Mud City Forest School | Now Registering for Spring 2025 Timber &Thread

The Lamoille Nature Conservation District’s forest school program is thriving! Mud City Forest School is a once-a-week, full-day program located entirely outdoors at the beautiful Lamoille County Nature Center in Morristown. We acknowledge that this land is the traditional land of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation.

Timber & Thread, our spring Mud City Forest School offering, is a program designed for young makers who thrive on freedom of creative expression and the desire to explore techniques and crafting techniques outdoors. Youth will explore the pond, the forests and the fields, learning about local ecology; playing games; growing their bushcrafting skills; and building friendships in a safe, inclusive environment. Mud City Timber & Thread will explore sustainability skills such as orchard care, woodworking, and bush skills, and will also experiment with wood carving, fiber arts, soap making, and herb craft. Mud City Forest School is committed to bringing youth joyful education in an outdoor setting that fosters curiosity and respect for the natural world and each other. 

Some skills we will cover:

• Fiber arts
• Woodworking
• Woodcarving
• Orchard Care
• Soap Making
• Herb Crafting
• Fire building
• Bushcrafting
• Taxonomy

Each day consists of outdoor skills such as fire-building, forest safety, weather prediction, cooking, and quiet observation. We also incorporate storytelling, puzzles, and free play in nature. Youth use problem-solving skills to build fort structures, cut new trails, and work together. We use movement games to learn about Vermont’s ecology and wildlife and how animals, plants, and people interact. 

Above all, we will explore the natural world with curiosity, joy, respect, and gratitude. We hope you will join us. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions. 

Is My Child Ready For Forest School?

Mud City Forest School is a welcoming outdoor once-weekly day-program for youths aged approximately 8-14 years. These ages are flexible because children gain skills at different ages. Please email us about your child’s specific needs if you have questions. At Mud City Forest School children are expected to have the following skill base:

• Able to read approximately 2nd grade texts
• Able to write in sentences
• Able to use sharp tools under supervision and with instruction (hand saws, pocket knives, etc)
• Able to stay with the group in the forest
• Able to communicate what their body needs
• Able to walk 2-4 miles per day
• Understand fire safety
• Follow safety instructions