Our goal is to help children and their families to develop a lasting relationship with the natural world and foster a sense of place and stewardship in our local Vermont communities.

Although there is a wide age range, it is important that these different ages have the opportunity to spend time together.  These interactions help to develop a sense of community as well as instill leadership skills with the older students as they recognize they serve as examples for the younger students. 

There are plenty of opportunities for us all to interact with each other throughout the program at opening and closing community circles for sharing our observations, songs, and stories from the day as well as through group games and shared activities.

Each family will receive ‘Notes From the Forest’, our weekly communication filling you in on all that happened in the previous ECO homeschool session and what’s to come in the next.  This includes extensions to our lessons, extra tidbits of knowledge, and fun activities that you may want to explore as a family to deepen your family's connection to our lessons and the natural world.

Refunds are subject to a $20 processing fee and will be given according to the following schedule:

• If requested two weeks or more before the first day of programming, you will receive a full refund.
• If requested between one and two weeks before the first day of programming, you will receive a 50% refund.
• If requested one week or less before the first day of programming, we will be unable to issue a refund.

Every year, children are unfortunately turned away from our programs due to lack of space. The more notice we have of a cancellation, the more likely we can offer that space to another interested family.

In the case of extreme weather, we may need to cancel a session.  If local area public schools have cancelled for the day, it is a good chance we will too.  We will notify you by email and by telephone.  In the case of a cancellation, we will schedule a make-up day.  If for some reason your child cannot attend a session or the scheduled make-up day, we cannot reimburse you for that missed day.

If the make-up day is cancelled, we will refund a portion of the program fees.

NBNC reserves the right to cancel a program due to COVID-19 safety considerations.

If your child is enrolled in the public school system we recommend communicating with your child's teacher and the principal about their participation in the ECO Homeschool program and the dates that they will be absent from school.

This is a 100% outdoor program. To ensure a positive experience for everyone, proper clothing is essential. If your child is warm and dry, they will be happy and able to fully participate. If you need assistance obtaining proper gear, please reach out to us.

Before registering, please consult our NBNC Youth Programs Parent-Guardian Handbook for more information about policies, what to bring, and other details and expectations.