Children carry their own backpacks at Forest Learning Collective. It is important that they have a pack that is the right size, and is very comfortable. It can take some effort to find a good backpack.
Your child’s food and water bottle go in the backpack. Take care to find the right sized water bottle; an adult sized water bottle might be too heavy. In the warm months, an insulated bottle with ice is great to help keep your learner cool. If possible, please avoid single-use plastic bottles.
Food-wise, we recommend packing a lunch and (at least) two snacks each day. We have the resources to warm up/cook food for learners, so do not hesitate to send things that require a bit of preparation. Hearty, protein-rich, and carb-heavy food is recommended to keep your learner going the entire day. Hot food is especially nice in the colder months.
In the late Fall and early Spring, the backpack might contain extra layers to accommodate the weather. Please make sure the pack will have room to fit a wool sweater or fleece.
Even on dry days, we might end up wet or muddy during play. It is important to have a change of clothes available. On the first day of program, please send a full set of clothes (including underclothes, and especially socks) packed in a waterproof bag, labeled with your child’s name. We will keep these clothes at FLC for them in our changing room so they do not have to be carried around all day. When your learner comes home in their spare clothes, you will need to replenish their extra clothing for the next day of program. Please always send your child to Forest Learning Collective in clothing and footwear that can get dirty. As the seasons change, clothing does too; our guides will reach out seasonally with a list of recommended items for the extra clothes bag.
The most thorough way to complete a tick check is while fully undressed, typically immediately before bathing. For learners who require more privacy, teach them how to look at different parts of their body with a hand mirror. Start with the feet and complete a slow visual scan of the entire body, using a mirror to look at any hard-to-see places. We also recommend running your hands over the skin to feel for any ticks you may have mistaken for freckles or dirt with your visual scan. Ticks love warm, dark spots, so take extra care when looking between the toes, behind the knees, and in the groin, bellybutton, and armpits. Finish by checking your learner's head; look at the back of the neck, along the hairline, on the scalp, and in and around the ears. As an extra precaution, have your learner take a hot shower after tick checking and put their clothes from the day in the dryer on high heat to kill any ticks that may have hitched a ride home
Forest Learning Collective will begin on Monday September 8, 2025 and end on
Friday June 12, 2026. Summer program begins Monday June 22, 2026 and ends
on Friday August 21, 2026.
No Program
Monday Oct 13, 2025: Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Wednesday Nov 26-Friday Nov 28, 2025: Thanksgiving and Native American
Heritage Day
Monday Dec 22 - Friday Jan 2, 2026: Winter Recess
Monday Jan 19, 2026: MLK Jr. Day
Monday Feb 16 - Friday Feb 20, 2026: Presidents’ Week
Monday March 30 - Friday April 3, 2026: Spring Recess
Friday May 22 - Monday May 25, 2026: Memorial Day Weekend
Family Festivals
Friday September 5, 2025: Meet and Greet
Monday September 22, 2025: Autumn Equinox at the Garden
Monday November 24, 2025: Day of Thanks
Friday December 19, 2025: Winter Solstice
Friday, February 13, 2026: Midwinter Night
Friday March 20, 2026: Spring Equinox
Friday June 12, 2026: Bridge Ceremony
Sunday June 21, 2026: Summer Solstice
Circle Meetings (Governance)
All School Circle
Wednesday, October 15th 3:00-5:00: Fall Meeting at Henry’s Meadows with
soup together
Wednesday, January 28th 7:00 PM: Winter Meeting via Google Meet
Wednesday, April 15th 3:00-5:00: Spring Meeting at Henry’s Meadow with soup
together
Wednesday, August 13th 7:00 PM: Summer Meeting via Google Meet
Homeschooling Parents Circle
Monthly meetings occur on the Second Monday of
the month, via Google Meet, at 8:00PM, August through May.
To protect the privacy of our community, the Family Directory is not available on our website. The family directory is shared via email at the beginning of the school year. If you can't find it in your messages, or you are interested in receiving a physical copy, please email us at forestlearningcollective.com.
Document Requirements (TST BOCES):
“All youth who become six years of age on or before December 1st in any school year are required to attend upon full-time instruction.”
“A Notice of Intent is due on July 1 or within 14 days after commencing home instruction.”
“An Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) is due August 1 or within four weeks after commencing home instruction, whichever is later.”
“Four Quarterly Reports are due throughout the school year spaced in even and logical periods.”
“An annual assessment is due at the time of filing the fourth quarterly report.”
Links:
TST BOCES Home Instruction: https://www.tstboces.org/page/home-instruction
TST BOCES Documents and Resources: https://tstbocesny.sites.thrillshare.com/page/documents-and-resources
NY Learning Standards: http://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction
