At Two Coyotes Wilderness School, a school day looks very different—and that’s exactly the point.

Once a week, students step out of traditional classrooms and into the forest, spending a full day immersed in nature. The rhythm of the day is intentional, balancing skill-building, exploration, reflection and play.

Mornings begin with nature-based games and a gratitude circle, grounding students in community and awareness. From there, mentors guide children through hands-on learning experiences that evolve over the course of the year. Rather than memorizing information, students build knowledge through direct experience—observing, questioning, experimenting and applying what they learn in meaningful ways.

Activities may include:

• Starting a fire without matches

• Identifying edible and medicinal plants and using them to prepare food or create natural remedies

• Building shelters and understanding how humans have lived in relationship with the land throughout history

• Practicing stillness through observation, journaling and reflection

• Learning animal patterns by moving quietly through the forest and interpreting “bird language”

• Crafting tools and objects from natural materials

Afternoons shift into storytelling, collaborative games and free exploration—often alongside streams, fields and forest edges. Throughout the day, mentors weave in lessons in teamwork, communication and conflict resolution, helping students build emotional intelligence alongside practical skills.

Each day closes in a circle, where students share stories, reflect on their experiences and often end in song—reinforcing a sense of belonging and shared journey.

Learning That Stays With Them

What makes the Coyote Village School Day Program so impactful is its long-term approach. Students don’t just attend for a session—they grow within the program over time.

With age-based groups—Wild Seeds (5–7), Black Foxes (8–12) and Fire Keepers (13–18)—children are supported through key developmental stages. As they grow, so do the challenges, responsibilities and opportunities for leadership.

The result is a learning experience that extends far beyond the day in the woods. Over time, students develop:

• Confidence and independence

• Resilience and adaptability

• Leadership and teamwork skills

• Emotional awareness and self-expression

• A strong sense of identity and purpose

Equally important, they develop a deep, personal connection to the natural world—something many families feel is missing in modern childhood.

Meeting a Growing Need for Families

For many families, Two Coyotes fills a gap that traditional education alone cannot.

Children today spend more time indoors and on screens than any previous generation. Opportunities for unstructured outdoor play, risk-taking and real-world problem-solving have become increasingly limited. At the same time, many parents are seeking ways to support their child’s mental health, confidence and sense of belonging.

The Coyote Village program responds directly to these needs.

It offers children space to move, explore and challenge themselves physically and emotionally. It creates a community where they are known and valued. And it provides experiences that help them return home not just tired and happy—but more grounded, capable and connected.

Importantly, the program is designed to complement—not replace—traditional schooling. Students from public, private and homeschool backgrounds all participate, integrating what they gain at Two Coyotes into the rest of their educational and personal lives.

A Community-Centered Experience

The experience extends beyond the individual child. Families become part of a larger community, connected through shared values and experiences.

Seasonal traditions such as the Ancestor Feast, Forest Fair and overnight camping experiences bring families together and deepen students’ sense of belonging. Older students camp independently with mentors in shelters they build themselves, while younger children participate alongside their families—creating meaningful, shared memories rooted in nature.

With a low student-to-mentor ratio, each child is truly seen and supported, allowing mentors to meet them where they are and help them grow.

Growing Up in Nature—From the Very Beginning

For younger children, the Coyote Pups caregiver-and-child program (ages 0–5) offers a gentle introduction to this way of learning. Families gather weekly to explore the forest together through songs, stories, play and discovery—laying the foundation for a lifelong relationship with nature.

Getting Started

School-year programs run in seasonal sessions or as a full-year experience, with enrollment managed through a rolling pre-registration process. Programs take place outdoors in nearly all weather conditions, reinforcing adaptability and comfort in the natural world.

Two Coyotes offers programs on an equitable pricing tiered model and is committed to making these experiences accessible to a wider range of families. Financial aid and scholarships are available, reflecting Two Coyotes’ commitment to making these experiences accessible to a wider range of families.

A Different Path Forward

At its core, Two Coyotes Wilderness School offers more than a program—it offers a return to something many families feel has been lost. Their staff hold a broad vision for the future and for their community.

In a time when childhood is increasingly structured, indoor and screen-centered, the opportunity to spend a full day outdoors—taking risks, solving problems, building friendships and discovering one’s place in the world—is both rare and essential.

For families seeking balance, the Coyote Village School Day Program provides a meaningful complement to traditional education. It creates space for children to develop not only academically, but socially, emotionally and physically—through real-world experiences that stay with them.

Students leave each day with more than stories. They carry a growing sense of confidence, belonging and responsibility—to themselves, to their community and to the natural world around them.

Learn More

Families interested in the Coyote Village School Day Program or early childhood offerings can learn more about enrollment and seasonal sessions by visiting Two Coyotes Wilderness School online.

Programs are offered in Newtown, Granby and Killingworth, with rolling pre-registration for the school year.

To learn more, visit TwoCoyotes.org or contact Operations Manager Dani Scott at [email protected] for registration details. See ad, page 17.

Two Coyotes Wilderness School - PO Box 711, Monroe, CT

Two Coyotes Wilderness School is a non-profit nature organization dedicated to creating a healthier, more connected future by connecting people to nature, community, and their personal em... Read More »