Programming Overview

Our Forest School programs focus on bolstering environmental literacy through education and hands-on learning in nature while also promoting physical and mental health for kids crawling to 18. Find these programs under the Forest School tab.

Our Community Connections calendar focuses on spending regular and consistent time in nature with program offerings that feature a range of interests like hiking, birding, art, nature play, and wellness practices. They are all age-friendly, featuring adult-only programming, and are a great way to get to know people in the Red Oaks community. Find these programs under the Community Connections tab.

Our Adventures programs offer a chance to explore nature in an adventurous way like climbing and camping. We also plan to offer bigger hikes, backpacking trips, and water sports in the future. Find these offerings in our Adventures tab.

photo by student Anna Holder

Frankfort - west sixth farm

  • STEAM (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in session. Tuesdays during the Fall and Spring semester.

  • Mighty Acorns (ages 3-6), drop-off program on Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

stanton - the wilds

  • Art Club (all ages), caregiver-attended program offered the third Saturday of the month from 10 am - 12 pm.

  • STEAM (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in session. Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

  • Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

  • Mighty Acorns (ages 3-6), drop-off program on Mondays and Fridays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

  • Trail Blazers (ages 7-12), drop-off program on Fridays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

Berea - Maywoods Environmental and Education Laboratory

  • STEAM (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in session. Tuesdays during the Fall and Spring semester.

Lexington - various locations

  • Taking Flight Next Level* (12+), drop-off on Saturday mornings, 9 am - 12 pm, during the Fall and Spring semester. This program is located at the Ecological Research and Education Center at UK.

  • Forest Families (ages crawling to 5 yrs old), caregiver attended on Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters. Currently offered at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary.

  • Forest Friends (5-10 year olds), caregiver on site, but not in session. Thursdays Spring, Summer, and Fall. Currently offered at Martin Luther King Park in Lexington

  • Birding Club* (all ages) on the second Saturday of the month at the Lexington Cemetery and roaming to other locations. Beginner and kid-friendly.

roaming

  • Conservation Club* (12+), drop-off program on the second Saturday of the month. Times vary but typically 2-5 pm. Commonly hosted at the KY River Field School campuses in Clark and Madison Counties.

  • Adventures (all ages), We roam around Kentucky and beyond and include hiking, climbing, and camping.

  • Nature and Wellness Programs* offered on the fourth Saturday of the month Jan - Oct. Adult only programming offered some months.

*Free or donation-based programming

photo by student Kalilah Hicks

Weekends

  • Adventures (all ages), we roam around Kentucky and beyond and include hiking, climbing, and camping.

  • Art Club* (all ages), caregiver-attended program offered the third Saturday of the month from 10 am - 12 pm.

  • Birding Club* (all ages) on the second Saturday of the month at the Lexington Cemetery and roaming to other locations. Beginner and kid-friendly.

  • Conservation Club* (12+), drop-off program on the second Saturday of the month. Times vary but typically 2-5 pm. Commonly hosted at the KY River Field School campuses in Clark and Madison Counties.

  • Nature and Wellness Programs* now offered on the fourth Saturday of the month Jan - Oct. Adult-only programming is offered some months. See the page for more details.

  • Taking Flight Next Level* (12+), drop-off on Saturday mornings, 9 am - 12 pm, during the Fall and Spring semesters. This program is located at the Ecological Research and Education Center at UK.

weekday (pre-k & homeschool friendly)

  • Forest Families (ages crawling to 5 yrs old), caregiver attended on Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

  • STEAM (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

  • Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

  • Mighty Acorns (ages 3-6), drop-off program. Wednesdays and Fridays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

  • Trail Blazers (ages 7-12), drop-off program. Fridays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

weekday (after-school friendly)

  • Forest Friends (ages 5-10), caregiver on site, but not in class. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

 

*Free or donation-based programming

 

Photo by student Kalilah Hicks

early childhood (crawling to 6 yrs old)

  • Forest Families (crawling to age 5), caregiver attended on Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semester. Currently offered at Raven Run Nature Sanctuary.

  • STEAM (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semester.

  • Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semester.

  • Mighty Acorns (ages 3-6), drop-off program. Wednesdays and Fridays during the Fall and Spring semester.

Middle childhood (7-12 yrs old)

  • Forest Friends (ages 5-10), caregiver on site, but not in class. Thursdays Spring and Fall. Currently offered at various Lexington parks.

  • STEAM (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semester.

  • Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in class. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semesters.

  • Trail Blazers (ages 7-12), drop-off program. Fridays during the Fall and Spring semester.

teen (12+)

  • Conservation Club* (12+), drop-off program on the second Saturday of the month. Times vary but typically 2-5 pm. Commonly hosted at the KY River Field School campuses in Clark and Madison Counties.

  • Humanities (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in session. Thursdays during the Fall and Spring semester.

  • STEAM (ages 5-teen), caregiver onsite, but not in session. Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the Fall and Spring semester.

  • Taking Flight Next Level* (12+), drop-off on Saturday mornings, 9 am - 12 pm, during the Fall and Spring semester. This program is located at the Ecological Research and Education Center at UK.

All-ages programming (family and adult friendly)

  • Adventures (all ages), we roam around Kentucky and beyond and include hiking, climbing, and camping.

  • Art Club* (all ages), caregiver-attended program offered the third Saturday of the month from 10 am - 12 pm.

  • Birding Club* (all ages) on the second Saturday of the month at the Lexington Cemetery and roaming to other locations. Beginner and kid-friendly.

  • Nature and Wellness Programs* now offered on the fourth Saturday of the month Jan - Oct. Adult-only programming is offered some months. See the page for more details.

    *Free or donation-based programming