Frequently Asked Questions

A nature connection co-op strives to reconnect the modern child with their natural inheritance — the birthright to be outside among the plants, animals, and open sky. The connection is felt physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. We use many techniques to foster it: being outside, plant and animal ID, foraging, free play, fire-making, creek stomping, nature songs, crafting, risky play, sense awareness, and more.

The co-op is for children who are 3½ years old at the start of the first day and who do not turn 7 before the last day of the program year. The activities we offer are designed for this developmental window, so we hold the age range firmly.

Mondays, 9am to 3pm, at Holliday Park (6363 Spring Mill Rd, Indianapolis). The 2026–2027 program runs 30 forest days across the school year. See the full schedule on the calendar.

Through 100% outdoor time, our staff empower children through hiking, games, music, singing, dancing, instrument-making, risky play, dirty play, wet play, free play, stick play, play-fighting, story-telling, crafting, climbing, exploring, fire-making, foraging, medicine-making, hide-and-seek, rope-swinging, jewelry-making, creek-stomping, mud-sliding, wildlife rescuing, bird and plant identification, meditation, stone-collecting, cooking over the fire, and so much more!

You can expect your happy child to get dirty, wet, scraped, bruised, and very tired by the end of the day.

Weather-appropriate layers, sturdy footwear, rain gear, a packed lunch and snacks, a refillable water bottle, and a change of clothes. The complete gear list lives on the program page.

Drop-off is at 9am and pick-up at 3pm at the southwest portion of the Holliday Park Nature Center parking lot, the same spot each Monday.

Absolutely. Climbing is supervised and encouraged — it builds strength, judgment, and confidence.

Yes. We encourage stick play under vigilant supervision. Play-fighting with sticks is one of the most beneficial activities for this age — it develops motor skills, coordination, communication, boundary setting, nervous-system regulation, listening, dexterity, and agility.

If they want to. Campers may light cotton balls with ferro-rod strikers and collect kindling to add to the fire. We have strict rules about never taking anything out of the fire, and every fire-making or fire-tending activity is vigilantly supervised.

Definitely. There are many yummy edible plants at Holliday Park — dandelion, violet, lamb's quarter, mulberry, serviceberry, spicebush, wood sorrel, purslane, and more. We teach the children to ask the plants first, to say thank you, and to never take too much. We also teach them never to eat any plant unless a counselor says it is okay.

We maintain a strong ratio of paid staff to children, and parent volunteers bring the adult-to-child ratio even lower. Safety and connection are our top priorities.

Each family commits to either themselves or another trusted adult serving as an active volunteer during at least six forest days throughout the year. Families sign up for their days in the co-op app and can coordinate swaps there too.

Monthly tuition covers our paid staff, liability insurance, background checks, first-aid and activity supplies, and the administrative costs of running the program (website, storage, accounting, training). We keep it lean so the money goes to the people and materials in front of your child.

Both. At enrollment you can choose monthly tuition (first month at checkout, then the 1st of each month for a total of nine payments) or pay the full year up front. The choice is yours.

Yes. Indicate on your application that you'd like to apply for financial assistance and we'll follow up with you personally. We never want cost to be the reason a family stays away.

You can unenroll at any time, with no penalties beyond what's described here.

• If you unenroll before the program starts, your tuition is refunded in full.
• If you unenroll after the program starts, the current month is already paid and is not refundable if you do not complete the month. Future months you haven't been billed for are not charged.
• The enrollment fee is non-refundable.
• If the program is not run this school year, you receive a full refund of your enrollment fee and tuition.

Enrolled families can read the full policy in the Parent Handbook inside the app.

The Mother Earth Nature Co-op is the school-year program (Mondays, 30 weeks, ages 3½–7). The original Mother Earth Camp is a separate week-long summer camp at Holliday Park for ages 4–6. Same director, same philosophy, two programs.

Start by submitting an application. We review every one and reach out to welcome families in.