WOLF Kids

Ages 8-12 | Full-time | Apply Now!
Registration Opens April 15 at 7am

“Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: The Child in Nature.”

— Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

WOLF Kids is designed as a nature-based alternative to standardized education. With 8:1 child to adult ratios in a beautiful outdoor setting, your child will receive the deep care and attention they truly need to become their best self.

Our multi-age learning environment fosters a community culture of peer-supported learning and healthy role modelling. With the natural world as our primary teacher, and highly skilled mentors in nature connection mentoring, we will build a culture that fosters connection first!

Games, music, storytelling, gratitude, community building and rites of passage are all parts of the “cultural basket” we weave together.

Wolf kids also enrol in a public online school where a BC certified teacher supervises their academic learning on Mondays and Thursdays. This ministry funded blended learning program operates separately but in collaboration with Thriving Roots. This supports learners in satisfying grade-level outcomes while being fully immersed in nature.

  • Curriculum

    Take a more in-depth look at our forest school and wilderness awareness curriculum to see what skills and experiences your child can expect to learn.

    Learn more

  • Campus

    View our unique outdoor classroom. 50 acres of forest surrounded by park land. Seasonal creek, waterfall & yurt.

    Learn more

  • Mentors

    Get to know the team behind Thriving Roots Wilderness School and learn more about your child’s program mentors.

    Learn more

  • WOLF Kids Parent 2020-present

    “My kiddo seems to have developed a unique relationship with each mentor, and my sense is that each mentor also supports the emergence of something unique within them. This is what I love about the extended community ("home away from home") feeling here. This is akin to the kind of village atmosphere that feels so important to us…

    You all remind us to come back to ourselves, and our connection to each other, as well as the more-than-human world. Your commitment to future generations is palpable and the way you all LIVE this work...well, that's palpable too. Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts.”

  • WOLF Kids Parent 2021-22

    “My favourite moment of the whole year, as a parent, was hearing the children sing “we’ll be known by the company we keep” around a fire the night of the first overnight. The fire was blazing, the stars were sparking, the eyes of the kids, parents, mentors and apprentices sparkling-and I took in the moment of belonging to such an incredible community that I will hold dear to my heart forever more.

    Our daughter went from depressed and anxious about being in “a cage” in private school, to waking up excited to attend Wolf without fail. By far it was our best schooling experience. She felt so free, seen and alive at school this year. The roses came back to her cheeks.”

  • Meghan Rathwell (Mother and Writer)

    “For the last three years, my son has attended the WOLF program. It has, unequivocally, been the most fulfilling, growth-enhancing journey for him, with many ripples that have impacted our whole family. What started with a natural love for being and playing outside, has deepened into identifying bird calls & edible plants, spending the night in a hand-built shelter of collected wood and debris, creating a coal to start the community fire with a bow drill (which is essentially sticks and rope!)

    It has been incredible to watch him grow and refine these ancient skills, though I am equally taken with how he has grown as a person. His confidence and communication, his engagement with his community, his focus, wit and emotional intelligence have all grown under the nurturance and care of this program. Part of the bedrock of WOLF rests in the relationships that are built between the kids and mentors.”

  • Elsje Hannah (Mother and Clinical Councillor)

    “The WOLF program came at a time in my daughter’s life where she needed connection more than anything. She had had some negative experience in the traditional school system and the pain of that ran deep enough that she did not want to return. WOLF offered a way to connect with likeminded children that were both her peers and younger than her. This gave her an opportunity to create deep connections and also to inspire younger children. In a world where social media competes for every minute of a child’s life, WOLF offers an alternative that allows for children to connect with nature and with themselves in ways that are both life giving and life sustaining. I cannot recommend this program highly enough.”

  • Adam Kirk (Father)

    “We chose the WOLF Kids program for our daughter because we believe that a nature-based culture is an essential part of living a more sustainable lifestyle, and WOLF Kids builds a solid foundation for that culture.

    Our daughter gained more confidence, independence, and a deeper connection to the plants and animals around her. She also developed some valuable friendships with the other kids in the program, and brought many songs, stories, and games home for our family to enjoy.

    I highly recommend the WOLF Kids program for every child.”

