Camp Magnolia Forest School: Raise them wild!

Hours of Operation: Monday - Thursday 9am - 2:30pm

We’re so glad you’re here!

At Camp Magnolia, we are excited to create a homeschool enrichment program in an intimate learning environment on CoFounder, Lynde Meenach’s, family farm. This property has been in Lynde’s family for the last 42 years, and we are overjoyed to open the space - and truly cultivate community that feels “homegrown.”

Embracing the outdoors, we're 100% outside unless safety dictates otherwise. We believe in the beauty of God’s creation and know more time spent in nature equals more growth, knowledge, and thriving, happy kiddos. Can’t wait for your family to join us in what feels like an incredible adventure & journey of learning and exploration (all on the beautiful rolling hills of Tennessee).

We are located near Exit 23 on 840, (Carters Creek Pike exit) in Thompson’s Station, TN.

We welcome children from ages 3-9 years old; and operate Mondays-Thursdays weekly mirroring closely the local school schedule.

While we are just getting started, we are happy to jump in with both feet in order to build a space for kids to fully inhabit their childhood while they are in it ☀️

At Camp Magnolia, our mission is to inspire a lifelong love for nature, foster boundless imagination, and cultivate the development of well-rounded, resilient individuals grounded in Christian values. We are committed to creating a safe, fully outdoor environment where children can explore, learn, and thrive.

We integrate Christian values into our daily activities, emphasizing love, compassion, and respect for others. Lessons and discussions will be rooted in these principles, providing a moral compass for children's character development.

“Nature provides endless opportunities for children to learn, play, and grow. It is their greatest playground and their most inspiring classroom.”

Camp Magnolia School Objectives

  • Provide young children the time, space and play to develop their fullest potential

  • Provide opportunities for many activities to be child-initiated and child-led, with adults acting as facilitators

  • Provide individual attention with small teacher to child ratios.

  • Build children’s on-going relationship with the land, to one another, and to themselves

  • Provide opportunities to work collaboratively to create, problem solve, support one another, dream of a bigger and better world

  • Encourage healthy habits and lifestyles

  • Facilitate children’s risk-taking, made as safe as is reasonably possible

  • Increase motivation, self-esteem and concentration

  • Develop respect for the natural world and also respect for its dangers

  • Stimulate children’s innate curiosity by being close to nature

  • Encourage family involvement in nature-related learning on site and at their homes

Our Daily Flow

  • 9AM: Arrive & Wind (up or down) from morning transition

  • 9:45: SNACK morning meeting, journal, morning chores

  • 10:15-11AM: Teacher Led Activity focused learning block themed to each day

  • 11:15AM: LUNCH students bring their own snack & lunch

  • 11:45AM: REST & DIGEST grab a book and your journal, find a spot to relax

  • 12:15PM: Forest Free Play

  • 1:15PM: Forest Free Play choice to remain in forest or follow up on daily activity

  • 2:15PM: Wind Down and grab mugs for tea time, collecting things, heading home