Big Changes Are Coming Our Way!

As the laughter and learning of our preschoolers continue to fill the forest, we are thrilled to announce that Roots is on the brink of an exciting change.

For the past 9 years, Roots has used Ponderosa State Park's Activity Center as our base of operations. The Park now needs this space for their own staff. As a result, we're embarking on an ambitious mission: to build a new facility for our staff and students that is designed to fit our needs.

We are excited to have the opportunity to custom-create a space to use as an office and meeting area, indoor classroom, and storage. Our new home will be in Ponderosa State Park, located a short distance from the Roots Wall Tent.

This represents a significant step forward in realizing Roots' vision for providing exceptional early childhood education and making a positive impact on the lives of children and families.

Help us Reach Our Goal!

Together, let's pave the way to empower life-long learners

What is Roots?

Founded in 2015 as Idaho's first forest preschool, Roots Forest School is nestled in Ponderosa State Park. Our preschool students spend their class time in both our forest classroom and on group hikes around Ponderosa Park. Whatever the venue, children at Roots learn through self-directed inquiry. With teachers as their guides, children have the time, space, and materials to find the answers to important questions that help them understand the world. We are excited to be heading into our 10th year in operation! Currently over 160 Roots Alumni span kindergarten to sixth grade in our local school districts. Visit our website to learn more!

Why Forest School?

Forest schools provide a balance of child-led play and focused experiential learning. Students engage with their surroundings and are immersed in nature. Place-based curriculum follows the flow of the seasons with the study of local ecology and seasonal changes while students learn the importance of taking care of their environment, its creatures, and each other. Research shows that this approach encourages the development of executive functioning skills that will contribute to a student’s success in future academic and personal endeavors.

A Glimpse Inside!

Planting Seeds, Building Dreams

By Roots Forest School Inc

Planting Seeds, Building Dreams

Join us in this journey as we embark on building a dedicated facility to accommodate the growing demand for our program and provide a safe, comfortable, and enriching environment for our staff and students.