  • Ray Hannah (WOLF Kids Grad)

    “When I first came to WOLF my hope was to learn to survive in the wild. Little did I know that over the next three years I would learn so much more. When I came to Wolf I was greeted as if I was family, I was welcomed with open arms and excitement. I learned how to love the earth in a deeper way than I thought possible. I learned to work in a team better than I ever had before. I was able to play, dance, and sing! Even in difficult times the mentors were there to help me, protect me, and guide me through whatever was going on.

    I found peace in nature and felt loved and accepted by the people around me. I learned how to build fires in the rain, build shelters, make art out of nature, read bird song, track animals and more. I made friends and got to meet people with the same interests. ”

  • Anju Otsu (WOLF Kids Grad)

    “I love the way the mentors teach us at WOLF; they include a whole whack of interesting things into one activity and you can learn so much from it. There are so many things that I have enjoyed doing, like building fires (without matches), building shelters, journalling, listening to stories, exploring the land. I love that it is all connected to Nature and is really fun to do.

    One of my highlights through all the years I’ve been in WOLF is all the singing we do; it’s one thing I always look forward to on WOLF days. I am also really impressed with the strong community that is built through the program; all my friends and mentors are like family to me!

    I really love being at WOLF. When I am around the people there, I feel comfortable expressing my true self, not being judged be anyone, and also knowing that the group is like me: liking to be outside, being able to goof around and be fun to be with, but also learning a lot of things; that is really special for me.”

  • Briony Penn (Naturalist, Environmentalist, Author, Teacher, and Geographer)

    “Kids that are educated outside in nature are healthier, happier, and better prepared for the 21st century. What impresses me about the WOLF Kids is that they are so excited about learning. They are curious, and they are so alive. What parent wouldn’t want that for their children? Kids have been educated in the natural world for millennia. It’s only been in the last 200 years that we have stuck them in airless classrooms with no natural stimulus. This was a bad experiment, and it’s time we got back to our human root. I wish I had gone to WOLF.”

  • Shylo Zylbergold (School Aid Services)

    “I have watched many kids in the Wolf Kids Program, and have been bowled over by the maturation of their abilities, and especially the growth in their self-esteem. These kids have taken on incredible challenges, both physical and educational, and have learned how almost limitless their abilities are when matched with determination, knowledge, and a healthy respect for nature. I wish I was still young enough to go to Wolf Kids myself.”

  • Dates: Monday – Thursday. 9:30am-3:30pm.

    Fall Semester: September 3 – December 12

    Spring Semester: January 13 – June 18

    No classes over Spring Break (March 15 – March 30)

    + Special community events, field trips, expeditions and rites of passage/competence

  • Tuition: $8280 (includes $750 deposit & registration fee) + GST. Tuition includes craft/material costs and occasional food supplies. ($600 credit applied in June. See below.)

    Payment Options:

    • Credit Card & Automatic Bank Withdraw: Deposit paid with CC + 9 monthly instalments through online banking paid beginning Sept 1.

    • Credit Card & Automatic Bank Withdraw: Deposit paid with CC + remaining balance paid in full through online banking on Sept 1.

    Distributed Learning Funds: Families registered with our online public school partner will receive a partial tuition refund at the end of the school year of $600.

    Cancellation & Refund Policy: Please note that your registration commitment is for the full 9-month term. Please familiarise yourself with our Registration Policies before registering.

  • Frog, Marie + Zoey will be your WOLF Kids mentors. They may also be joined by an adult apprentice from our Tend the Fire Apprenticeship program.

    Read more about the Thriving Roots team here.

  • We are committed to offering needs-based Equity Fund Discounts to those who would not otherwise be able to attend our programs due to experiencing systemic barriers to wealth accumulation. Read more and apply here.

  • We have limited space available in our programs for students with high needs. (We define 'high needs' as any designation and/or behavioural or emotional need that would require extra support i.e. ADHD, Autism, physical disability, any need for 1:1 support.)

    To ensure our mentors have the relevant experience and capacity to provide the support your child needs, please fill out our Student Support – High Needs form before registering and make sure to familiarise yourself with our Registration Policies.

    • Download our recommended gear list here.

    • We will send out a program contact list to support with carpooling before the program start date.

Program Details

Step 1: Learn More

Check out the WOLF Kids FAQ’s below, then download a copy of our WOLF Kids Info Package to learn more about the program.

