Nature Homeschool Programs

The Riekes Center Nature Department has been connecting youth to the natural world for over 20 years, offering programs for ages 3 to 18 that foster a deep relationship with nature through immersive, hands-on experiences. Our approach nurtures curiosity and passion, allowing each student to follow their unique interests—whether learning to track wildlife, identify edible plants, or master ancient survival skills.

Rooted in the core routines of nature awareness, as outlined in Coyote’s Guide by department founder Jon Young, our curriculum covers diverse topics such as local ecosystems, wildlife behavior, sensory development, and homesteading. Our experienced mentors guide students with cultural mentoring techniques that inspire self-discovery and a profound connection to the land.

At the heart of our programs is the belief that fostering a personal relationship with nature creates confident, mindful individuals. Whether learning bird songs or building shelters, students leave with skills that last a lifetime. Internationally recognized, our nature immersion programs are more than just education—they are a journey into the wild that builds lasting connections between nature, self, and community.

Our curriculum focuses on the core routines of nature awareness, which include:

  • Hazard identification

  • Experiential games

  • Journaling

  • Tracking

  • Sit spots (a spot in nature to visit on a regular basis)

  • Plant uses (medicinal, edible, and traditional)

  • Extended wanders

  • Storytelling

  • Music

  • Hands-on wild crafting and survival skills

  • Sensory awareness training

  • The language of the birds and more!

  • Newts are Ages 5-8

    Kestrels are Ages 9-12

    Teens are Ages 13-17

    Age ranges are not always concrete, but students wishing to be in an older or a younger class will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

    Our program for preschool aged children (3.5-6 years old) is the Santa Cruz Forest School. Please see our webpage for that program to register your younger children!

  • All of our youth programs run from 9:00am-3:00pm

    Tuesday: Del Monte Indian Village in Monterey

    Wednesday: Stevens Creek County Park (Cupertino) and The Nest (Santa Cruz)

    Friday: Huddart Park (Woodside)

  • Fall Break: November 25th-29th

    Winter Break: December 21st-January 5th

    Staff Training: February 17th-21st

    Spring Break: April 14th-18th

  • Each class goes on 6 field trips per year to other nature locations. We include field trips in our programs because it gives the students a chance to explore a diversity of ecosystems and landscapes. Field trip locations are no greater than 1 hour away from the regular program location. Field trips are included on the program calendar to give parents a chance to schedule their travel time and arrangements appropriately.

  • We host two 3-day camp outs per year for the Kestrel and Teen programs. One camp out is hosted locally within 2 hours of the Riekes Center, and the other camp out may be hosted somewhere more distant but no more than four hours from the Riekes Center. The camp outs are optional and are paid for separately. We are currently unable to provide transportation to camp outs, but we can help facilitate carpooling.

Pricing

NEWTS - $3,600/ 32 WEEKS

KESTRELS - $3,600/ 32 WEEKS

TEEN PROGRAMS - $3,833/ 32 WEEKS

Registration

Registration for the 2024/2025 Homeschool Programs opens on June 3rd, 2024.
If you would like to get on our interest list for early registration, please email nature@riekes.org.

Program Dates:

September 8th, 2024 — May 18th, 2025

Scholarships

The Riekes Center for Human Enhancement is dedicated to making its programs available to all students, regardless of that student’s ability to pay or perform. We are able to offer scholarships up to paying for the full tuition of a course. If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please email scholarships@riekes.org to request a scholarship application and a registration code. Please include in your email the program you are applying for scholarship for.

Charter School Vendor Status: We accept funds from Ocean Grove and Inspire Schools.