A School Rooted in Real Work, Real Land, and Real Community
We believe children learn best when their work is meaningful, their environment is alive, and their community is real. Foothill Frolic Farm & Forest School is built on that belief.
Learning That Grows From the Ground Up
Project-based learning isn't a method we apply to a curriculum — it's the way we believe human beings naturally learn. When children are given real problems to solve, real materials to work with, and real people to work alongside, something remarkable happens: they become curious, capable, and deeply engaged.
At Foothill Frolic, the farm itself is the curriculum. The land, the animals, the seasons, and the community of learners and guides shape every project, every question, and every discovery.
The Four Roots of Learning
Every program at Foothill Frolic Farm & Forest School is grounded in four interconnected roots. These aren't subjects — they're ways of being in the world.
Where We Are — and Where We're Going
Every thriving school begins with a strong foundation. Here is the story of how Foothill Frolic is growing — intentionally, organically, and with purpose.
Chapter One
Community Building Year
September 2026 – May 2027
Every thriving school begins with a strong foundation.
Rather than rushing to open a full microschool, we have chosen to spend this year intentionally building the relationships, culture, educational systems, and community that will support Foothill Frolic Farm & Forest School for years to come.
Every project completed, every family welcomed, and every teacher trained helps shape the school we are building together.
Chapter Two
Founding School Year
Enrollment Opens February 2027 · School Begins September 2027
Our first official Founding School Year.
Beginning in February 2027, we will begin accepting applications for our first official Founding School Year. Our goal is to welcome a carefully selected group of approximately 12 students (ages 9–13) into a four-day-per-week Farm & Forest Microschool designed around meaningful relationships, project-based learning, and individualized academic growth.
Families participating in our Community Building Year will have the unique opportunity to experience the vision firsthand as we prepare for this exciting next chapter.
Chapter Three
Growing With Purpose
Beyond 2027
Thoughtful expansion while preserving what matters most.
As our community develops, we envision expanding to serve additional learners, age groups, learning opportunities, and community partnerships while remaining true to the values that inspired this school from the beginning.
Our hope is never to become the biggest school. Our hope is to become a place where children are deeply known, meaningful work is valued, relationships flourish, and learning remains connected to the land, the community, and the lives of the children themselves.
Why Ages 9–13?
Northeast Tennessee is fortunate to have several wonderful nature-based and forest school programs serving young children. Those early years are incredibly important—but as children grow, the opportunities to continue that journey become much harder to find.
At Foothill Frolic Farm & Forest School, we are intentionally focused on learners ages 9–13 because we believe this is one of the most exciting and often overlooked stages of development.
These young people are ready for meaningful responsibility. They can build, design, solve problems, ask thoughtful questions, contribute to their community, and care for the land in increasingly capable ways. They are no longer simply exploring the world—they are ready to actively shape it.
Our standards-based Farm & Forest School model bridges the best of both worlds: rigorous academic growth woven into authentic, hands-on projects, real work, and deep relationships with nature and community. It is a learning experience designed specifically for this remarkable season of life.
Simply put, these learners are ready for the real world.
And we're ready for them.
Curious about how it all works?
Our full curriculum framework — including how we cover core academic standards through project-based learning, incorporate the Four Roots of Learning, and nurture lifelong learners — is laid out in detail.
Ready to grow with us?
Whether you're exploring our current programs, hoping to enroll in the Founding School Year, or simply following the journey, we'd love for you to become part of the Foothill Frolic community.