Rogue Valley Educational Services: Nature Kids Academy

The Learning Lab in Ashland enrolls only ten children each school year, ages 3 to 5, with two teachers for a five-to-one child-to-teacher ratio. Class meets Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and tuition is $820 per month over a ten-month school year. We follow an emergent curriculum: our teachers observe closely and design projects around each child's interests, planned across social, physical, intellectual, creative, and emotional growth. The classroom pairs Montessori materials and STEM resources with televised microscopes, butterfly terrariums, a brine shrimp hatchery, and a ladybug hatchery. Children study basic internal anatomy, learn our native trees, identify birds and insects, tend a children's garden, and build reading readiness through phonics. There is plenty of room for imagination too, with dramatic play, puppet theater, a large wooden castle, an outdoor fairy garden, music, storytelling, and an extensive art program. We also teach children a step-by-step way to work out conflicts on their own.

The Siskiyou School, located in Ashland, Oregon, is a distinguished private Waldorf institution dedicated to nurturing students in grades K-8. With a rich tradition spanning over 40 years, the school serves a diverse community of 185 learners and 140 families, focusing on fostering an open-minded, compassionate, and confident generation equipped with a strong academic foundation. The school is particularly attentive to the unique needs of its students, embracing various learning styles and challenges without the constraints of standardized testing. The innovative Waldorf program emphasizes social-emotional learning alongside robust academics across all disciplines, ensuring that creativity and imagination are integral parts of the curriculum. The dedicated faculty employs diverse assessment methods to tailor support for each child's educational journey. What sets The Siskiyou School apart is its commitment to maintaining a low student-teacher ratio, which facilitates personalized attention and strengthens family partnerships within the community. This holistic approach not only cultivates academic success but also instills a lifelong love of learning in every student.

We provide small classroom settings, individualized instruction (project-based learning), behavioral support, social-emotional support, integrated therapeutic support, strong communication with families, adaptive sports programs, and more. Neurotypical siblings are welcome to create an inclusive environment!