Forest Ninja
Can you move quietly across the landscape without being seen or heard? Can you observe the wildlife without being observed? Can you quiet your mind to truly hear your surroundings? It’s not easy, but it’s more than possible, and exactly what you’ll learn at Forest Ninja.
Sharpen your mind and hone your awareness. Read clearly the signs of the forest and learn to respond without disturbance. Get to know the forest on its own terms, as a quiet and present participant in its natural ebb & flow.
Students will learn stalking, awareness, and camouflage, as well as many other essential wilderness skills. Each day begins with basic stealth training and movement-based meditation. Then we go deeper into the craft of the Forest Ninja, testing ourselves in ever more difficult challenges, culminating in epic all-day games. All the while continuing to learn about the abundant flora and fauna we share these beautiful mountains with.
Ages: 7-11
Location:
Shope Creek Wilderness
Pick-Up & Drop-Off Options:
Haw Creek Commons (with shuttle van)
Shope Creek Wilderness
We have new drop-off and pick-up times and policies just for Thursdays. Please see the info below in the Logistics section.
Time: 9:30 am - 4:15 pm
Inclusive of drop-off & pick-up window
Dates: Thursdays, Sept. 12 - Dec. 19
Breaks for Earthskills Rendezvous 10/17
Breaks for Thanksgiving 11/28
13 program days total
Price: $795
- Monthly payment plan available
- $100 non-refundable deposit due at registration
- Limited Partial Scholarships available (see below)
Registration
Registration is now open for Fall 2024.
Please note: Shuttle van reservations are now separate "programs" to add to your order.
Why Choose Forest Floor?
We help children have fun, be healthy, and achieve their fullest potential with nature connection mentoring.
- Health benefits of nature connection
- Learn wilderness skills & traditional crafts
- Meet new friends and reunite with old ones
- Unforgettable adventures every day
- Skilled and caring mentors
- Exciting wilderness experiences
- Convenient in-town drop-off & pickup
- Boost long term cognitive & social development
Logistics
Drop-off/Pick-up Locations:
Forest Ninja Thursdays
Forest Ninja takes place at Shope Creek Wilderness and has NEW drop-off & pick-up times and policies different from other programs.
Parents may drop off and pickup at the program location or at Haw Creek Commons for van transportation. To reserve space on the shuttle vans, please add the shuttle van "program" for the appropriate day to your order.
Haw Creek Commons (with van shuttle to Shope Creek)
315 Old Haw Creek Road, Asheville NC
Drop-off between 9:15 am - 9:30 am (no late drop-off)
Pick-up between 4:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Shope Creek Wilderness (at program location no shuttle)
472 Shope Creek Road, Asheville, NC
Drop-off between 10:00 am - 10:10 am
Pick-up between 3:35 pm - 3:50 pm (no late pick-up)
Important Late Drop-off & Pick-up Notes
No Late Haw Creek Commons Drop-off: Shuttle van leaves promptly at 9:35 am. Anyone dropping-off at Haw Creek Commons in the morning must arrive by 9:35 am at the latest or the shuttle van will be enroute to Shope Creek and parents must instead drive to Shope Creek for drop-off or miss that day.
No Late Shope Creek Pick-up: All instructors leave with the shuttle van promptly at 3:55 pm. Anyone picking-up at Shope Creek in the afternoon must arrive by 3:55 pm at the latest. Any children not picked up at Shope Creek by 3:55 pm will be loaded into the passenger van and taken to Haw Creek Commons and will need to be picked up there.
Clothing and Gear
Our programs are all-outdoors, with rain shelters available as needed. Children must arrive each morning fully prepared with a backpack, packed lunch, and clothes appropriate for being out in the weather. Families new to Forest Floor may need to purchase additional gear to ensure their children will be fully equipped for wet and colder weather as the season progresses. For a full packing and clothing list see our FAQ.
Scholarship Information
Overview
We offer limited partial scholarships to individuals who otherwise could not afford our programs.
Donate
If you are a family with means, please consider donating to our scholarship fund. Donations of a 1/4, 1/2, or FULL scholarship can be made during the standard registration process. For more substantial donations please contact us to discuss details.
Apply
Limited partial scholarships are available. Scholarship funds are generated exclusively from generosity of donations toward the scholarship fund. Scholarships are limited to the sum of these funds and are awarded based on equitable distribution. Full scholarships will be considered for families in great need, but most scholarship applicants should expect to pay at least half of tuition.
To apply for a scholarship FIRST please register for the program/camp, choose the payment plan option, and only pay a $100 deposit at time of registration.
AFTER RESERVING A SPOT, please follow the link below to fill out the application.
If your scholarship request can't be approved or isn't the amount of discount that you need, we will provide a full refund of the deposit.
COVID Safety Policies
Homeschool 2023-2024
Our COVID-19 safety policy is based primarily on pre-screening and monitoring. It is our current position that the single largest preventative factor at our programs is the fact that we are open-air and outdoors.
Pre-Screening and Monitoring
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Any child arriving in the morning with signs or symptoms of COVID-19 will not be permitted to attend programs that day. If during the program day a child displays signs or symptoms of illness they will be separated from other students and parents contacted to pick them up.
- All staff will be self-monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19. If they develop symptoms, they will notify their supervisor and stay home. Any staff person who develops symptoms of illness during the work day will be separated from students and other staff and sent home ASAP.
Masks:
- As of Fall 2022, we will no longer require masks to be worn on our shuttle vans transporting students
- Children and staff will not be required to wear masks, but will be fully supported if they choose to do so.
We will do our best to fully support any child or staff who self-selects for more restrictive social distancing or mask wearing than the policies outlined above.