Core Classes (Mon-Thurs)
The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them. Day after day they speak about it. Night after night they make it known. But they don’t speak or use words. No sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into the whole earth. Their words go out from one end of the world to the other.
— Psalm 19:1-4 (NIRV)
Our Learning Environment
Our two-acre outdoor learning space is backed by an additional 1,000 acres of Thorn Creek Forest Preserve. Your child may see white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, and a choir of birds in our oak and maple forest. Please review the families that are the best fit for this environment.
Our classes are designed to immerse our students in nature. That’s why each one-hour session Monday-Thursday includes a 30-minute transition period before and after to go on a hike or explore one of our learning stations about geography, building, music, art, history/civics, etc.
Remnant core classes are for students age 10 years to 14 years:
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Genesis 1 (science)
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Counting Creation (math)
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Living Word Lab (language arts & social studies)
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Raíces de Español (Spanish)
Counting Creation
(math)
Math is not just numbers and equations. It's the rhythm of creation. We use the “Wild Math” approach to help students slowly master foundational math concepts. We use forest elements as manipulatives and build calculation skills through nature-based themes, especially gardening and forestry.
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Instructor to student ratio: 1:15
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Class maximum of 30 students
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Minimum Requirements: All students must be ready to dive into multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and pre-algebra
Living Word Lab
(language arts/social studies)
We use Scripture as as the source text to build reading fluency, reading stamina, discourse skills, comprehension, and writing skills. The goal is to connect Biblical principles and events and adjacent living text to historical periods and modern events.
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Instructor to student ratio: 1:15
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Class maximum of 30 students
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Minimum requirements: All students must be able to fluently read and write recaps from the NIRV Bible translation
Genesis 1
(science)
This outdoor science class uses Genesis 1 and other living books as the source text to dive into the inner workings of God’s creation. It blends life sciences, physical sciences, and earth sciences into an investigation-based approach, not only to learn the information, but to spark worship for our Creator.
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Instructor to student ratio: 1:15
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Class maximum of 30 students
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Requirements: All students must be able to fluently read from the NIRV Bible translation—and they must love dirt.
Raíces de Español
(Spanish Roots for beginners)
As our country’s second most popular language, we train young people in the basics of Spanish language structure. Our outdoor nature focus gives opportunity for place-based practice in verb conjugation and vocabulary building.
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Instructor to student ratio: 1:15
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Class maximum of 30 students
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Minimum requirements: Must love music
Fees & Payment Terms
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Core class cost: $200/month per student for each class. Core classes require a full-semester commitment.
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10% percent discount available for siblings
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All class payments due on the 15th of the month prior to the start of the class. Students are not permitted to attend class until full payment is received.
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Core class enrollment DOES NOT include access to Friday Skill School classes. Please check out those offers separately.
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10% discount for students enrolled in all four core classes (Total of $720/month for all four core classes)
Refunds & Cancellations
A request for refund means the family has already paid the monthly class fee for a core class and would like to receive their payment back. Remnant Nature Academy does not offer refunds for core class payments.
A request for cancellation means the family has enrolled in the class for the semester, but want to discontinue enrollment and monthly class payments after the class has started. Remnant will consider cancellations on a case-by-case basis when and if the student’s spot in that core class is filled.
Class Makeup
At Remnant, our core classes maintain a 15:1 student-to–instructor ratio with opportunities for parent volunteers. Our max capacity for each class is 30 students.
That choice is very intentional. In a world where middle schoolers are often lost in crowded classrooms, we believe being seen is not optional—it’s essential. Teachers actually know their students, how they learn, what motivates them, where they struggle, and where they shine. When a child starts to slip—academically, emotionally, or socially—we expect to notice early. And when a child is ready to soar, we don’t ask them to wait.
Our multi-age classrooms are another powerful advantage. Middle schoolers need to learn from one another. Mixed ages allow students to grow at their own pace rather than being boxed into an arbitrary grade-level expectation. Younger students benefit from peer models. Older students develop leadership, confidence, and responsibility by guiding others. Everyone learns that growth isn’t a race—it’s a process.
For students who are need extra support, instructors can slow down, reteach concepts, try alternative approaches, and provide small-group support without stigma. Extra help isn’t a punishment—it’s part of our culture. For students who are advanced, differentiation means deeper projects, greater responsibility, more complex problem-solving, and real-world projects that stretch their thinking. They are engaged, not coasting.
This allows us to do what every family expects: Meet children where they are—and help them grow from there.
Admissions & Enrollment
Our admissions process is not a gate. It’s a conversation. Our goals is to see if your family is a fit for Remnant and vice versa.
The first step is a walk-through of our property. We want families to see the learning environment with their own eyes. This can happen by coming to an open house, attending one of our camps, or scheduling a private tour.
As we walk, you’ll observe where students learn, build, read, explore, and collaborate. We want you to feel the space — because forest school isn’t something you understand from a brochure. You understand it by experiencing it.
Next, we conduct a short, in-person baseline assessment in your selected core classes. This is not a test to label or rank your child. It simply helps us understand where they are academically so we can create the right approach from day one. And, to be completely transparent, we are also observing the parents. That’s why this visit also includes a conversation with the student’s parents or primary caregivers.
Finally, if your family is a good fit, a deposit for the first month's class is required to secure your spot. Once received, we’ll send you an enrollment letter with next steps to get ready for class! Billing will then continue on the 15th of each month.
