Thank you to everyone who joined us for Spring Fest! It was a fantastic event and we many of the sessions now available for you to view. Check it out!
Spring Fest is presented by
H&S Lumber and Reflections MedSpa
Also Thank you to our sponsors
Barnhill Chimney, Neely&Wade Insurance, sea and stone, and Red River Rockhouse
Spring Fest 2020 is going virtual to support Healthy at Home Initiatives! We are so thrilled that so many wonderful educators, artists, musicians, and innovators in the forest school movement have donated their time to help us learn, explore, unwind and play together in this new way. Red Oaks Forest School is dedicated to fostering a deep and lasting connection to nature through exploration and education.
this is a free event!
However, we welcome your support to help us keep tuition low and offer our programs to underserved communities and families in need. Your support also helps us overcome the many obstacles related to COVID-19, advocate for powerful healing benefits of nature, protect habitat for our local flora and fauna, and create more programming to serve more people. There will be donation buttons handy to share your support if you so chose. Thank you!
If you missed the event, please check out many of the classes posted below!
If you have not been to our Red Oaks campus, Tina brings it to you. Take this virtual tour today!
Helen Nonn gave us a peak into her special Eager Owlets class for crawlers to toddlers.
Channing took us around Eastern Kentucky to share many plants that are edible, some you might never guess!
Amy brought us into the world of mud play with her twin boys and shared the many developmental benefits of getting dirty.
Starting off with some of our youngest members, we were proud and thrilled to host many other well known musicians for a really fun hour of music perfect for any dance party.
Amy Hudson and Amy Meyer kicked off our Sunday line up with an amazing meditation and singing bowls demonstration!
Erin took us on a nature inspired yoga journey which was incredible!
Annie took us into the world of the raptor with her engaging environmental eduction class.
Jill shared her amazing talent, process and tools in this nature illustrations class.
Hannah shares tips on how to stay healthy while roaming the woods!
Melissa shares some tips on how to combine your love of nature with your child’s education.
Finally we conclude with some sights and sounds of the ones who make it all worthwhile, the kids! From their eyes and of their adventures, we encourage you to check it out.
For more information on Spring Fest 2020, keep reading!
The Weekend Line-up and how to win
Check out the additional info provided below to learn how to participate, what prizes you can win, and other details to help you navigate the weekend with us! This event is totally free and available to anyone, anywhere! These events will be hosted on Facebook Live or as zoom meet-ups, with the zoom link shared on Facebook. Throughout the weekend, we will ask you to tag your photos on Facebook with Red Oaks Forest School or Instagram with @redoaks_explorers while participating in one of our various outdoor activities to be entered to win our grand prize. The more sharing you do, the better your chances are to win. Each session will also have it’s own giveaway!* More information will be available for each event leading up to Spring Fest, so stay tuned and make sure you follow us on Facebook.
Our grand prize is a $100 gift card to REI to get you ready for your next adventure!
Outdoor Activities
Head out with your family or on your own for one of these activities and share your photos to be entered to win our grand prize. Be sure to tag us in a public post on Facebook and Instagram to be eligible to win!*
Rainbow Walk: Spring is a great time to see color and we challenge you to find something in every color of the rainbow on your outing. Snap a pic and share the collage with us. Be sure to leave your finds for others to enjoy in this leave no trace activity. This activity is perfect for all ages but especially fun for the inner artist and young children learning colors.
Mud Play: Tune into our Mud Play session and share your own muddy messes and caked on mud suits with us! This sensory experience is fun for all ages.
Outdoor Adventures: If you are heading out for a hike or any social distance friendly adventure, tag us!! We want to see it. Be safe and have fun outside.
Nature Art: At Red Oaks, we are as much about art as we are about nature! We would love to see what you create with nature and inspire us with your unique vision.
