ECO Homeschool
This program has been so valuable to our family and to our daughter’s growth. The staff are all amazing and caring and I appreciate the relationships she has built.
— 2026 Homeschool Parent
ECO Homeschool provides a learning environment in which we cultivate children’s social development, innate curiosity, and meaningful connection with nature.
Our ECO (Educating Children Outdoors) program immerses thousands of public school students in nature by using the outdoors as an extension of the classroom. The woods and fields of NBNC become the classroom for ECO Homeschool students. Led by our talented Teacher-Naturalists, we learn by doing, using all five senses to engage with the landscape and with each other. Each ECO Homeschool session offers standards-based science lessons, and is filled with games, songs, stories, and activities – all designed to help develop a lasting relationship with the natural world, fostering a sense of place and stewardship.
Curious About ECO Homeschool?
Learn more and ask questions on Sept 8, 6:30 – 8 pm.
For new and prospective parents; kids welcome too!
Hybrid: Come in person, join online, or dial in. RSVP to receive the meeting link.
Upcoming ECO Homeschool Sessions
Sign up for our six-week Early Fall or Late Fall sessions, or register for the full twelve weeks for a 10% discount! Payment plans and financial support are available for all options.
- Early Fall 2026 Session: Sept 14 – Oct 19 (6 weeks) $510
- Late Fall 2026 Session: Oct 26 – Dec 7 (6 weeks) $510 (no session Thanksgiving week)
- 8:45 am – 2:30 pm | Ages 6-12 years old | a drop-off program for students
*To access the 10% discount for enrolling in the full 12 weeks, please add both Early Fall and Late Fall Programs to your cart before checking out – the discount will be automatically applied.
Payment Plan Options in Checkout.
Financial Support Available. Don’t hesitate to request support. We work hard to ensure that finances are not a barrier to youth nature connection.
Details About ECO Homeschool
A Model for Learning
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.
Notes From The Forest
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 coming next. This includes extensions to our lessons, extra tidbits of knowledge, and fun activities to explore together to deepen your family’s connection to our lessons and the natural world.
Cancellation Policy
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 or other safety considerations.
Notifying Your School
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.
ECO Homeschool Handbook & Expectations
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.
Register for ECO Homeschool
Registration Tips: If you’re new to the registration platform (Jumbula), you’ll be asked to create a (free) account during checkout. Log into your new account then continue checkout.
Waitlists: If a program is full, you can still join the waitlist. You will not receive a confirmation email for joining the waitlist. Your Jumbula shopping cart will indicate whether you are on the waitlist for a particular program. If a space opens up, you will be notified via email to return to your shopping cart and complete checkout.