THE 2023/2024 FIELD SCHOOL IS FULL. SIGN-UP NOW TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITLIST.

Field School Calendar

The Field School follows the Burlington School district calendar for February and April Break vacation weeks. Check the calendar for specific dates.

  • Fall semester begins week of September 4, 2023
  • Spring semester begins week of January 30, 2024
  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays, 9am – 3pm

Details

Cost: $1,925
Ages: Grades 1st-8th
Dates: September – May
Location: Rock Point, Burlington, VT

Overview

The Field School is a space where kiddos in grades 1-8 can immerse themselves in the creative expanse of the wild world. Our classroom consists of more than 100 acres of forest, meadow, shoreline, and marsh on land adjacent to Lake Champlain, in Burlington Vermont. Our curriculum is emergent, based on the passions of the staff, the evolving interest of each kid, and the seasonal events unfolding under a canopy of maples and hickories. Each day brings new adventures and opportunities for learning and discovery.

Click on the image to view a gallery from the Field School.

Registration Details

Registration is now waitlist only for 2023/24.

Please contact us if you’d like to be added to our mailing list.

A typical day

Because we do not follow a prescribed curriculum, we never know exactly what adventures or experiences we’ll encounter on any given day. At the same time, each day has a similar rhythm, based on Field School traditions including: morning greeting, guilds, fox walk to base camp, fire by friction, singing and story-telling, thanks giving, sit spot and story of the day. These traditions help children to feel a part of the Crow’s Path community.

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
9:00am: Arrival & games
9:30am: Gatekeeper challenge into the woods
9:45am: Fire making, songs, and gratitude
10:30am: Free Time
11:00pm: Sit Spot
11:30pm: Guilds (main activities for the day)
2:00pm: Storytelling
3:00pm: Pick-up
GOT A QUESTION ABOUT THE FIELD SCHOOL? SEND US A NOTE
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE FIELD SCHOOL
  • PROGRAM OVERVIEW | Provides a brief overview of the pedagogy that underpins Crow’s Path and describes the core activities and design element woven into the program throughout the year.
  • CROW’S PATH SONG LINES | For her senior project at UVM, Britt collected stories, songs, and games from Crow’s Path and collected them into a beautiful document.
  • BLOG | Collection of photos, videos, and stories from the Field School.
  • FAQ PAGE | A collection of answers to the most common questions we get asked.
  • STATE STANDARDS Shows link between activities and learning at Crow’s Path and Vermont’s state standards (middle school version)
  • EMAIL US | to be added to our mailing list to get program announcements, registration dates, and natural history notes

Parent Testimonials

“We’ve been part of the Crows Path family since our oldest son started in 2010.  As a family that believes strongly in the importance of immersing young people in nature, we are deeply grateful that Crows Path has provided a way for our boys to do that once a week.  Additionally, knowing that their time in the woods is spent with loving, trained nature mentors who allow the children to explore their curiosities and interests is a priceless gift.”

Mark, Father of Field School participant

“Crow’s Path has encouraged my daughter’s love of the natural world and given her a place to be herself and explore, while being active, curious, creative, silly and happy. Being a part of this group has given her a close knit and supportive community of friends and mentors. She wouldn’t miss a day- not even when the rain pours or the wind chill dips!”

Liz, mother of Field School participant
“Crow’s Path programs have been invaluable to our 2 elementary school aged daughters. Field school is a welcome mid-week break and compliment to more traditional education in the classroom. The forest, field and lake offer a perfect setting to spend a day reflecting, playing and connecting with nature. This time allows them the space and freedom to be themselves, follow their senses and move at their own pace for a day, among a group of nurturing and supportive adults and children that value each other as peers. This experience empowers our children, cultivates leadership skills, teaches a love and respect for nature and allows for a unique bonding time in a beautiful setting. I wish all children had the opportunity to participate in a program like this.”
Elise, mother of Field School participants

“Crow’s Path invites kids to learn about the world around them, teaches kids respectful ways of moving through that world, encourages kids to be their true selves, and prepares kids to be engaged and thoughtful ecological citizens. I am a parent who has had the great fortune of traveling through the portal on many occasions for both camp and Field School. While out on the land, I have seen eyes grow wider with wonder and hearts grow lighter as children share their gratitude for that which they hold most dear. My son returns home from Crow’s Path each day covered with dirt, pockets filled with pine cones, mind filled with stories, and eyes twinkling with joyful wonder. To me, these are the signs of the best possible kind of learning.”

Christine, mother of Field School participant

Crows Path consistently creates and holds a container that fuels learning, adventure and creativity. My kids have benefited from the rich sense of cooperative learning, shared purpose, reflection and play that fills their days at Field School. Being part of a purpose driven community that reminds us how to (re)connect to self, wild and each other has been key in my family’s joy and growth.

Trish, mother of Field School participants
“When family and friends and neighbors ask about Crow’s Path and what goes on there, they usually want to know what concrete skills are being learned. And, of course, there are indeed things of that sort (wonderful things!) that we can tell them: pitching a tent and building a fire; identifying trees and animal tracks. But these things aren’t why we choose to send our daughter out into the woods one day per week, instead of to “regular” school. It is, rather, the more nebulous things about Crow’s Path – things like community and confidence and contemplation, for which there never seems to be enough time elsewhere – for which we are so grateful.”
Brian, father of Field School participant

“Our daughter has been with Crows Path since second grade, and has such a strong sense of connection to Rock Point, the animals and plants there, the mentors, and to imaginative play that engages with place.  It isn’t always obvious that this is developing; kids keep some of this private in their hearts.  But as I listen to her non-stop explanation of every stage of the overnight, watch her plan ahead for becoming a Middle School Apprentice, and hear here decide what programs she loves and which aren’t her preference, I see the impact — in her growing sense of what she loves, and how she wants to be herself.”

Susan, mother of middle school apprentice

Photo galleries from previous years

Field School
(2017-18)

Field School
(2016-17)

Field School
(2015-16)

Field School
(2014-15)

Field School
(2013-14)

Field School
(2012-13)

Field School
(2011-12)

Field School
(2010-11)