everyday.
Nature and Making Skills
From identifying medicinal and edible plants to navigating with a map, from crafting with natural materials to building shelters, students practice skills that are both practical and empowering. Working with their hands not only sharpens fine motor abilities but also helps the mind find calm. In the steady rhythm of making, students discover that practice brings progress, and they often find a natural way to relax and reflect.
Natural Human Rhythm
Each day follows the rhythm of being human: moments of focus balanced with moments of rest. We begin and end in a circle, setting intentions in the morning and reflecting together in the afternoon. This simple practice creates a sense of community and grounding that carries through the day.
The Ohmapi Nature Project is a Private Membership Association(PMA) for the purpose of education that establishes its own operating guidelines and is not under the jurisdiction of the state, local, and federal government’s laws and regulations. We are independent and privately-funded by our members. We are an FBO PMA. The Ohmapi Nature Project has a strongly-held belief in Nature and the Seventh Generation Principle, established by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) which advocates that the decisions we make today should result in the care and preservation of the human body and our planet, seven generations into the future.
From our enrolled families and students…
“We are sincerely and incredibly grateful to you for the beauty and magic you have created for these children. Our son has thrived and flourished this year, much due in part to his time with you at Camino de Santiago Nature School.
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Luke looks forward to nature school and is truly disappointed when there are holiday breaks! He says, “I’m happy that I will get to spend more time with my family, but I will miss school.” When it is time to go back, he is thrilled. Children really do thrive in outdoor environments; the difference between having them indoors and out is obvious and noticeable.
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What you have achieved with this school is as magical as it is important. You truly are changing the world. We are so fortunate to have taken part in this amazing project. Thank you!”
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Stay Connected to the Wonder of Nature
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Stay Connected to the Wonder of Nature *
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