Our spring fest guides
Music and Movement with Candy
Mountain Music
Saturday 11 am | Facebook Live
Sarah is known locally in Lexington for her inspired music and movement classes for young kids. She joined us last year and everyone loved her amazing energy and many giggles were shared. All you need is a scarf and two sticks from the yard to join this party. Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the post to be entered to win some fabulous mushroom earrings by Four Winds Handmade! Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
Afternoon Coffee with Claude: Benefits of Free Play in Early Childhood Development
Saturday at 2 pm | Zoom
Join Claude Stevens of the Children and Nature Network as he leads a discussion on the benefits of free play in early childhood development. Grab a coffee or tea and get ready to ask questions and be a part of the discussion on how to incorporate child-led play into your life or class in this zoom space. All zoom participants will be entered to win 2 handcrafted mugs by Sarah Jane. Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
Gratitude Circle with Mandy and
the Mighty Acorns
Saturday at 5 pm | Zoom
Join Mandy and the Mighty Acorns for some songs and gratitude circle time! This is an excellent chance to get a peek into our beloved Mighty Acorns program or a fun chance to reconnect with other Acorns and your child’s favorite teachers. While gratitude is perfect for all ages, this class is especially geared towards 3-6 year olds. All zoom participants will be entered to win a beautiful art print by local artist Michelle Hadyen. Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
All Levels Yoga with Erin Smith
Sunday at 11 am | Facebook Live
Join Erin Smith, local yoga teacher and teacher trainer at The Om Place, for an all levels yoga practice. Yoga is a great way to start the day by moving your body and practicing stillness and mindfullness. Erin is giving away a digital download of her inspiring book to everyone who joins this FB live event! Be sure to have your mat handy and join us Sunday morning. Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous giveaway!
Healthy at Roam:
Staying Safe in the Woods with
Hannah Harris
Sunday at 2 pm | Facebook Live
Join Hannah Harris, Director and instructor at Red Oaks, to learn about the essentials you should always have in your pack to stay safe in the woods and what to do if you ever become lost. As our resident wilderness first aid and search and rescue aficionado she is the perfect guide to help us prepare and the one we all turn to for advice (and supplies!). This session is great for all ages. Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the post to be entered to win some tools for your pack, including a bushcraft knife, signal mirror and safety whistle! Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of these fabulous prizes! !
Eager Owlets with Helen Nonn
Saturday at 12 pm | Facebook Live
Helen Nonn is a Waldorf teacher and creator of magic. Her calm and centered approach with the littlest ones inspired us to ask her to teach for Red Oaks as well. As creator of Eager Owlets, she will provide a peek into this program and share the magic especially geared towards new moms with crawlers to toddlers. Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the post to be entered to win a custom wall art by Four Winds Handmade! Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
Kids Super Power Yoga with Lisa King
Saturday at 3 pm | Zoom
Join Lisa King for her Kids Super Power Yoga and explore movement through yoga and music, breath, connection and relaxation on Zoom. Ideal for ages 5-10, this class is great for building core strength, balance, focused attention and sensing where our bodies are in space, all while having fun! Parents, roll out your mat and join us too! After the class, there will be time for questions around integrating yoga and mindfulness into your family. All zoom participants will be entered to win a $25 Good Foods Gift Card.