We’d be happy to answer any further questions. You can send your enquiries to info@thrivingroots.org

Step 2: Submit an Application

Submit a WOLF Kids application form and wait for a follow up phone call or email to confirm admission.

*Please note: WOLF Kids registration is by application only and new student spaces are based on returning student numbers.

Step 3: Register and Pay Deposit

1 - Register with Thriving Roots: Once your application is accepted, register for WOLF Kids through our TR online portal.

2 - Register with the Public Online School: You will receive instructions to register with the online school once enrolled in the TR online portal.

WOLF Kids FAQs

  • Yes and No… 80% of our time together is outside, rain or shine, in all seasons! This immersive outdoor experience is directly linked to the increased physical and emotional resilience developed in WOLF Kids.

  • Wolf families also register with a public online school that is a ministry funded blended learning program. This supports learners in satisfying grade-level outcomes while being fully immersed in nature.

    The online school’s model is a blended-learning public education service. They provide funding for a certified teacher to deliver and oversee academic curriculum integration and issue our students regular report cards and parent-teacher conferences, meeting the same curriculum goals as any other public or private school in the province. The school has about 650 students across the province who participate in outdoor education programs or homeschool programs.

    Technically speaking, the students are enrolled in an "online” program, and the certified teacher takes on the responsibility of creating a Personalized Learning Plan which includes academic classes led by them in person, learning with parents at home, and learning on wilderness days with Thriving Roots. They will help keep your child on track with BC curriculum standards (reading, writing, math, etc.) and leverage their learning through this unique place-based experiential model. At-home parent support is still required to supplement learning and report academic outcomes through an online portfolio model.

    Students are divided into groups, based on grade level and abilities, in order to target specific learning needs.

    The Certified Teacher attends Mondays and Thursdays and is able to schedule “office hours” so families can connect for one-on-one support.

  • At WOLF, we see learning as an integrative, full-sensory and multi-disciplinary experience! Much of what we learn and experience is embedded in the BC Elementary Curriculum. Subjects covered indirectly are: Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Applied Skills & Technologies, Physical Education, Art, and sometimes even French and Math!

    Students registered in WOLF also follow a home schooling curriculum and reporting process, co-designed with the academic teacher to ensure curriculum areas not covered Mon-Thurs can be covered at home on Fridays during their home learning day.

    With enough parent support and communication with the academic teacher, students will fulfil and even excel with grade-level ministry academic requirements.

  • Generally, no. When providing feedback we aim to reflect students’ personal strengths and growth areas, as well as encourage self validation. In our mentoring approach we focus on inspiring motivation from the intrinsic rewards of pursuing a passion or project instead of external rewards of letter grades. To provide a quantitative way to track progress, we sometimes allocate “challenge levels” to certain activities.

    Term Report Cards are still provided through the online school and written by the academic teachers.

  • One of our favourite parts of WOLF is the close community that develops between families. Family events include:

    • Seasonal gatherings:

      • September: Welcome Potluck,

      • November: Ancestor Feast,

      • December: Winter Celebration,

      • April: Fire Sit (Rite of Competence) Event, etc.

    • June: Year-end Camping Trip – a 3 day excursion to celebrate the year with parents and siblings!

  • A Rite of Passage is an event that marks a transition from one life stage to another. It often includes overcoming physical and emotional challenges in isolation, but held and supported by community. We provide a one-time Rite of Passage for teens 13 years or older, called “Fire Quest.”

    We also provide annual events that we consider “Rites of Competence.” These are events that require youth to undergo physical and emotional challenges that push them to the edge of their comfort zone and demonstrate to their community an increase of competency and responsibility. Because these events happen every year, they are not designed to mark a life stage transition, but more so demonstrate increased skill and ability. Examples of these vary from year to year, but generally include a Fall Shelter Overnight Event or a Spring Fire Sit.

  • Students must register and attend all four days. We generate a level of connection and emotional safety at WOLF that is unique from other education experiences and this requires regular attendance and commitment to the group.

  • Children must be 8 years old by September 1st to attend WOLF Kids. Our Otter Pups Program is our full time program for children ages 5-7 and serves as a wonderful introduction to WOLF Kids. Check out our Little Leaves weekly program too.