Happy Hour Painting with Heather Donlan
Saturday at 6 pm | Zoom
Grab a drink and your favorite art supplies and join Heather Donlan for happy hour painting. Heather will guide you with painting techniques and tips to create your own mini masterpiece. This zoom sessions is designed to enjoy a little adulting time together. You will need a canvas (heather will be using a 16x20), paints (acrylics: black, white, blue, green, yellow, red and any other colors you’d like), paint brushes (medium flat-sized like a 16, and a small sized flat brush, like a 4), a water cup, paper plate or pallet for mixing, and your favorite adult beverage. All zoom participants will be entered to win a beautiful nature inspired art piece made by Heather herself. Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
Environmental Education with Annie Griggs
Sunday at 12 pm | Facebook Live
Join Annie Griggs, teacher at Red Oaks, as she shares a bird related environmental education lesson geared towards ages 8-12. Annie is a fabulous educator and you don’t want to miss this! Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the post to be entered to win a Red Oaks swag bag and $25 gift card to Crank&Boom Ice Cream! Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
The Nature and Language Arts Connection with Melissa Rudick
Sunday at 3 pm | Facebook Live
Join Melissa Rudick, Director and teacher at Red Oaks, homeschool mom, and book and nature nerd to explore how educators and parents can combine language arts and nature studies to enhance learning in both fields. She will offer practical and fun suggestions for things you can do in your homes right now to deepen learning and connection for children. Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the post to be entered to win a poetry book and nature-based science curriculum, Science Through Nature. Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
Foraging Walk with Channing Richardson
Saturday at 1 pm | Facebook Live
Channing Richardson of Forgotten Foods Farm is a farmer, teacher, mycologist, and bryologist! He is exactly the kind of person you want to head into the wild and forage with. Watch and learn as he guides us through the forests of eastern Kentucky to discover what you can and cannot eat. This session is a great for all ages. Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the post to be entered to win a basket of handmade soaps by Positive Attraction Soap Co! Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
Mud Play with Amy Meyer
Saturday at 4 pm | Facebook Live
Join Tinkergarten teacher and mom of twins, Amy Meyer, in Mud Play. Mud is a perfect sensory experience! Playing with mud activates our kids' senses, helps them to learn more about their world, and flexes their creativity. We will discover different types of mud based on playing with the basic formula of dirt + water. Allowing the kids to add the water and mix it together will engage them in the universal behavioral patterns of the transporting and transforming schema, which support brain development. Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the post to be entered to win a $25 Rockhouse gift card.
Meditation with Amy Meyer and Amy Hudson
Sunday at 10 am | Facebook Live
Join Amy Meyer and Amy Hudson to reconnect to kindness and find some balance in this uncertain time. We will open with a loving kindness mediation and continue with healing singing bowls. This is especially suited for adults. Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the post to be entered to win a beautiful and healing essential oils basket from Young Living Oils. Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
Nature Based Illustrations with Jill Hicks
Sunday at 1 pm | Facebook Live
Local illustrator and artist, Jill Hicks, is sharing her tips and techniques with us and we couldn’t be more excited! Jill has studied the fish and birds and plants of the Red River Gorge for years and has a beautiful teaching method perfect for all ages. Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the post to be entered to win a piece of her art! Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
Festival welcome and closing
with Tina Brouwer
Saturday at 10 am and Sunday at 4 pm | Facebook Live
Join Tina Brouwer, Director, naturalist, educator and photographer of Red Oaks, as she shares some imagery from our classes and experiences of Red Oaks throughout the seasons. See the world through the kids eyes with our GoPro donated camera and share in the magic. Join her as she welcomes you to the festival and for our wrap up! Join us on Facebook Live and hit like on the posts to be entered to win a gift basket from Full Circle Market as well as some of her nature photography! Stay tuned to Facebook to see pics of this fabulous prize!
Music Around the Fire Saturday 7 - 9 pm | Facebook Live
Join us around your own campfire, fire pit, pretend fire, non-fire to enjoy the tunes of some celebrated local musicians. We couldn’t be more excited to share the creative acoustic sounds of Handshake Deals, Forest Fiddleheads, Kentucky’s High Times, Sarah Smitha and more for the evening. Join us and be entered to win gift cards from the Red River Rockhouse and Miguel’s Pizza. Here are a few teasers…
Online Giveaway Rules
To Enter:
FB Live Sessions: Join us on the Facebook Live and like the post. Each giveaway ends five minutes after the specific Facebook Live ends. Winner will be chosen at random and announced in the post.
Zoom Sessions: Winner will be chosen at random from the zoom participants during the session.
Grand prize of $100 REI Gift Card: to enter participate in one or more of the outdoor activities (Rainbow Walk, Mud Play, Outdoor Adventure, and Nature Art) and create a public post on Facebook tagging Red Oaks Forest School or a public post on Instagram tagging @redoaks_explorers. Participants will also receive one entry for each facebook live session liked or zoom session attended. This giveaway is open from Saturday May 23, 2020 at 10am to Monday May 25th, 2020 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be chosen at random from the tagged posts, FB Live likes, and zoom session attendance and announced by Friday, May 29, 2020.
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US residents only. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook or Instagram in any way.